What We Know About the UK's Stockpiling Sales Surge

Sales of radios, torches, power banks and tinned goods have risen sharply at several UK retailers in the days after the government urged households to stock up for a possible emergency, according to figures gathered by BBC Newsnight.

The increases follow remarks by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting on October 22, when he said people should keep three litres of water per person per day, tinned goods, baby food, battery-powered torches and phone charging packs on hand in case of disruptions such as a cyber attack or extreme weather, according to BBC News. The retail figures, cited by Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt and Bernadette Kehoe, suggest many shoppers acted on that advice within days.

What triggered the surge in sales?

The spike traces directly to the government's "Be Ready" campaign and Streeting's October 22 stockpiling advice, per the BBC report. Several retailers told Newsnight the increase in orders began almost immediately after the announcement, with one independent seller describing order volume that outpaced anything the business had previously handled.

Which retailers reported the biggest increases?

The figures obtained by Newsnight vary by retailer and by product category. Robert Dyas reported a 160% increase in radio sales compared with the prior week. Maplin reported a 92% increase in radio sales, a 284% increase in torch sales and a 106% increase in power bank sales over the period since the government's announcement, compared with the same period the previous month, according to the BBC. Iceland said tinned product sales rose 40% over the weekend, with strong bottled water sales as well.

Independent prepper-focused retailers reported even larger relative jumps. Josh Pringle of Sgt Prepper's online store told Newsnight his sales increased tenfold, saying most of the new orders were for wind-up radios. Lincoln Miles, founder of Preppers Shop UK, reported a 650% increase in sales after the government's announcement, telling Newsnight that "everything about off grid seems to be the key of what people are buying for the minute."

Reported sales increases, by retailer

• Robert Dyas: radios up 160% week-over-week
• Maplin: torches up 284%, power banks up 106%, radios up 92%
• Iceland: tinned products up 40% over the weekend
• Sgt Prepper's: overall sales up roughly tenfold
• Preppers Shop UK: overall sales up 650%

What exactly did the government tell people to buy?

Streeting's October 22 guidance named five categories: three litres of water per person per day, tinned goods, baby food, battery-powered torches and mobile phone charging packs, according to the BBC. Newsnight found that many of the items seeing sales increases matched that list closely, which the broadcaster said indicates consumers responded directly to the specific guidance rather than to general prepping trends.

How are retailers responding to demand?

Maplin managing director Ollie Marshall told Newsnight the effect was immediate. "Within hours of the Be Ready announcement we saw people reach for the basics - a torch, a wind-up radio, a power bank," Marshall said. "Torch sales nearly quadrupled and radio sales almost doubled in three days." Marshall added that the products involved are "simple, affordable" items that "keep a household connected and informed when the power goes out," and called it "encouraging to see people taking the advice seriously."

Iceland, for its part, said supply has kept pace with demand. A spokesperson told the BBC: "It's clear consumers have listened to the government's message as we have seen a 40% increase in sales of tinned products over the weekend and strong sales of bottled water too. Our supplies of these products remain healthy."

What do officials say about the stockpiling advice?

Asked by Newsnight about the jump in retail sales, Streeting said the response was welcome. "It's encouraging that people are taking practical steps to be ready," he said. "Having a few everyday essentials at home, from tinned food to torches, helps households prepare for disruption, whether that's flooding, power cuts or burst pipes. We can all play our part in making Britain more resilient."

The BBC report does not include independent data on national retail trends beyond the figures supplied by the retailers named, and does not say whether supply chains more broadly are under strain. The original figures and retailer comments were first reported by BBC Newsnight.