As you flip through your morning paper or scroll down your Facebook feed, have you ever stopped to think about the impact of current global shortages on your life? Probably not, because unless you’re a starving artist or a remote mountain hermit, it seems like most of us are pretty insulated from the day-to-day realities that drive people in other parts of the world crazy.

You might not think about it every day, but there are all sorts of things we take for granted that might soon disappear from store shelves. That’s because there are all sorts of global shortages happening right now, and they could be impacting you without you even realizing it. So today, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the things that might be in short supply.

 

Truckers

People were forced to remain inside their homes because of the epidemic. The production of goods in a wide variety of businesses came to a halt, and truck drivers frequently found themselves without work. They had two options available to them: either they could do nothing but wait around or they could look for other job that did not depend on the lockdown being in place.

Truckers, like a significant number of other people throughout the course of the past several years, chose the latter. There is a lack of truck drivers now that the sector has reopened since many people have left the profession to find other ways to make money.

 

Crocs

Businesses have come and gone in the previous several years, with some struggling and others thriving. One of these brands is Crocs, which has seen a meteoric rise in sales thanks to a string of high-profile collaborations with celebrities and the rising demand for loungewear.

Their earnings climbed from $18.7 million in 2021 to $122.5 million, and as a result, there is a lack of supply as they battle to keep up with the ever-growing demand. Their profits increased from $18.7 million in 2021 to $122.5 million in 2021. It’s no surprise that the sneakers have sold out given the exposure they have received from celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Post Malone.

 

Xbox

In response to a lack of semiconductors, which led to a lack of computer chips, we are experiencing a scarcity of the much-loved Xbox. As we have seen now, more than at any other time in the past, supply and demand are linked together in a chain. If anything is broken, we will experience it everywhere.

Microsoft has reassured its customers that the current scarcity of PlayStation 5 and Xbox series X will soon be resolved; yet, there is speculation on the internet that both consoles may continue to be in limited supply until the end of the year. For the sake of humanity, let us pray that this technology doesn’t continue for an extended period of time.

 

Tesla

Due to a lack of semiconductor chips, the worldwide automobile industry has been crippled. This has led to a significant decrease in the manufacturing of automobiles throughout the industry as a whole, and Tesla is not an exception to this trend. Musk did mention, back in 2021, that there were some significant problems in the supply chain.

One of these problems was a scarcity of chips, which Tesla requires for a variety of control systems, its infotainment system, and of course, its software for autonomous driving. In a typical Musk manner, the business is currently focusing on the development of firmware for new chips produced by a variety of different manufacturers.

 

Shipping Containers

The shift in global business and the shopping habits of individuals is reflected in the severe lack of available shipping containers. The significant increase in global trade volume that started around the middle of the year 2020 has resulted in a need for a greater number of shipping containers, which has led to the current scarcity.

We were at home shopping for domestic items to remodel the house, office supplies for the home office we were setting up, and a significant number of plants and baking equipment. While we were busy making sourdough and growing veggies on our balconies, all of these products were being transported across the globe.

 

Lumber

The slowdown in the production of lumber was caused by the expectation of a downturn in the housing industry, which, however, never materialized. Because of this, there was a greater demand than there was supply, which led to delays in both new buildings and renovations across the board.

The price of lumber futures is currently seven times higher than it was in April 2020. Considering the fact that timber is the most common material used by home builders, one can only guess what impact this will have on the market in the not too distant future.

 

Ketchup Packets

Have you recently noticed that when you order delivery or takeout, the ketchup packet is frequently missing? It’s not your imagination; there really is a lack of ketchup in the world right now! To be more exact, the ketchup packets are designed for takeout. This is because of recent revisions to the rules governing eating in restaurants.

The customers were deterred from eating in the restaurants, which led to an increase in the number of customers who ordered delivery or takeout. It seemed like overnight, everyone wanted ketchup packets, but they just weren’t enough for everyone! Recently, Heinz raised output by twenty-five percent, which results in an astounding twelve billion packets of ketchup being produced yearly.

 

La-Z-Boys

Orders have been delayed by a whopping nine months, according to the well-known chair manufacturer. The interruptions in supply caused by rising demand have resulted in an unprecedentedly long lead time. During the lockdown, who wouldn’t want the coziest seats possible to sit on while watching Netflix and chilling out?

The enormous winter storm that brought the supply chains to a halt also contributed to the delays that have occurred as it caused interruptions in the raw material supply. This (in a very literal sense) snowballed into the situation that we have today, which is that there is a wait of anywhere from five to nine months for a La-Z-Boy chair.

 

Bicycles

The increasing use of bicycles that has resulted from the epidemic is one of its positive effects. People prefer to walk or ride their bikes wherever feasible, as opposed to taking public transit, in order to keep their social distance from one another. As a direct consequence of this, early-2020 bike sales have increased dramatically by 121 percent.

This has not slowed down despite the fact that an increasing number of individuals are accepting the new normal. There are times when using a city bike-sharing service is not viable, and the wait time for obtaining a bicycle can range anywhere from five to nine months. Not only are there not enough bicycles available, but there is also a scarcity of the necessary replacement components.

 

Rideshare Drivers

In the years running up to 2020, ride-sharing grew increasingly popular as a way for people to be more environmentally responsible while also saving money. If you and another person are headed in the same general location, you might be able to find a way to share a trip with one another rather than having to take the bus or pay for a cab by yourself.

It should come as no surprise that there has been a major drop in the demand for services of this nature. To tell you the truth, the concept of getting into a car with complete strangers while being so close to them is somewhat foreign at this point in time. It’s possible that ridesharing will make a comeback in the future; however, only time will tell for sure.

 

Aluminum Cans

When there was suddenly a scarcity of aluminum, we see the potentially disastrous implications that panic purchasing may have here in this situation. As a result of pandemic-driven bulk purchasing, it is anticipated that this shortage will balloon to a deficit of 100,000 to 200,000 tons by the end of the year.

The exceptionally high demand for canned products is, on the one hand, the flip side of something that may have been first construed as a successful endeavor. Large corporations such as Coca-Cola have acknowledged that they have been impacted by the limited supply of their products and the strong demand for such items.

 

Platinum

Platinum is in short supply, according to the World Platinum Investment Council, which has been keeping a careful eye on the metal’s price. The shortfall currently stands at -932 Koz, making it the greatest deficit ever recorded. According to the updated projection provided by the WPIC, the deficit might be attributed to the unpredictability of the economy.

Platinum is a precious metal that is frequently utilized in the creation of glistening and pricey jewelry; nevertheless, when the economy is unstable, individuals tend to spend less money on platinum. The need for platinum has grown, but the supply hasn’t been able to keep up with the demand. This is because the economy is growing a little bit more, and things are getting at least a little bit more stable.

 

Silver

People who acquired silver in anticipation of its eventual scarcity were correct in their predictions. They are in a position to shine (no pun intended), given the severe scarcity of silver that is now being experienced. In 2020, there was a twenty percent growth in demand for silver, and this trend maintained all the way through 2021 and 2022.

The markets in the United States and Germany, which are the two most responsible for the rising demand, are screaming for the precious metal despite the fact that supply has not been able to keep up with demand. Because of the high demand for American Silver Eagle bullion coins, the United States Mint has been forced to raise its usual output temporarily.

 

Gold

Gold and silver are in high demand, but the U.S. Mint is unable to keep up with the demand. Gold prices are predicted to rise 11.5 percent by the end of the year, reaching $1,974 per ounce, due to a global shortage of classically beautiful metal.

Mass vaccinations have revived the market and consumers understand that solid metals, which harken back to the gold standard days, are a safe haven purchase,” analysts told the New York Times. It is widely accepted that as inflation increases, gold prices increase as well, according to the website Investopedia. In 2020, gold bullion coin sales jumped 258 percent, putting many customers on a waiting list for deliveries.

 

Sardines

The salty fish scarcity isn’t going to sit well with you if you’re a fan. There is a severe scarcity of sardines at the moment because of the present crisis in the sardine industry. It’s been years in the making, according to OCEANA research from 2015. The Pacific sardine population has been in decline since 2006 as a result of increased fishing pressure.

Overfishing has reduced the natural population of forage species by 95 percent in the last fifteen years. It has been determined that the sardine population has fallen below the level required to sustain commercial fishing, known as “the cutoff.” Sardines can only be brought back to the oceans by reducing fishing, which would cause a complete sardine scarcity.

 

Tequila

It’s likely that Margaritaville may have to take a break in the near future, which must be causing Jimmy Buffet a great deal of emotional distress right now. In the agave industry, there are high and low points. One of the main ingredients in tequila is agave, which is now seeing a decline in price.

In order to make up for the decline in agave populations, agave producers have been forced to harvest four-year-old plants. Greater tequila must be collected because these plants don’t produce as much tequila, resulting in even more shortages. Agave prices have risen and fallen over the years, and the tequila sector is still reeling from this uncertainty.

