panic buying

noun

1. the buying up of large quantities of a commodity which, it is feared, is likely to be in short supply

Example Sentences

Then this spring and early summer, shortages of petrol led to queues outside petrol stations, and the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company warned against people panic buying.

From BBC

Other companies stepped up to fill the supply void, though health systems and doctors tried to snap up what was available, leading to supply imbalances because of panic buying.

From Washington Times

Supermarkets said people were panic buying bottled water and Waitrose in Godalming said it was sold out.

From BBC

The country’s oil companies, meanwhile, blamed the shortfall on a serious of unrelated events in recent days, but sought to head off any continued hoarding or panic buying by reassuring the public that their capacity to produce was “robust.”

From Seattle Times

As Armenians rushed to leave the Karabakh capital, known as Stepanakert by Armenia and Khankendi by Azerbaijan, fuel stations were overwhelmed by panic buying.

From Reuters