http://www.news.com.au/news_content/state_content/427150b.htm

Y2K fear growing

19dec99

SYDNEYSIDERS are hoarding up to six months' worth of food, water and batteries as millennium bug panic builds in the lead-up to New Years Eve.

Uncertainty over what effect Y2K will have on services such as electricity, water and banks has led families and businesses to stock up on survival supplies.

Dozens of stores throughout Sydney report increased demand for canned food, bottled water, candles, batteries and solar-powered equipment, with some selling up to ten times more than their usual trade.

Food processing giant Heinz-Watties has increased production of popular canned goods as demand grows.

Many retailers are battling to keep up their stocks and fear they will not be able to fill their shelves quickly enough to meet demand.

While some businesses are winding down for the holiday period, canned goods producers are planning to step up their production less than two weeks before the New Year.

Birkenhead Batteries and Solar Power owner Rodney Nyman said his customers had been preparing for the millennium for the past year.

The most popular purchases made at his store have been power generators, solar generating equipment and 24-volt battery-run refrigerators.

Campbell's Cash and Carry manager Phil Coggan said many people responded to a mailout advertising a Y2K Survival Pack.

And major banks have reiterated there is no need for the public to be over-cautious about the safety of their funds.

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@AOL.COM), December 18, 1999

Answers

http://www.news.com.au/news_content/state_content/427150b.htm

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), December 19, 1999.

What rubbish! I was at Birkenhead store 2 days ago and was the only customer!

People at the supermarket checkouts have the usual Chistmas stuff. NO HOARDING! They still DGI, silly!

-- Asking (Asking@a question.com), December 20, 1999.