 

Helium

Fortunately, it looks like the helium scarcity is abating. Helium shortage 3.0, as it was dubbed by one source, hasn’t ended, and the worldwide market is set to see even more changes in 2023. If you want to make your voice sound weird, then helium is more than simply a gas you can breathe. There are too many people using it, and it is important and nonrenewable.

Natural radioactive decay of heavy radioactive elements is to blame for the current helium scarcity. The supply of helium might run out by the year 2050. After entering the atmosphere, helium instantly dissipates into space and is no longer within our control.

 

Wine

Cooking Panda warns that the biggest wine scarcity in years is upon us and that we should be extremely alarmed. The idea of a world without wine seems awful, and that’s because it is. But the supply chain problems that have bedeviled numerous sectors since 2020 might get us there sooner than later.

That includes the $26 billion-a-year wine industry in Sonoma and Napa, which have been struggling recently. At its lowest point in fifty years, wine output has fallen by eight percent in only one year. Your favorite bottle or glass might face a 25 percent price hike in the near future because of this (if not already).

 

Goat Cheese

Since time has gone by, goat and feta cheese have been difficult, but the situation looks to be improving. App Tiktok, which allows users to record themselves doing virtually anything, has been identified as the perpetrator. People went crazy attempting to recreate a spaghetti meal with feta cheese from a popular Tiktok video.

Feta was the hardest damaged, but the goat cheese was also affected because it was located close by. There were other factors at play as well. There was a cheese shortage at Costco because of shipping containers being held up at ports because dock employees’ immunizations hadn’t kept up with the increase of containers.

 

Sugar

Sugar output in Brazil, the country’s largest sugar exporter, is at an all-time low. While the South American exporter tries to find out how to bring down its soaring ethanol prices, cookies, cakes, and brownies could, regrettably, have to take a second seat. People are being immunized and going back to work, and as a direct consequence, they are increasing the amount of biofuel they use in their vehicles.

As a consequence of this, the market price of ethanol is skyrocketing, and the price of sugar is also increasing in order to encourage production. As a whole, the stock market is to blame because of the rivalry between food and fuel, and it is quite unlikely that the sugar supply constraint will be resolved at any time in the near future.

 

Water

Because we are primarily water, we must have access to this limited supply if we are to exist. The availability of water is a given, and most of us can’t picture life without it. Unfortunately, that prospect appears to be approaching rapidly. As a result of the state’s current drought, millions of Californians are being forced to use less water.

That’s not all, however. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), climate change has produced changes in weather patterns all around the world. In certain areas, food shortages and droughts are typical, while in others, floods are a regular occurrence. The outcome? By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population might be without water.

 

Sand

Sand may conjure up images of lazy days on the sand, but it has much more to offer. “And,” as CNBC put it, is the foundation of our entire civilization. In the creation of silicon chips and other things that employ sand, it’s practically universal. It’s not only getting everywhere. It’s everywhere as well.

The scarcity of sand has been dubbed one of the century’s “biggest sustainability issues” by climate researchers. In total, there are seven quintillions, five hundred quadrillion grains of sand on the planet. Sand use has increased thrice in the last two decades, leading to supply chain issues and sand shortages.

 

Lethal Injection Drugs

When it comes to the death penalty, this is either good or bad news, depending on your personal opinion. A lack of sodium thiopental, a lethal injection medication, has forced several jurisdictions to turn to more traditional means of carrying out society’s final sentence. The corporation that manufactures the medicine had a change of heart about the product, which resulted in a scarcity.

Due to its objection to the death sentence, the only American distributor of sodium thiopental ceased production, resulting in a statewide scarcity of medicine. There is a severe shortage of lethal injection medications, and the identities of those responsible for manufacturing the few that are still available are shrouded in mystery.

 

Dirt

At first look, it may appear as though there is enough supply of dirt and muck in the area. However, there is a lack of soil, and this portends for the rest of humanity. Our survival depends on the soil. The soil is what’s needed to grow crops like maize, which is a dietary staple.

The severe lack of available soil is one of the finest illustrations of the current predicament. In the early 1900s, the depth of the topsoil ranged from 14 to 18 inches. Currently, it ranges from six to eight inches. The topsoil has been eroded by wind and water as a result of excessive farming and tilling of the land. The consequences of this shortfall might include rising food costs for a wide variety of essential produced goods.

 

Sperm

A husband, a wife, and two or three children comprised the perfect family composition seven decades ago. As a more developed culture, we have come to realize that this is not always the case. Families may take on a variety of configurations, from same-sex couples to single parents, and an increasing number of individuals are turning to sperm banks in order to begin their own families.

In 2021, demand for sperm will soar as more single women and couples of the same sex want to start kids. People are turning to other sources to obtain their sperm since sperm banks are unable to keep up with the demand for their services. As a result, privately organized donations are becoming increasingly frequent.

 

Fish

The fishing market is regaining its footing, but not all aspects of the industry have returned to normal yet since there are still shortages of some kinds of seafood and fish. This is due to the high level of physical exertion that is necessary to go fishing. There is a demand for operators and laborers in a variety of settings, including hatcheries, feed mills, boats, and more.

As more individuals receive their vaccines, an increasing number of them will go back to work. However, things have not yet returned to normal one hundred percent, and labor shortages have continued to make fish markets more difficult to navigate. Although certain sectors, such as the crab industry, are seeing expansion, others, such as the salmon and tilapia industries, are experiencing a slow start when compared to 2019.

 

Data Storage

Investors in the stock market who wished to acquire SSD, NAS, and hard drive stocks were aware of the fact that data storage is limited. These customers observed that the price of everything had significantly increased, and there were fewer items available. One of the most significant contributors to the problem is that production factories are running behind schedule due to a lack of available workers.

The level of demand has been steadily growing, and the manufacturing industry has frequently battled to keep up with the ever-increasing requirements. The fluctuations in demand can be difficult to foresee, catching the industry off guard and leading to a lack of supply.

 

Nurses

In the United States, there are several factors that contribute to a nurse shortage, and bigger locations are particularly heavily impacted. Since there are not enough newly graduated nurses to fill the void, the difficulty of the shortage increases with population density.

This scarcity has been going on for quite some time, and the surge in demand for medical services in the year 2020 has only served to make the situation worse. There are three factors contributing to the nursing shortage: an aging population, an aging labor force, and a scarcity of newly graduated nursing students. Things are only going to get worse for California, which will have the largest nurse shortage in the country by 2030.

 

Effective Gonorrhea Treatments

You and your partner’s health are at risk if you don’t get tested periodically for STDs, such as gonorrhea, which is why it’s critical to do so. It is possible to treat the STD with an antibiotic injection and a single dosage of medicine that is taken orally. In any case, it was the case.

Antibiotics are proving ineffective for an increasing number of patients, and reports are coming in from an increasing number of nations that gonorrhea is becoming resistant to ceftriaxone. According to Public Health Ontario, “the final antibiotic class” for treating this STD efficiently is dwindling, and this might have catastrophic repercussions for the public’s health. In the United States today, there are presently 820,000 cases of gonorrhea.

 

Oil

It has been pointed out that the price of oil has spiked, and there are gas shortages, resulting in longer queues at the pump and gas stations that have been forced to close. This has resulted in eye-watering high gas prices.

High oil prices may be caused by economic instability as well as political difficulties; however, the most recent cause was a cyber assault on a pipeline system that occurred in 2021. As a consequence of this, oil prices eventually settled at a higher level, and people were increasingly anxious about the lack of oil. According to Rystad Energy, the cyberattack’s “nature” and “size of…infrastructure” caused the market to be “visibly disturbed.” Both of these factors contributed to the attack’s severity.

 

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is another element on which society is very dependent, though many people might not realize how much. 90% of this element is used in crop fertilizers, which keep the global food supply chain moving. The depletion of phosphorus will cause food shortages and skyrocketing prices, the effects of which would be disastrous.

Currently, the rate of consumption means that our phosphorus reserves will be gone in eighty years. That gets even worse, considering that consumption is going to keep increasing. When a crop is harvested, the soil loses phosphorus, but that phosphorus is never returned to the soil. Instead, it’s deposited in places like sewage, food waste, and sludge.

 

Natural Gas

In the spring of 2021, Texas was hit by a major weather event. The typically warm and bright state was covered in ice due to the freezing weather and frequent blizzards. Because of this unanticipated weather phenomenon, oil and gas wells and pipelines across the state of Texas were destroyed.

The natural gas shortfall is gradually being alleviated, but it has taken producers and pipeline operators a very long time to resume normal operations. The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline did not help matters either, and the combination of these two incidents has been a one-two punch that has left the natural gas business (at least) reeling. To our great relief, everything will run smoothly at one hundred percent sooner rather than later, assuming it hasn’t already.

 

Coal

Fortunately, this one does not harm the United States of America; rather, it concerns China. The United States is not now facing a coal shortage since there are enough coal resources and reserves to account for four trillion tons.

However, China is, and the circumstance is so precarious that the government is mulling the possibility of imposing price restrictions on the coal market. China implemented power outages to cope with its coal problems, resulting in numerous cities becoming completely without electricity. China’s refusal to buy Australian coal is said to be the source of the shortages. In the midst of an intensifying disagreement, diplomatic ties between the two countries are at a halt.

 

Medical Isotopes

Nuclear medicine utilizes medical isotopes for various purposes. These include treatments for cancer and other aberrant tissue growth diseases, such as radiation. Medical isotopes can save lives, but they are currently unavailable. As a result of manpower shortages, these radioisotopes are experiencing delays in distribution and delivery.

Despite the fact that things are getting better, there are still shortages of hospitals, which is bad news for patients. Because of their short half-life, hospitals cannot store substantial quantities of these radioisotopes. Over time, this would be a waste of money and resources, putting hospitals in an even more difficult position than they now find themselves in.

 

Lobster

Lobster is regarded as a “special occasion” meal by so many. As a result of the fact that splashing lavishly at a luxury restaurant has not been on the worldwide menu for some years now, it is rather simple to see why there is such a significant decrease in demand for lobster. The combination of weak demand and abundant supply will lead to a decline in price.

When you add all of the many sorts of import and logistical issues that are caused by the closure of borders, you end up with a recipe that does not include lobster. The lobster business is engaged in a battle to maintain its footing as we all anxiously wait for the world to resume its normal operations so we may get our lobster crackers dusted off.

 

Vaping Devices

Vaping has virtually replaced smoking, and just as we didn’t understand the impact that cigarettes had on our health in the 1950s, we don’t understand the impact that vaping has on our health now. However, this does not serve as a deterrent, as vaping has quickly grown incredibly widespread around the world.

The vast majority of vape product manufacturers are based in China, and as has been demonstrated time and again, China’s policy of blocking its borders has wreaked havoc on the business. A scarcity of coils and other vaping gear has spread around the world as a result of a limited supply. If fewer people smoke as a direct result of this, then maybe it’s not such a terrible thing after all!

 

Dr. Pepper

During the course of the previous two years, several soda firms had shortages at various times. Even though most of them have made a full recovery, Dr. Pepper still hasn’t found a way to get back into the swing of things. An early aluminum shortfall, which had a huge impact on the sector, and high demand during the height of the epidemic, led to the shortage.

Pepsi even tweeted about the scarcity before the end of last year, claiming that they were doing all in their power to get all of the different varieties of Pepsi back on store shelves. In the midst of a food scarcity crisis, panic-buying ensued, with individuals stocking their kitchens from floor to ceiling.

 

Nintendo Switch

Nobody could have possibly predicted the astonishingly strong demand for electronic goods that we have seen this year. While we were all cooped up inside, we were forced to come up with methods to keep ourselves busy, and for many of us, the answer that sprang to mind first was playing video games.

The video game industry as a whole was affected by shortages, but it appears that the Nintendo switch was the one that took the worst impact. This year’s goal is to create 30 million units, which means that their manufacturing facilities are running at full capacity. Because of titles like Animal Crossing, the Nintendo Switch gained even greater popularity, and there was just not enough supply to meet the demand of the general public.

 

Garlic

Surely no one knew that China produces 70% of the garlic consumed in the United States. As a consequence of the epidemic, garlic shipments from China were drastically reduced, which led to a rise in costs and a lack of supply throughout the entirety of the United States.

Argentina entered the market in an effort to claim their portion of the market, but they were unable to offer their products at the low rates that we are accustomed to seeing from China. If you are a fan of garlic, now could be a good time to add it to the list of veggies and herbs that you began cultivating during the epidemic. Independence is the most important thing!

 

Laptops

Another reason laptops are still struggling after the pandemic is that there are no longer enough microchips available. This has had a devastating effect on both the IT sector and the laptop market. One of the primary factors that contribute to particular models being extremely difficult to locate is a delay in production. The second factor is homeschooling, which requires children to have access to electronic learning instruments.

Homeschooling necessitated the purchase of individual electronic equipment for each student, whereas traditional schools allowed many children in the same household to use a computer or two. The number of available laptops plummeted as a direct consequence of the skyrocketing demand for these devices.

 

Craft Beer

Not the product itself, but the packaging is in short supply in this instance. Aluminum shortages have posed limits for beverage producers across the United States, and the craft beer sector has felt the pinch as a direct result of these shortages because craft beer is typically exclusively offered in cans.

Tariffs imposed on Chinese imports are primarily responsible for being the primary cause of the shortfall. The global market for aluminum is anticipated to have a shortfall of between one hundred and two hundred tonnes by the end of the year, despite the fact that a complete recovery is anticipated to take place. We have no way of knowing when this will be, just like we have no way of knowing when anything else will be this year.

 

Solar Panels

Solar power is not only the way of the future, but it also assures a certain level of self-sufficiency, which, as time goes on, we can see how very vital it may be. To suggest that having the potential to produce one’s own electricity through the use of solar energy is liberating would be an understatement. However, there is now a lack of solar panels, which is making the transition to renewable energy challenging for a lot of people.

The reason for this is due to the fact that China is the primary manufacturer of solar glass. Although it is feasible to acquire from other sources, the price will not be able to compete with the prices that are being offered in China.

 

Air Conditioners

China is responsible for the production of a staggering 210 million air conditioners in just one year. As the world’s largest air conditioner unit maker, it was unable to produce during the pandemic when borders were closed, and import-export was nearly halted. The fact that there was a record-breaking increase in the number of sales for individual units within residential residences did not assist this situation.

Many industry experts believe this presents a chance for the United States to take China’s spot as the world’s leading exporter of air conditioners. The current worldwide shortages are a striking example of what may happen when an individual places all of their hopes and expectations on a single prospect.

 

Canned and Frozen Vegetables

When the lockdown was originally implemented, crowds of people immediately ran to the nearby stores and stocked up on as much food as they could. The shelves of the supermarkets were cleared out, and the inhabitants’ houses were stacked from floor to ceiling with toilet paper, pasta, and canned foods.

It was quite similar to a scenario from an end-of-the-world movie. As a direct consequence of this, there was a severe lack of canned food. Cans of food were in limited supply all throughout the United States owing to a combination of factors, including a lack of available aluminum as a result of problems with exports and disruptions in the production of seasonal commodities.

 

Auto Parts

COVID-19 exposes serious supply chain problems for global business, and automobile components are no exception. Since a significant number of car spares and components are manufactured in and imported from China, it became obvious early in the pandemic, at the beginning of the year 2020, that the automotive sector would be severely impacted by a lack of these resources.

The explanation behind this may be boiled down to one word: money. Producing goods in China results in lower costs compared to producing them anywhere else in the globe. There have been significant manufacturing delays at Nissan, Honda, and Mazda, to name a few. Consequently, there is currently a severe lack of car parts and supplies.

 

​​66. Burberry

High fashion has seen a major shift in the previous two years, and the industry has been forced to dramatically reduce its output. Many major high street retailers are closing their doors due to a rise in internet sales, which reduces the rationale for the costs of running a physical and mortar store.

Because of the decline in demand, several businesses have been forced to reduce their sizes. We no longer feel the need to dress up as much since we are spending more time at home, working from home, and receiving our education from home. Luxury designer firms like Burberry saw their sales plummet, as did those of loungewear, yoga trousers, and slippers.

 

Coins

More and more shops are shunning cash in favor of credit card transactions since the outbreak of the epidemic began. This is mostly owing to worries about cleanliness since money has a well-deserved reputation for being filthy. Even if it is not a novel concept, we foresaw the movement toward cashless companies that is currently taking place; yet, COVID has unquestionably sped up the process for many retail outlets.

To further complicate matters, the shutdown of financial institutions during lockdowns led to significant disruptions in the chain of distribution for United States coinage. As quickly as possible, the Federal Reserve has said that they are correcting this issue and restocking coin supplies.

 

Baby Yoda

There will be no more Star Wars collectibles for us if Chinese shortages continue. If you take away my Yoda, all we can do is wish you “May the Force be with you” and accept the fact that there will be fewer canned products and even fewer artisan brews available. In all seriousness, there was a genuine lack of toys and games being manufactured in China at the time.

So much so that it appears that the mid-summer stock market will fall short of what we’ve come to expect in the past. When it comes to Christmas shopping this year, we will need to be really planned or else we will have a large number of youngsters who are unhappy to accompany us.

 

Big Screen Movies

Many people have said that film is no longer an enjoyable source of entertainment. Immersive theater and escape rooms are popular with younger audiences who want a more hands-on experience. In spite of this reality, theaters continue to play a significant part in the overall success of movies at the box office in the United States, and release dates for all films have been forced to be moved back.

There are two main reasons for this: first, several movie theaters around the nation have shut their doors. Lockdown and other limitations have resulted in several delays in filming. The release dates of major motion pictures have been pushed back by up to a whole year, which is an eternity in the film industry.

 

Specialty Flavor Snacks

The previous year, manufacturing was forced to come to a halt; nevertheless, some firms were fortunate enough to be able to get away with only slowing down their operations or being considerably more careful about which items they were going to continue to create.

