NEW YORK -- While some Y2K-fearing Americans are buying up baby formula and electric generators, merchants say hoarding is far from widespread as the year 2000 draws near.
"We have not seen our customers hit the panic button," said Don Harrison, a spokesman for Home Depot.Many other big retail chains, including Wal-Mart and Target, also are reporting business as usual.
For years, there have been warnings that if computers misread 2000 as 1900, the power could go out and ATMs might be unable to dispense cash. But businesses and government agencies have worked hard to make sure their computer systems are ready, and now most experts say outages will be scattered and less severe than initially feared.
A recent survey of 1,011 adults by the International Mass Retail Association, a Washington-based trade group, found that nearly 71 percent of respondents said they would not stockpile anything due to Y2K concerns.
"The only thing that's going to happen is that people are going to be depressed when they find out nothing happened," said Charlie Bogle, as he shopped for a New Year's party at a Safeway supermarket in Oakland, Calif.
For those who are preparing for Y2K, the focus seems to be on the basic necessities that experts have suggested buying, such as water, batteries and flashlights.
"We have cash on hand, a little bit of extra food, and that's it," said Marguerite Harrington of Salt Lake City.
Still, there are those who are listening to the doomsayers and making sure they are prepared for the worst.
Rylee's Ace Hardware in Grand Rapids, Mich., has sold out of kerosene heaters, and the staff is continually refilling kerosene tanks. In Jackson, Miss., people are buying cases of canned food at the Jitney Jungle grocery store.
Sales of baby formula at the Northeastern supermarket chain Pathmark are 40 percent higher than usual.
"I've definitely seen a run on generators over the past month," said John Brogan, assistant manager of a Home Depot in Denver, where a storefront display also includes propane heaters, Duraflame logs, flashlights and batteries.
Sears is protecting itself from would-be hoarders by imposing a 20 percent restocking fee to anyone who buys a generator and then tries to return it in January.
"I'm not scared of Y2K," said Judy Norton, who has 15 gallons of gasoline and lots of supplies stored at her Traverse City, Mich., home. "Just being wise and prudent.