<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Managing multiple autoimmune conditions leaves Lauren Antonenko with almost no flexibility in what she can eat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She lives with ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis and fibromyalgia, relying on a tightly controlled diet to manage her health – this includes a large portion of canned goods.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rising fuel costs are prompting shoppers to change how they buy these staple groceries.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-donald-trump-says-israel-lebanon-agree-10-day-ceasefire/5e23263b-d1d9-49c1-a5f0-f4377cd5b473" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire"><strong><span>Donald Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Referred to as "pantry loading," it involves grabbing non-perishables when they're on special to avoid paying more for them later.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rather than panic-buying or emptying shelves as we saw during the pandemic, people are securing more of what they normally use. The goal isn't to hoard, but to make the most of price promotions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For Antonenko, it's also about making sure the foods she depends on are always within reach.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/pantry-loading-fuel-crisis-aussie-supermarkets-iran-war/59b0ca54-1d69-4ab6-96f2-6b5c306dade0" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When fuel prices started climbing, the first thing I noticed was how quickly the mental calculus around shopping changed," she explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She sticks to the "non-negotiable" items her body can handle, like canned fish, vegetables, rice, and certain long-life broths.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-17-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/d7652f60-9d6d-4fc3-b566-b0df27fb328f" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Trump whacks Australia in fresh attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's no urgency in it, no drama ... I'm only stocking long-life and frozen foods I know my body tolerates and that I actually use."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sales data from major suppliers is starting to reflect that trend.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Manufacturer SPC Global told </span><a href="http://nine.com.au/"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span> that, as shoppers pared back spending, demand for basics, like canned baked beans, canned tomatoes and packaged fruit, rose by up to 20 per cent in late March.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At a household level, the focus on essentials is taking different forms. Some are cautious at the checkout, while others are stepping away from supermarkets entirely and turning to their back garden.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-forecast-supply-geelong-oil-refinery-fire-update/e2b90419-e37c-462b-85de-68b01f4031d1" rel="" target="" title="'Could happen right away': Fuel prices to hike again after oil refinery fire"><strong><span>'Could happen right away': Fuel prices to hike again after oil refinery fire</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aussie business The Diggers Club has recorded a 94 per cent surge in seed sales recently, driven by everyday vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli and peas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anna-Lize Pretorius has started making the most of what she can grow at home, trimming her weekly grocery bill by $30 to $60.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When you step into the garden instead of the supermarket … that's money you're simply not spending," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Food tastes better when you've grown it yourself. There's no question about that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, for those without access to a home garden, buying in bulk has become a practical way to manage rising costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dr Timothy Neal, a Scientia Senior Lecturer in Economics at UNSW, said the behaviour is consistent with how consumers respond to uncertainty.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If one expects either price increases or supply constraints of a particular good in the near future, it's rational for the consumer to increase their stockpile," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With more of the weekly budget absorbed by fuel and mortgage repayments, spending in other areas tends to fall, as fewer meals are eaten out and demand for basic food items rises.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dr Neal said a simple check can help households buying too much.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Families can distinguish between being prepared and over-purchasing by thinking before buying whether they will have a real need for the good over the coming few weeks or a month."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If not, then it's probably better to put it back."</span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/0hQVawoJOcozaTlEamrBC9nqYzM=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F01%2F749301%2Fninecomau-bug_alt-2-copy.png"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Major grocers, including Woolworths, IGA and Aldi, say stock levels remain steady.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're continuing to see consistent supply, and there's no need to over-purchase or stockpile," an IGA spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By buying only what you need and being mindful of others, it helps ensure everyone in the community can access the essentials they rely on."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>