In this particular instance, we witnessed a decline in the manufacture of specialized flavor snacks. Snacks that were more well-known and had a better possibility of selling were given more priority by companies because of this requirement. When nobody knew what was around the next bend, there was not much space for taking risks. As a result, a number of products were axed with no means of knowing if they would ever return to the market.

 

Fizzy Drinks

As if the lack of aluminum cans and craft beers wasn’t bad enough, we now have a dearth of carbon dioxide, which means fewer canned products and beverages. You may be wondering how this comes to pass. The answer is that it is a by-product of ethanol production, which takes place in factories that were forced to close down in the previous year.

Corn ethanol factories have been shutting down all throughout the United States. There are almost 200 facilities with a combined capacity of 17.1 billion gallons, but last year 69 of them were forced to shut down because of environmental concerns. This comes after an annual average of 8–10 business closures in the preceding years.

 

Clorox Wipes

The term “hand sanitizer” has crept into the everyday vernacular of the general public, even among the youngest of citizens. To put that into perspective, cleanliness has never been more of a concern, and it is my sincere hope that this trend will continue long after all of this is in the past.

In the past two years, Clorox wipes have developed into a very desirable product. It is simple to disinfect surfaces everywhere, which is something that is required for everyone, and it should be done quickly. The intricate supply chain was simply unable to keep up with the demand, which led to a severe lack of these useful wipes and a major shortfall overall.

 

Nike

You may have noticed that shipping containers are in scarce supply in this situation. As a result of the epidemic, an increased number of individuals are working from home and placing a higher priority on comfort than on appearance. Sales of athletic and loungewear have skyrocketed as a result of this shift in consumer behavior.

However, because there is a lack of shipping containers, large businesses like Nike have had trouble keeping up with the demand for their products. People are accustomed, in today’s culture, to having their internet orders delivered fairly promptly after placing them. Customers are more inclined to switch to a product with a faster shipment time if they detect a delay in delivery.

 

Palm Oil

Palm oil is experiencing shortages as a consequence of a somewhat unique problem. The severe lack of available labor in Malaysia’s oil palm plantations has led to a decline in the overall production of approximately one tonne per hectare compared to that of the same period in the previous two years.

This is because the fruit is simply not being gathered. The reason for this is that the government has maintained a protracted ban on allowing foreign employees to work in plantations because of the COVID-19 virus, and as a result, those workers have not been permitted to harvest fruit. Foreign workers are typically responsible for this task.

 

Tampons

The phrase “period poverty,” coined in the last few years, refers to the major problem that many poor women face when they can’t afford to buy pads or tampons. A movement to get rid of the levy on feminine hygiene products has been sparked as a result of this.

During the pandemic, many individuals fell further into poverty, and there were many problems with the manufacturing and import of feminine hygiene products. Additionally, the number of persons who were able to find work decreased significantly. When you add in the stress of last-minute shopping, it has been a really challenging time for a lot of individuals who go through periods.

 

French Fries

The news that we won’t be able to enjoy our beloved crispy, salty French fries anymore will be a source of great sadness for many of us. A potential shortage of French fries is on the horizon, and the reason has to do with how the climate is changing. There is a risk that millions of people might be displaced as a result of the droughts, wildfires, and harsh weather.

This terrible situation has the potential to cause a scarcity of potatoes, which wouldn’t be the first time this has happened. For the first time since 2010, the USDA determined that American potato production fell by 6.1% in 2019. Consequently, there was a shortage of French fries because potatoes are the primary ingredient required to manufacture that mouthwatering treat.

 

Work Trucks

Work vehicles are the latest victims of a microprocessor shortage that has taken place recently. Because there is a scarcity of microchips, small firms have been unable to replace older vehicles in their fleets, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of the shortfall. According to J.D. Power, the possibility of a shortage of microchips has been there since May of 2020, when demand climbed while supply decreased in the opposite way.

Now, more than a full year later, that issue has continued to rear its head and pose problems for the organization. It could wreak havoc on communities all around the country if small companies were unable to purchase newer, more reliable work vehicles to replace older ones that have broken down.

 

Roofing Materials

Unprecedented supply disruption is taking place in the roofing business. According to the words of one expert in the roofing sector, the timing was what truly threw the roofing community for a loop. Even though they were “accustomed to” supply concerns and shortages, these problems often didn’t occur in “March and April” as they did in 2021.

In that year, however, they did. Because of the shortfall, the entire industry was thrown off. Shingles and other roofing materials were two more things that were destroyed when there was a breakdown in the supply chain. This resulted in a rise in the cost of roofing. It is common knowledge that the cost of having a roof replaced or repaired is already rather high.

 

Paper Towel

Everyone has heard about the severe lack of paper towels in the year 2020. US homes were devastated by it and the lack of toilet paper. People’s frantic purchase was the root of the problem. People rushed to hoard toilet paper as soon as the outbreak broke, for whatever reason. They proceeded in the same manner with the use of paper towels.

People’s obsession with paper products drove the supply chain to breakpoints. Because of this, most retailers have limited consumers to one roll of paper towels each person even if the situation has improved marginally. NielsenIQ estimated in March of 2021 that the lack of paper products had caused retailers losses of more than one billion dollars.

 

Rubbing Alcohol

In comparing the scarcity of rubbing alcohol to that of paper towels, The Wall Street Journal noted that the latter was driven by an “irrational” need to hoard, while the latter had a scientific foundation. The events that took place in 2020 resulted in a genuine and legitimate demand for solutions that eliminate germs and viruses.

Because of the enormous demand for rubbing alcohol, the supply chain was unable to keep up with it. In addition to the fact that there is a high demand for rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer, there is also a shortage of the raw material that is required to produce these products. It’s difficult to tell if the recipes for DIY rubbing alcohol online can match the genuine thing.

 

Tostitos Multigrain Scoops

Not the Tostitos Multigrain Scoops, please. For any single brand, there are a number of sub-brands that appeal to a certain audience. Although the Tostitos Multigrain Scoops were not precisely the most popular item at any celebration, they still managed to do well with customers. When it comes to 2020, the term “okay” was no longer acceptable.

Tostitos and other firms have eliminated low-performing products in order to focus on the most profitable ones. The company’s normal tortilla chips and “scoops” were the company’s most important product line. Cheetos did the same thing, suspending production of their Crunchy Xxtra Flamin’ Hot label in order to concentrate on the product that sold the most. The non-basics are expected to re-emerge in popularity in the future.

 

Diet Soda

If you’re trying to lose weight, a diet Coke is a great option. Unfortunately, diet soda is currently experiencing a scarcity for two distinct reasons at the same time. To begin, there is a lack of aluminum, which has an adverse effect on the quality of all sodas. Plastic bottles have stepped up to the plate to fill the void caused by a disruption in the supply chain of aluminum cans.

One cause for the shortfall is a scarcity of cans, and the other is the artificial sweetener in the soda itself. As a result of the interruption in the supply chain, diet soda is becoming difficult to get. Even while it can still be found on the shelves, there is a possibility that it will not be supplied to the customary degree.

 

Cookware

This one relates to kitchenware made of stainless steel, which accounts for a significant portion of the market. Because it does not rust and is simple to clean, stainless steel is a material that is commonly used in cookware. There may not be as many stainless steel frying pans and saucepans available as there usually are.

The lack of stainless steel is to blame, and it was brought on by manufacturing concerns as well as tariffs. Even in the midst of all of these problems, the level of demand has continued to increase, which is not helpful. According to industry data, unmet steel orders peaked in spring 2021, while stockpiles fell to a three-and-half-year low.

 

Plastic

As far as the plastics sector is concerned, there has been force majeure after force majeure. Due to supply chain issues stemming from the events of 2020, plastic supplies were already few. Then the weather intervened, further compounding the situation. There was a scarcity of plastic in 2021 due to severe weather, including winter storms, hurricanes, and extreme cold.

The obstruction of container traffic in the Suez Canal was another factor that was counterproductive. In addition to that, there was an extremely high demand for plastic in the market at the same time. The present logistical challenges that the plastics sector is facing are a direct result of a decrease in raw resources with an increase in demand that has risen.

 

Non-Traditional Oreo Flavors

Those who prefer the traditional Oreo—two chocolate wafers with vanilla filling in the middle—have nothing to worry about with this new offering. But if you’re a fan of the more unusual Oreo tastes, such as Caramel Apple, Banana Split, or Fruit Punch, you may be unable to locate a suitable substitute. Focusing on the classics has been Oreo’s new strategy.

Regular Oreos and thin Oreos dipped in chocolate have proven to be the company’s most popular products throughout the years. Oreo shifted its attention to the best-selling varieties as more people stayed at home. As things start to get back to normal, you could start to see some of your old favorite strange flavors making a comeback on the store shelves.

 

Canned Soup

When individuals were confined to their homes for the whole year of 2020, they resorted to simple, comforting dishes like soup. The relief of not having to prepare anything at all was a gift from heaven, and ready-made items such as Campbell’s soup flew off the shelves, particularly among millennials.

