Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Do Empty Shelves Count As Inflation?
Dollar Collapse.com ^ | 8-24-2021 | John Rubino

Posted on 08/24/2021 1:43:04 PM PDT by blam

The prices of a lot of things are up these days, which fits the common definition of “inflation.”

Meanwhile, an increasing number of products are appearing at the same price but in smaller packages.This is inflation’s slippery first cousin “shrinkflation.” Here’s a sampling from a recent study:

• Bounty paper towels: The triple back has shrunk from 165 sheets to just 147.
• Costco’s toilet paper: A large pack was 425 sheets last year, but now is just 380.
• Dial Body Wash: Reduced from 21 ounces to 16 ounces, a 25 percent reduction.
• Ziploc freezer bags: 54 bags last year, but just 50 bags this year.
• Quaker Instant Oatmeal: 10 packs last year, but just 8 this year for some varieties.

Empty Shelves

But what about when the thing you want just isn’t there? Where does the complete absence of something fit on the inflation spectrum? This question is no longer academic, as empty shelves appear in stores across the US. (One nearby example: The Sequim, Washington Costco is – shades of 2020 — currently out of toilet paper.)

From yesterday’s Wall Street Journal:

Why You Can’t Find Everything You Want at Grocery Stores

Labor shortages, raw materials’ scarcity make supermarket supplies unpredictable; some executives say problems are worse than spring 2020’s dearth.

Grocery-store chains are still battling supply challenges that some executives said are as bad as what they saw in spring 2020, when hoarding left holes in stocks of some staples.

Industry executives say new problems are arising weekly, driven by shortages of labor and raw materials. Groceries including frozen waffles and beverages remain scarce as some food companies anticipate disruptions lasting into 2022. A wider range of products is running short and logistical challenges are compounding for many retailers.

Donny Rouse, chief executive of Louisiana-based Rouses Markets, said he is struggling to fill shelves as his company runs low on everything from pet food to canned goods. The chain of more than 60 supermarkets is sometimes receiving as little as 40% of what it orders, prompting Mr. Rouse and his staff to try to secure products earlier and more often. Before the pandemic, Rouses received well over 90% of its orders.

“It is difficult for customers to get everything they want to get,” said Mr. Rouse, grandson of the chain’s founder.

Remind you of anything? Like maybe Venezuela’s ongoing hyperinflation, which looks like this:

As for whether empty shelves equal inflation, that’s complicated. For now let’s just say that 1) shortages are both a cause and an effect of rising inflation, and 2) it’s getting harder to view Third World financial crises as something that can’t happen here.


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: crash; emptyshelves; inflation; oodaloop; prepper; preppers; shortages; shrinkflation; shtf
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-131 next last
To: BiglyCommentary

I would like to be on any ping list you might create for that!


41 posted on 08/24/2021 3:31:35 PM PDT by Mama Shawna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Mama Shawna

It would be redgolum, not me.


42 posted on 08/24/2021 3:36:00 PM PDT by BiglyCommentary
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: BiglyCommentary

Oh crap! Clicked the wrong comment. Thanks.


43 posted on 08/24/2021 3:50:57 PM PDT by Mama Shawna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: BiglyCommentary

Please ping me if you do .


44 posted on 08/24/2021 3:51:02 PM PDT by katykelly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: katykelly

See 42


45 posted on 08/24/2021 3:55:56 PM PDT by BiglyCommentary
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

The great wall of buttwipe in Hillsboro Oregon is gone. They are out.


46 posted on 08/24/2021 4:11:25 PM PDT by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: stonehouse01

Walmart here in Hernando, MS. has been out of stock on stuff for weeks. Customers joke as they pass each other in the isle about how they seem to be out of so much.
Time to go back to Kroger.


47 posted on 08/24/2021 4:31:48 PM PDT by Married with Children
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: bgill

Aldi’s large eggs usually average 55g. That’s almost jumbo (56g).


48 posted on 08/24/2021 4:36:44 PM PDT by The Truth Will Make You Free
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

Our Costco was so full there were pallets on the floor because there was no room on the shelves.


49 posted on 08/24/2021 4:38:35 PM PDT by The Truth Will Make You Free
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Chode

North Carolina calls them Alcoholic Beverage Control ie the ABC store.


50 posted on 08/24/2021 4:39:32 PM PDT by Karoo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: bgill

#30 I noticed my last package of 18 large eggs that some defiantly were smaller. I wonder if they are mixing in some.
I am receiving some groceries today by delivery so will check to make sure the large eggs are large.


51 posted on 08/24/2021 4:48:44 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Blue Highway

Ice cream used to be $2.49 or on sale $1.99 / half gallon.
It’s now $5.49 or $6.49 for 1.5 quarts.


52 posted on 08/24/2021 4:59:49 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers

Is there an Aldi’s in your area?


53 posted on 08/24/2021 5:01:05 PM PDT by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Karoo

thx, ABC in FL is a liquor store but not state run, it’s a chain


54 posted on 08/24/2021 5:01:24 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. P144:1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

Yes.

They’re good on fruit & vegetables, very good on bratwurst, pork, hamburger (including grass fed) and chicken, great on canned goods.

Don’t trust their dairy products except cheese though.


55 posted on 08/24/2021 5:15:49 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: BiglyCommentary

How manufacturers do the “shrinking package” scam: if the old size and the new size were stocked at the same time, then people would notice.

So you stop delivering the old size until there are no more on the shelves or in people’s pantries. Then start delivering the new size.


56 posted on 08/24/2021 5:21:20 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (A Leftist can't enjoy life unless they are controlling, hurting, or destroying others)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: minnesota_bound

Eggs delivered and I would say the size is medium.


57 posted on 08/24/2021 6:39:07 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: blam

In it’s simplist form, inflation can be defined with three clauses:

1 - Too much money...
2 - ...chasing...
3 - ...too few goods.

Google M2. Clause 1, check.

Google velocity of M2, Clause 2 - not yet (but watch out!)

Anecdotal evidence of clause three is all over the place. Check.

So probably inflation has started heating up. Once it gets hot, spending will accelerate as people trade paper assets for hard assets. This could be very ugly.


58 posted on 08/24/2021 6:44:15 PM PDT by narses (Censeo praedatorium gregem esse delendum. (The gay lobby must be destroyed))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chode

Here they are. The warehouse in RDU can’t get employees to load the trucks because of the “free $$$” and “unemployment $$$” bull shit !!!

In Texas this would never happen. The store owners would go do it or send employees to load the trucks !!! There are 2 distributors that split the liquor products (because they are both owned by retired old school politicians and the families) and the beer is the same.


59 posted on 08/24/2021 10:07:04 PM PDT by mabarker1 ((Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress !!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: BiglyCommentary

There are some floating around.

But good idea.

I have been telling people to get their Christmas presents (and anything else) now. At least on order.


60 posted on 08/25/2021 6:09:36 AM PDT by redgolum (If this is civilization, I will be the barbarian. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-131 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson