It looks like there are several factors, but for those who lived through the Carter years it all sounds familiar.
Once major inflation hits, there is a disconnect between the ask price and the bid price—for just about everything—and at each level of the supply chain.
So suppose you are the wholesaler for paper towels. Your primary supplier just asked for a ten percent increase in price. Do you pay for the paper towels or do you wait hoping the price will go down if you are patient?
Everyone makes different decisions—some pay the new high price and some wait.
If the price is paid all the way through the supply chain then the goods are available but expensive.
If the price is not paid at any point in the supply chain there is a shortage of the goods.
That is one factor—of course there are others.
Thanks. I’ve noticed a few empty shelves, but of seemingly unrelated items. All last year, drain cleaning solutionslike Drano seemed to be in short supply. The other day, my store was out of tomato juice and regular V8. Chicken bouillon was also in short supply. A nearby 7-11 was short of frozen products like ice cream and pizza. And I’m once again seeing reduced supplies of paper products - toilet tissue, paper towels, and paper plates, although it still isn’t as bad as last year.
“...but for those who lived through the Carter years it all sounds familiar.”
I did and I agree with you. It was a mess. Pedo Joe is going to be Carter on steroids before he’s through with us!
The Carter Years:
Ah...Yes!...It has that familiar feel to it.