Although the increased demand was excellent news for the firm, the supply chain was unable to keep up with the demand due to a shortage of labor. In 2020, Campbell Soup Co. reported fantastic third-quarter profitability, but the company was beset by inventory issues. Although the firm has recovered and has refilled its inventory to the greatest extent feasible, there may still be shortages in certain regions.

 

Fitness Equipment

During 2020’s shutdowns, gyms were among the worst-hit industries. Gyms may be compared to a petri dish in this regard. Even if there isn’t a worldwide epidemic, the gym isn’t necessarily the cleanest place in the world since people sweat when working out. As a result, in March of 2020, these facilities were quickly shut down. Even a year later, many people are still scared to go back to the gym because of their negative experience.

Many individuals are now exercising at home instead of sitting around all day. They wanted to stock up on supplies for their newly constructed do-it-yourself home gyms. As a result of this extraordinary demand, the gym equipment supply chain was unable to keep up and a scarcity occurred.

 

Old Bay

McCormick’s most popular spice, Old Bay, has been in limited supply. Despite McCormick’s greatest efforts, there is still a shortage in 2021, despite the company’s best efforts to prevent it. McCormick did not ax Old Bay as a brand in 2020.

Although Old Bay continues to be a popular commodity, keeping it in supply has proven to be a challenge. McCormick even employed 1,400 new personnel in order to maintain its supply network. No matter how fast it sells out, Old Bay is always accompanied by the dreaded “Out of Stock” notice. Paprika, seafood flavor, and celery salt might be substitutes, but they won’t taste the same.

 

Cement

In May of 2021, the Construction Leadership Council issued a dire warning regarding the labor crisis. Some of the most pressing shortages are affecting the supply of bagged cement as well as the supply of specific electrical components used in construction. The primary contributors to this problem have been climate change as well as a disruption in the supply chain in the year 2020.

The CLC predicted a shortfall for the next six months due to an increase in global and national demand and a consequent decrease in supply. Eleven of the thirty-five states recognized by the Portland Concrete Association as having a “cement deficit” have shortfalls that have been classified as “critical.”

 

Pepperoni Pizza

Pepperoni pizza is the scariest scarcity of all time. But there won’t be any pepperoni pizza? Sure, the lack of medical supplies was terrifying, and the shortage of construction materials may mean that you won’t have any options if your roof collapses. That is a serious offense.

It’s taken a while for meat processing companies to recover, so demand for everyone’s favorite pizza topping has dropped. Even while things are going better and the low pepperoni levels aren’t as awful as they were in 2020, everything has not yet been restored to 100 percent, even if things are getting better. The cost of pepperoni for small pizza shops has increased by $1-$2 per pound since 2020.

 

Iced Green Tea

Starbucks is now suffering a variety of shortages, and one of those limitations is with everyone’s favorite green drink, iced green tea. The price of iced green tea is currently at a low point, and it is frequently not available in stores. When all of it has been purchased, it can no longer be had. So, why is there such a shortage of a drink that appears to be completely at random?

Starbucks provided an explanation for the shortage of specific menu items on Twitter, stating that there was “overwhelming interest” for such items, in addition to “constraints in the supply chain.” According to the coffee giant, consumers should prepare themselves for these shortages to last into the late summer.

 

Tires

It’s fair to say that this one has been in the works for a long time, though. Global rubber supply was predicted to decline in 2019 by the International Tripartite Rubber Council. It was anticipated that there would be a shortfall of 900,000 tons in 2020, which would represent 7 percent of total production. When the year 2020 arrived, the severity of the crisis increased.

People were unable to establish new rubber trees, which resulted in a significant delay in the production of rubber. The supply of rubber is reportedly “tightening up,” as reported by Bloomberg. Due to the fact that tires are composed of rubber, they will be one of the millions of items that are at risk of experiencing supply challenges as a result of this shortfall.

 

Fireworks

There is now a scarcity of backyard fireworks, which is great news for those who don’t like to hear loud explosions all month long. Even though business was flourishing in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July in 2021, many consumers were disappointed to discover that their preferred fireworks had been purchased up rapidly and were not being restocked.

About a third of the goods ordered by firms like Phantom Fireworks were not delivered as ordered because of the scarcity. Phantom CEO Bruce Zoldan likened the situation to running out of turkeys or pumpkins just in time for the holidays. People didn’t really celebrate the Fourth of July in 2020. Therefore there wasn’t much merchandise, to begin with.

 

Yeast

Yeast was in short supply in 2020 because so many people had decided they wanted to learn how to bake bread. There was a shortage of dry yeast as a result of laws requiring people to stay at home, and the supply chain was unable to keep up with the demand.

This was the case with virtually every other product on this list as well. Even up to this day, the yeast supply chain has been sluggish to recover, perhaps due to the fact that people who discovered other hobbies during the quarantine period have chosen to pursue them. No of the cause, there is a significant amount of demand. According to MyRecipes.com, it does not appear like the yeast scarcity is going to “ease any time soon.”

 

Canned Corn

Because so many products were in great demand when the epidemic struck, sales of canned maize increased by over half in 2020. In anticipation of an end-of-the-world scenario depicted in “28 Days Later,” people started hoarding and buying cans of food in a frenzy, including foods like beans, maize, and soup.

As a direct consequence of this, the market for canned corn went into a downward spiral from which it hasn’t yet recovered. The supply chain was broken, which resulted in an increase in demand that was over the roof. Many people found it difficult to get canned sweet corn in their local supermarkets, and this is still the case today. However, canned sweet corn is an essential ingredient in many side dishes.

 

Hand Soap

As with many other items that perished in 2020, hand soap is still in low supply today, and the worldwide demand for the product wasn’t the only factor. As was noted before, the plastics industry is also suffering from scarcity at present. Because virtually every bottle of hand soap comes with a plastic hand pump, the supply chain was impacted when this component became unavailable.

People made do by using dish soap instead of hand soap in their daily routines. Bar soap gained popularity as well due to its comparable efficacy to liquid soap. After some time, the demand for bar soap ultimately exceeded the supply chain, and eventually, bar soap became another commodity that was affected by scarcity.

 

Shipping Pallets

When it comes to the shipping sector, ABC11 referred to shipping pallets as the “hidden heart of logistics.” That’s why it’s so worrisome to learn that these essential building blocks are in limited supply. Shipping pallets are in high demand, and the United States produces one billion of them each year.

Unbelievably, not even a billion dollars will suffice. Because to the high demand, shipping pallets were scarce as of June 2021. As a result, many diverse businesses, ranging from technology to food, might be adversely affected. Demand for pallets is so high that pallet-makers are scrambling to meet it. Because plastic is also in low supply, they are unable to substitute it for wood.

 

Lettuce

In addition to the pandemic, climate change is to blame for several of the shortages on this list. The lack of lettuce is mostly attributable to climate change; nevertheless, the epidemic and the numerous disruptions it caused in supply chains surely did not help the situation. These “lettuce crop losses” are to blame for the scarcity, which emphasizes the “supply chain fragility,” according to AgriLife Today.

The devastation to lettuce harvests is being blamed by experts on extreme drought, fires, and a disease that affects lettuce. The lack of lettuce not only makes it difficult to stroll along the aisles of a grocery store and pick up items in advance, but it also makes it uncertain if you will be able to order a salad at a restaurant or a fast-food chain.

 

Liquor

North Carolina has been particularly hard hit by this problem. The lack of booze has had the greatest impact on Charlotte, North Carolina. “[Alcohol] is just nowhere,” as one establishment put it. Liquor is becoming increasingly difficult to come by in Charlotte, with businesses trying to purchase what they need from beyond the county and even the state. In Charlotte, supply chain and staffing concerns were to blame for the problems.

The NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission stated that the problem is felt “statewide,” but Charlotte, a popular destination for tourists and bar-goers, is feeling it the most. At this point, it appears like the problems in Charlotte won’t have as wide of an impact on the rest of the country.

 

Flour

Flour is a key ingredient in most baked goods, so the thought of scarcity is worrisome. Things got difficult in 2020 when there was a severe scarcity of flour. In the aisles, there were a number of signs that said “out of stock,” and even now, it is common for stores to place a limit of one purchase of flour per client.

Because they don’t want shortages to occur once more, grocery stores in the area are being more selective in the flour that they purchase. There was a significant rise in the number of people baking during quarantine in 2020, which put a strain on the supply system, which was already understaffed.

 

Printer Paper

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a lack of something as essential as printer paper would significantly and widely affect the world. Problems with the supply chain have resulted in shortages. The rise in the number of people who purchase products online has caused manufacturers to shift their focus to producing cardboard boxes, which has contributed to the shortages.

The effects have been as varied as bookstores like Barnes & Noble having to deal with significant delays in publishing books and engaged couples having to deal with highly inconvenient backorders on wedding invitations due to the situation. Printed documents, from critical legal documents to middle school essays, have increased paper costs.

 

Ben & Jerry’s

For many people, you can understand why Ben & Jerry’s is a beloved ice cream brand. There are countless combinations to choose from. Ben & Jerry’s provides a wide variety of ice cream flavors to choose from. Regrettably, there is a possibility that shortages of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, along with those of other brands, will persist throughout the entire year 2021.

