Retailers across the country have reported an uptick in demand for radios and tinned food following public calls to stock up on essentials. Grocery and hardware sellers told reporters they had observed higher-than-normal sales of long-life food items and battery-powered devices used in power outages.
Figures obtained by BBC Newsnight show pronounced increases in purchases of torches, radios and power banks, items commonly associated with emergency preparedness. Retailers said these spikes occurred alongside a broader rise in sales of canned and non-perishable foods.
Store managers and supply-chain staff reported stepping up restocking efforts to meet the surge, though none of the sources disclosed precise sales volumes. The pattern of buying suggests a short-term response by consumers seeking household resilience against potential disruptions.
Industry analysts said such episodes of heightened purchasing are typical when public messages prompt people to prepare for contingencies, but they cautioned that isolated spikes do not necessarily signal longer-term shifts in consumer behaviour. The BBC Newsnight data highlights the categories most affected in this instance: lighting, battery-powered radios and portable chargers.