Over the past few days, people across the US have noticed an increase in sales of toilet paper. But what's the cause and should be worried in Minnesota?

ALSO READ: 11 Picture-Perfect Places to Stay in Minnesota this Winter

Port Strikes Begin in the US

On Tuesday, October 1st, port workers along the East Coast went on strike. FOX 5 in New York says the ports with workers on strike are in New York, NY, Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD, Hampton Roads, VA, Wilmington, NC, Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA, Jacksonville, FL, Miami, FL, Tampa, FL, Mobile, AL, New Orleans, LA, and Houston, TX.

FOX 5, New York
FOX 5, New York
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That's a lot of ports where we would usually get goods shipped into the US from other countries.

Because of the port strike, tons of people along the East Coast and down in the southern states started panic buying. The most notable item was toilet paper.

Woman carrying stack of toilet paper in supermarket
AsiaPix
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USA Today reports that the panic buying is nothing like it was at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but still.

They also said that a Costco in Arlington, VA, where toilet paper is usually stacked to the ceiling, was lower than normal. Also, a Los Angeles-area Costco had a rise in toilet paper sales but, again, nothing like 2020.

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Should We Worry About a Toilet Paper Shortage in MN?

As for us in Minnesota, should we be worried?

In reality, no one in the US should be panic buying toilet paper right now, even on the East Coast. CNN reports that "the overwhelming majority — more than 90% by some estimates — of US toilet paper consumption comes from domestic factories."

So with these port strikes, we don't need to worry about stores in Minnesota or even across the country getting low on toilet paper.

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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross

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