The events that transpired in the year 2020 produced disruptions in supply networks. Trade restrictions are gradually being eased, although ice cream consumption has decreased as a result of the shutdowns. Ironically, the ice cream industry is “suffering a crisis,” as the online publication Slate put it. Everyone sincerely hopes that some of their favorite ice cream brands will soon be available again.

 

Champagne

It is anticipated that this one will only grow worse. If you enjoy champagne, you are going to be really dismayed to learn this information since the popular sparkling beverage is forecast to suffer from severe shortages in the not-too-distant future. According to The Drinks Business, specialists in the champagne business have expressed concern that the shortfall may be caused in part by rising consumer demand.

Another factor may be “reduced promotional effort.” Because champagne is “sold on pricing,” there won’t be strong enough promotional effort to keep it flowing, so to speak, because pricing is the primary factor in the sale of champagne. Unfortunately, industry experts anticipate that the shortages will be most acute around the holiday season.

 

Fish Sticks

When it comes to fish sticks, the United States and Canada appear to be on opposite sides of the argument. Fish sticks and sandwiches made from Alaska pollock are exported from Canada into the United States once the fish have been captured. The fish come from the Gulf of Alaska.

The United States Customs and Border Protection is alleging that the pollock shippers have broken the Jones Act, which is a statute that mandates the pollock to be transported on ships that the United States owns. It is up to the courts to resolve the legal knot, and we can only hope that they do it quickly, as the disagreement is likely to result in a shortage of fish sticks and fish sandwiches if it is not addressed.

 

Frozen Meals

When you’re in a rush or just don’t feel like cooking, a dinner made from frozen food may be a time-saving and hassle-free alternative. People rely on frozen meals, which is why the news of a potential shortage is so frightening. People rely on frozen meals.

There may be a scarcity of carbon dioxide, which might result in frozen dinners being removed from store shelves. Dry ice, which is required for frozen food storage, is produced by the usage of carbon dioxide. This shortfall has occurred at a time when the food sector is still reeling from the supply chain disruptions that were caused by the year 2020. Most acutely affected by the global carbon dioxide gap is the United Kingdom, but the United States may be next.

 

Marie Callender’s Pot Pie

Ads are a year-round occurrence, especially around the holidays. The holidays are a significant time of year for firms like Marie Callender, McCormick, and others because they allow them to run campaigns after promotion. In an effort to keep the shelves stocked for the longest amount of time feasible, suppliers have requested that grocery stores drop promotions for products such as Marie Callender’s Pot Pies.

After all, individuals are unable to purchase anything if they are unaware that it is available. The champagne sector is suffering from the same problem brought on by a lack of advertising. Canceling Christmas advertising campaigns is a strategy that Marie Callender and other firms are employing in order to give themselves more time as they continue to work through supply chain challenges.

 

Sour Patch Kids

There are a lot of Sour Patch Kids around. People love them, and who doesn’t remember the famous “First they’re sour, then they’re sweet” marketing campaigns for the candy? The same supply chain concerns that are causing a shortfall of Marie Callender Pot Pies are also responsible for the lack of Sour Patch Kids.

Like other well-known companies, the creators of Sour Patch Kids have requested that retailers discontinue Christmas marketing and offer in the coming months. Hopefully, this will keep the stores filled with Sour Patch Kids until supply chain difficulties are resolved. While it’s possible that candy packs won’t be as plentiful in the coming months, it’s doubtful that this will happen.

 

Swedish Fish Candy

There have been several “Manufacturer Scarcity Updates” from candy outlets throughout the world concerning the present Swedish Fish shortage. Due to issues with the supply chain, the sweets that are red in color and have a cherry flavor are in short supply. These very same problems with the supply chain have been plaguing Sour Patch Kids as well.

In 2018, Mondelez International, which is one of the largest candy sellers in the world, encountered shortages of sweets for the first time in recent history. Trade restrictions haven’t helped either. As a result, in order to keep Swedish Fish on the shelves over the holiday season, Mondelez has requested that confectionery merchants refrain from holding promotional activities.

 

Toblerone

As reported by USA Today, the lack of Toblerone can be attributed to “supply chain restrictions.” The lack of Toblerones correlates with a more widespread issue, which is the disappearance of chocolate. It’s possible things won’t get much better for chocolate as a general, despite the individual brand’s 2020-induced issues.

Congestion at ports in California and the East Coast, as well as power disruptions in China and trade restrictions, are among the supply chain worries for Toblerone. However, we may point the finger at global warming, which is wreaking havoc on cocoa trees and contributing to the overall chocolate scarcity. It is anticipated that by the year 2050, chocolate will no longer be available to consumers.

 

Oscar Mayer Products

When we think about Oscar Mayer, the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic “wiener-mobile,” which has become a symbol of successful marketing. In contrast, those hot dogs and other types of meat items, such as cold cuts and bacon, may become far more difficult to locate in the following months.

The provider of meat, according to a number of different news agencies, is planning to raise prices by nine percent in order to mitigate the consequences of problems with the supply chain. If the traditional hot dogs are the focal point of your cookouts, you should probably start thinking about a backup plan or else be prepared to send out a lot of money.

 

Velveeta

Macaroni and cheese that doesn’t actually have any real cheese in it have typically been made with Velveeta as the cheese of choice for as long as anybody can remember. However, because of problems with the supply chain, the price may have increased since it was last available.

Fans of fake cheese all over the world will soon feel the brunt of the problem, despite the fact that it won’t probably surpass the price of real cheese any time soon. The production of the tasty cheese-like chemical cocktail has been constrained by global production shortages, and consumers will soon feel the full impact of the problem.

 

John Deere Tractors

Tractors manufactured by John Deere are the most recent examples of farm machinery to see significant price hikes in the wake of a walkout involving 10,000 workers who are demanding higher wages. Because of this, used tractors are now fetching higher prices at auction than they did when they were first acquired several years ago.

Because of the increase in sales of secondhand tractors by 30-50 percent, it may take some time for the market to find its equilibrium. Up until then, the expenses are going to be transferred to other sections, and they may even be passed on to the customers in the section of the store that contains the fruit.

 

Gravestones

Even while the passing of a loved one may never come at a convenient moment, those who work in the tombstone industry are facing yet another very special challenge right now. As a result of problems with the supply chain, the majority of gravestone vendors require a period of six months to finish customer orders.

Due to a lack of available labor, quarries that extract granite are suffering workforce shortages. This, in turn, elevate the demand for the stone itself, which in turn drives up costs and wait periods. The specialists in this field estimate that it might take two years before everything settles down.

 

Garage Doors

“If you had to rank the difficulties homebuilders encounter, garage doors are the worst right now,” said Rick Palacios Jr., director of a real estate consulting business, to The New York Times in an article on the issue. “If you had to rank the headaches homebuilders face, garage doors are the worst right now.”

The prices are approximately three times what they typically are, and the installment periods, which used to last for a few weeks, have been extended to last for many months. Because of this, customers who are interested in purchasing a new house are already purchasing the garage doors before the builders have even begun work on the foundation.

 

Baby Formula

When it comes to infant formula, supply chain concerns and labor constraints have already led to shortages and price increases. But later, well-known brands such as Similac and Alimentum have pulled off shelves owing to the possibility of Salmonella contamination.

Pediatricians are advising parents to transfer their children to any formula that is already on the market or even to put older babies on solid food earlier than was originally planned. In the meanwhile, frightened parents are making frantic phone calls to food banks and church drives in an effort to feed their infant children. With a market value of $76 billion USD in 2013, the worldwide infant formula sector grew 7.2% over the last decade.

 

Fertilizer

Fertilizers may appear to be a resource with no end; nevertheless, this couldn’t be further from the reality of the situation. In the same way that every other commodity must be purposefully produced, so must fertilizer. However, the production of fertilizer has slowed significantly in recent months for a variety of different reasons.

Fertilizer prices have been increasing due to a lack of key ingredients and manpower, as well as shipping delays, which have also contributed to the difficulty of obtaining the finished product. Along the same lines as the increase in the price of tractors, this may eventually result in higher pricing for other types of products. Farms that rely on fertilizer may need to diversify their crops because of the rising expense of the commodity.

 

Cream Cheese

It’s possible that those who don’t eat bagels with all the fixings won’t feel the effects of this scarcity. However, places like New York and Los Angeles, which have sizable Jewish-American populations and long-established bagel traditions, are obviously raising the alarm about the shortfall.

Even when it is in supply again, retailers are unable to purchase large quantities of the luscious, creamy topping because of its short shelf life. Even if the situation is not life-threatening, the absence of inconsequential aspects of day-to-day living contributes to a general feeling of discomfort. The fact that the scarcity is occurring at all is indicative of a more fundamental reality.

 

Motorcycles

Automobiles are renowned for being difficult to purchase as well as fix, with supply chain problems happening at every stage of manufacture, beginning with mining for the metals necessary to build the parts and continuing through production, assembly, and even shipment.

