–Hardware stores and gas stations: Nothing sells shovels like a snowstorm. There’s also a spike in interest for ice scrapers, sand, salt, snow blowers and gas to run them. This intensified demand sometimes leads to price gouging.
–Grocery stores: What is it about snowstorms that inspires people to stock up on bread and milk? Grocery stores do brisk business, which means long lines at the register and empty shelves for the procrastinators. Don’t be surprised if the line at the nearby liquor store is also longer than usual, too. But the pre-storm spike is usually offset by a lull once the storm hits, and the overall picture is mostly a wash for grocery stores, Beemer said.
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Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2015. All rights reserved.
Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.
