During the COVID$-19$ pandemic, consumer behavior underwent a seismic shift, primarily due to panic buying and the pervasive uncertainty about the future. This led to a surge in the purchase of essentials like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and canned food, resulting in empty store shelves as demand outstripped supply. The stock market briefly crashed due to lockdown concerns but quickly rebounded when the situation stabilized.

When replying to your classmates, please share your own examples and experiences and explain how they are either similar to or different from their examples. Be sure to address how supply and demand in those areas either increased or decreased and whether the changes were short$-$term or long$-$term. Please be specific.