The producers of motorcycles are contending with many of the same challenges as those of automobiles, and they are also observing an increase in consumers’ interest in two-wheeled vehicles. Long wait lists are a common occurrence for those who are interested in trying out motorcycling. This might be because of rising petrol prices or a lack of available vehicles. There is a high demand for motorcycles, but the supply just isn’t sufficient to meet it.

 

Potatoes

Potatoes, in contrast to cream cheese, are an important part of the diet in almost every country around the globe. Because it is one of the principal sources of carbohydrates consumed across the world, this shortfall will very certainly be felt by millions, if not billions, of people. Potatoes are not being manufactured and distributed at a quick enough rate due to problems with the supply chain.

As a result of this, quick-service restaurants from Kenya to Japan are eliminating chips and french fries from their menus, and it’s possible that the United States may be the next country to follow suit. The potato chip is a type of snack food that is quite common in the United States, and the fact that it belongs to the junk food category raises certain concerns.

 

Maple Syrup

Over the previous few years, a much larger percentage of people have been cooking and dining at home. It would appear that a lot of people have been baking pancakes recently since the demand for maple syrup has skyrocketed by an astounding 37 percent in the past year. Because Canada is the world’s leading producer of maple syrup, the country has been forced to implement some stringent new regulations to keep up with the sharp rise in consumer demand.

The province of Quebec maintains a reserve in case of unexpected events; nevertheless, they have been forced to utilize roughly half of that reserve so far this year. The time of year for pancakes is drawing near, but there is a compelling argument for avoiding syrup during this season of pancake eating.

 

Placemats

One of the most recent effects of the disruption in the supply chain is that shops that typically carry placemats do not now have any in stock. While it’s not a crucial requirement, and most millennials don’t bother to buy things like paper napkins and tablecloths, the lack of these items is nonetheless noticeable.

The problems with the supply chain include most likely a decline in production as a consequence of a scarcity of the raw materials that go into creating the various placemats, as well as labor shortages and difficulty with delivering items to their ultimate destinations. According to an article published not too long ago in The Wall Street Journal, it would appear that the answer is not straightforward.

 

Kevlar

Kevlar, a material that was initially manufactured by DuPont Chemical, is currently in low supply across all sectors as a result of problems with supply chains. Because of its resistance to high temperatures, synthetic fiber finds utility in applications such as bulletproof vests and bike tires.

Because of significant production delays brought on by a variety of factors, many police departments in the United States do not yet have the equipment—including vests, masks, and a great deal more—than they have requested. It is too early to tell what the fallout will be from this disturbance in the supply chain. Since the beginning of 2014, DuPont has had a difficult time dealing with the interruption in its supply chain.

 

Treadmills

Once again, problems with the supply chain are to blame for the limited availability of treadmills. The number of people exercising in their own homes rather than going to traditional gyms has contributed to the continually increasing demand for treadmills. A comparable surge in demand was observed for stationary bikes during this time period as well.

Because treadmill parts have been difficult to come by, and because labor shortages are expected to remain, it is likely that the price of treadmills will only continue to rise. This pattern may become even more pronounced as a result of Peloton’s recent announcement that the company will decrease the production of its own brand of treadmills.

 

Avocados

Imports of Mexican avocados were put on hold after a threat was made against a plant safety inspector in the United States by a cartel member. Guacamole fans are headed for a rough ride because Mexico supplies 80 percent of the avocados consumed in the United States.

People are resorting to extreme methods in order to find a suitable replacement for their cherished creamy fruit, or they are biting the bullet and paying more money on avocados cultivated in the United States. In an effort to get around the avocado scarcity, one restaurant substituted peas for avocados in their guacamole, which turned out to be a terrible idea.

 

Lunchables

Lunchables, which are pre-packaged lunch kits that may be purchased for either children or adults, have traditionally been one of the most popular items sold in grocery stores. When parents went grocery shopping in September of this past year for the back-to-school season, they were astonished to see empty shelves where Lunchables had previously been stocked.

When it was eventually time for kids to go back to school in person, parents were so exhausted from cooking that there was an increased demand for ready-made meals. The scarcity is thought to be at least partially caused by the fact that for months, parents prepared every meal at home for their children.

 

Xerox Machines

Xerox machines may feel like relics of the past in certain fields of work; nonetheless, they continue to be an indispensable component of the majority of office settings. When supply chain problems culminated in a scarcity of microchips, it was a disaster waiting to happen because of this.

Because so many Xerox machines are already prone to problems that need to be repaired or replaced, a great number of businesses have been forced to do without for extended periods of time (weeks to months). It could take a few years to find a permanent solution to the difficulties with the supply chain. Although everyone was impacted, the impact on small enterprises was particularly severe.

 

Eggs

Eggs are another type of food that has become scarce as a result of the problems with the supply chain that this nation is experiencing. Even while hens are laying the same amount of eggs as before, there are inefficiencies in the supply chain at every stage. Delays and price hikes are the result of labor shortages as well as shortages in materials such as egg carton packaging.

These shortages cause delays in the process of sorting the eggs, packaging them, and transporting them to grocery shops where customers may purchase them. Eggs are an essential component of the supply chain in our country since they are a source of protein that can be consumed by people of all ages, from infants to the elderly.

 

Juice Boxes

Drinking water to remain hydrated is better for youngsters than sugary juice boxes, so consider making the transition. Customers are reporting finding empty shelves where their favorite juice boxes are typically stocked as a result of problems with logistics and a lack of available staff.

In addition to Lunchables, other kid meals such as chicken nuggets, school snack packs, beef patties, and snack packs are nowhere to be found on the shelves of the stores. The options available to the parents are either to get inventive or to make do with the restricted materials. It’s possible that, until this matter is rectified, parents may consider buying juice boxes for their children earlier in the day rather than later.

 

Sunflower Oil

Some of the world’s largest sunflower farmers are unable to cultivate their fields and ship their harvest due to conflicts in other countries. Canola oil is a common substitute for sunflower oil, and it is anticipated that the use of sunflower oil will continue to grow in popularity over the next several years.

Sunflower oil is utilized not only for the purpose of frying meals but also in the formulation of cosmetics and other personal care products. It has a pale yellow tint, is rich in vitamin E, and has a reasonably high smoke point for an item of its type. Some of the world’s largest sunflower farmers are unable to cultivate their fields and ship their harvest due to conflicts in other countries.

 

Pasta

The United States population started paying attention to the pasta aisle at their neighborhood grocery shops after an article published on Grub Street about a missing pasta shape—more specifically, bucatini—became an internet sensation and went viral.

However, what those who enjoy eating carbohydrates will likely face in the future is the possibility of a lack of even the most fundamental forms. This is due to a convergence of reasons, one of which being unfavorable weather in France and Canada, which has resulted in lower durum wheat harvests in both countries. Canada is responsible for two-thirds of the world’s supply of the grain that is used to make pasta.

 

Meat

There is a severe meat shortage in the United States, affecting all types of meat, including chicken, lamb, hog, and cattle. The most likely outcome is that costs will go up, which will prompt individuals who are interested in vegetarianism to abstain from purchasing and consuming any form of meat while prices are on the rise.

Meat eaters who are able to purchase these items will still be able to get their fix since there is no chance of shop shelves being bare, but meat may become a luxury good that is only attainable to those who are prepared to pay for it. Mixed opinions can be found on the future of meat.

 

Semiconductors

Before the 2020 pandemic, the semiconductor industry was plagued by long-standing problems. For years, issues at semiconductor fabs, such as a lack of available capacity, have plagued the industry. Because of the significant scarcity of semiconductors, large corporations like Ford have been forced to stop manufacturing as a result.

The epidemic undoubtedly made matters worse since it ushered in a lot of additional difficulties. When automakers, for instance, saw a drop in their car sales at the beginning of 2020, they reduced the number of chips they ordered. It is unfortunate for customers that analysts predict that this shortfall will persist until at least 2023 and maybe even longer unless there is a reduction in demand.

 

Milk

The dairy sector generates billions of dollars annually. Consumers may be alarmed to learn that material and labor shortages are likely going to damage grocery shops’ capacity to supply their dairy cases, as dairy milk is one of the most popular items sold in grocery stores. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has acknowledged that there is still a scarcity of milk, in addition to a number of other food staples.

When compared to previous years, there is a significant shortage of milk. Another factor contributing to the scarcity is the culling of cow herds as a consequence of the lack of available labor, transportation, and packaging materials. The products will not make it to the store if there is no one to milk the cows and load the trucks with cartons of milk and other goods.

 

Bottled Water

Depending on where you live, you may have noticed a water bottle shortage. Due to a lack of the plastic needed to manufacture water bottles made of plastic, the supply of plastic water bottles has become increasingly scarce. People accustomed to purchasing bottled water cases are suddenly being forced to reduce the amount of water they have on hand. But seriously, should we be so concerned about that?

According to The Hill, the environmental effect of drinking water from a bottle is 3,500 times larger than that of drinking water directly from the faucet. When bottles are thrown away, the chemicals they contain leak into the earth during the decomposition process, leading to several adverse health effects.

