I agree -- I'm not sure what's going on. I've had my extra stash of tp and paper towels for over 10 years ...
I just realized that I must be a hoarder even though I haven't bought a single roll or toilet paper or paper towels since this began.
I live alone and keep both my house and my workshop supplied with essential items because I have a full bath in the "office" of my workshop,along with a hammock to sleep in,microwave,refrigerator,computer,wi-fi,ac,and heat. That way if I am out there working on something I don't have to stop and come back to the house. I can even stay out there for days at a time if I want,and only go to the house to feed and water the house cats.
I tend to buy essential items in bulk both because it is cheaper to buy them,and it saves me from having to make extra trips to the store,which is a 25 mile round trip.
Even now I am not really close to running out. I think I still have 10-12 rolls of tp between the shop and the house,and probably more rolls of paper towels than that because I use them for shop rags.
Still,I AM glancing at the tp and paper towel aisles when I go to the grocery store,and plan on buying a 10 or 12 pack of tp and a 4 or 6 roll pack of paper towels when I spot my preferred brands. Just to be sure.
So, now I'm wondering -- are the paper companies and cleaning supply companies cutting back supplies in order to slowly continue to raise prices? The demand is definitely there.
I don't know. Seems to me that since there is no one company with a monopoly on these items,the companies would be pumping them out as fast as they can to meet the demand while it's here. After all,the sales of these items will be taking a nose dive as soon as things go back to what we all laughingly call "normal".
I suspect this damn "stay at home and stay 17 miles away from everyone else" foolishness is mostly responsible. Most people,being the sheep they are by nature,are terrified of dying,and are now afraid to go to work. If your employees don't WANT to go to work because they are afraid,and the government is telling them to not go to work,there is not much that can be done about it.