 

Pet Treats

If you have a canine or feline companion, you are likely aware that there has been a shortage of food for pets for a considerable amount of time. When you stroll down the aisles of a shop, it might be disorienting to discover empty shelves where there ought to be packages of food such as cans and bags.

Most of us have learned to make do with what we have and do wherever we can. Also, to the ordinary food for pets, treats for animals are also in short supply, much to the frustration of our four-legged companions. Shortages of raw ingredients and packaging materials, besides difficulties with transportation, are to blame. The demand for pets is so strong that manufacturers are unable to keep up.

 

Housing

The concept of a shortage of housing may sound startling to some people. According to the CRE, there are now 15.2 million housing units that are unoccupied. The majority live there throughout the year, although there are 3.5 million seasonal residents. Despite these statistics, there are still not enough properties on the market to buy.

In order to alleviate this housing crisis, an additional five million homes would have to be placed on the market, as reported by USA Today. According to NPR, the lack of housing is at its “worst” for consumers seeking “small” homes at entry-level prices. According to NPR, there is a scarcity of builders, stringent zoning rules, and a “generational conflict” as the three primary causes of this housing shortage.

 

Wheat

There’s a good chance that you’ve seen news regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The New York Times pointed out that, in addition to the obvious recriminations that come with fighting, the invasion might potentially imperil the worldwide supply of wheat. The total amount of wheat that these two countries produce accounts for more than 25 percent of the global total.

In addition to causing a societal disturbance, the interruptions caused by the military might result in increased costs for food. Wheat is an essential commodity, and delays in the supply chain have already caused a rapid increase in the price of food. The Chicago Board of Trade said in February 2022 that wheat futures had increased by 5.43 percent in only one day.

 

Catalytic Converters

Platinum, rhodium, and palladium are the three metals that make up a catalytic converter. When combined, these three metals catalyze a chemical process that, as a result, the pollutants produced by your exhaust have less of an impact on the environment. As more time passes, the prices of these metals continue to climb steadily higher.

The pandemic placed pressure on the supply chain that is involved in the production of catalytic converters, causing difficulties with both the labor and the materials. Theft of catalytic converters has been rising, making a bad situation even worse. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of claims related to the theft of these parts grew by 14,433 in 2020, representing a 325 percent rise from the previous year.

 

Glass Bottles

The present glass bottle crisis is wreaking havoc on the world’s wine and alcohol industries. They had a particularly challenging Christmas season as a result of the limited supply, which was brought on by factors such as increased prices for glass, a lack of available manpower, and delays in international shipping.

These difficulties with the supply chain fall under the heading of import problems. Inc. pointed out that there is not a lack of the ingredients that are required to create glass; rather, there is an “import problem.” Businesses are being forced to find alternative materials to glass or to develop novel and inventive ways to improve their supply chains to make up for the shortfall caused by the global glass shortage.

 

Packaging Materials

The packaging market in the United States was roughly $180 billion in 2009. In 2019, it increased to $7 billion, and ProPak forecasts that the worldwide packaging industry will reach $1 trillion in 2024. Even if our items are of the utmost importance, we wouldn’t be able to store them in our freezers and cabinets if they weren’t packaged.

Because of this, the packaging shortages, which are still going on right now, are quite problematic. They are the primary cause of the ongoing changes in the supply of food and beverages. Because of supply chain issues, many firms import packing materials from outside, which is time-consuming. The Food Institute anticipates that these problems will persist into the year 2022.

 

Cow Cheese

When we refer to “cow cheese,” we are referring to cheese that has been produced with cow’s milk. As a result of decreased cow herds, there is now a shortage of cow cheese. This shortage is caused by the lack of cow’s milk. On the other hand, this is not the only factor that contributed to cheese’s reduced length.

In the year 2022, you may have observed that there was a restricted quantity of cream cheese on the shelves of the refrigerator. The disruption in the supply chain was not entirely responsible for it. Cyberattacks were unleashed against a number of institutions and businesses in late 2021, including police agencies, meat packers, and cream cheese makers.

 

Pesticides

Crops are sprayed with various types of pesticides worldwide to protect them against a wide range of illnesses and insects. Controversial additives like this one are in scarce supply, good or bad. That might be a reason for you to rejoice or a reason for you to be concerned, depending on how you feel about pesticides. The primary active components in pesticides, glufosinate and glyphosate are currently in low supply, which is leading to significant price increases.

There will be more problems for consumers in the future, according to Bayer, a business that makes pesticides. A number of causes have contributed to pesticide scarcity, including a lack of shipping containers, crowded ports, dwindling packaging supplies, manpower shortages, and other issues.

 

Wallboard

When referring to the material fastened to studs to produce a finished wall surface, the term “wallboard” is frequently used as a catch-all term. Gypsum is the primary component in producing dry walls, one of the most widely used wallboards.

The construction sector is a significant purchaser of wallboard, and it is also one of the industries that have suffered a significant amount as a result of the epidemic. Drywall is difficult to come by as a result of a lack of synthetic gypsum and latex, both of which are in limited supply. Long lead times are forcing suppliers to increase their order quantities, which drives up the price of an already overstretched product.

 

Skippy Peanut Butter

Peanut butter made by Skippy is one of the most popular on the market. Skippy may be difficult to find in some regions because of COVID-related concerns and a voluntary recall. Due to issues that occurred with the production equipment, Skippy voluntarily recalled 9,300 cases of their peanut butter product.

According to Hormel Foods, an incorrect piece of machinery resulted in stainless steel pieces being found in a “small number” of jars. This shortfall occurs at a time when peanut butter is already in danger due to the snarls in the supply chain caused by the epidemic, inflation, and the notorious labor shortages.

 

Diesel

Many factors are at play in the fuel crisis. The price of diesel fuel is currently at an all-time high, which is contributing significantly to the rapid rise in inflation. In part, Texas’ long recovery time from the devastating deep freeze of 2021 is to blame. During that period, refineries either stopped production entirely or significantly reduced their output.

As the most important oil-producing state in the United States, Texas was particularly affected by the news. The amount of diesel that is stored in the United States is at a level that has not been seen in twenty years. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the US propane supply is running low. The most severe effects of this scarcity are being felt by truck drivers and truck stops.

 

ABS Brake Modules

Many of you who own a car are familiar with the term “ABS brake module” because your technician has most likely used it at least once. The anti-lock brake system in your car is monitored by this module, which is effectively a microprocessor in disguise. It uses sensor data to calculate when to let up on the brakes and avoid locking up the wheels and sliding.

Given how frequently the module is required, the fact that there is a scarcity of these modules is cause for serious concern. Because of the lack of chips, there is a significant need for these modules. Having to wait for a long period for a new module might be a problem for those who need it urgently.

 

Windshields

As previously indicated, there is a present scarcity of glass. Because of this, there has been a disruption in the supply of glass bottles, in addition to the supply of other glass items, such as windshields. According to KSBY, local auto glass companies have been experiencing glass shortages, which has led to a lack of availability of windshields in their inventory.

In a manner analogous to that of the brake module, this indicates that, in the event that you require a new windshield, you may face a delay after placing your order for it. Mechanics in their communities are experiencing a labor scarcity due to factors such as a pandemic, increased expenses, international shipping delays, and other unavoidable consequences.

 

Engine Sensors

There is also a lack of engine sensors, which is relevant to automobiles. When something goes wrong with your engine, these sensors will alert you to it. Like many of the other problems affecting automobiles described in this list, this shortfall is brought on by a chip shortage, the same one affecting consumer items all over the world.

Products that include chips are seeing a significant uptick in demand. As a result of interruptions created by the epidemic, the supply chain has been unable to meet the increased demand. This indicates that the cost of these chips has shot up to a high level. If you require new engine sensors, you should prepare for increased pricing and possible delays after placing your order.

 

Transmission Control Modules

Your car wouldn’t run without the transmission control module, which is an important component. It collaborates with the engine and the transmission to ensure that your vehicle continues to move ahead. The malfunction of the module might result in sluggish acceleration, slipping, and shifting difficulties when it goes bad. Regrettably, the chip scarcity has led to a lack of modules because this is a critical component.

The chip shortage has caused the low supply. At the moment, the price range of replacing your transmission control module is between $697 and $760 on average. If there is a shortage of that module, the price can go higher, and you might also have a delay in getting your hands on it if there is a bottleneck in production.

 

Car Interior Carpeting

There have been shortages like this previously. In 2011, there was such a serious lack of carpets that manufacturers were forced to cease their automobile manufacturing temporarily. Now, after more than a decade, the shortage of automobile carpets has returned, and it is inflicting havoc. According to Bloomberg, even simple items like carpets and oil filters have prompted US garages to “hoard inventories” and “develop workarounds.”

An order for even the most basic component might be delayed for weeks. Since vinyl is a typical substitute for carpeting, an increasing number of garages may find that they need to provide that product to their consumers.

 

Labor Shortage

If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’ve probably heard a lot about the “labor shortage.” This suggests that employers are having a hard time finding people to hire. Job vacancies are not being filled since there aren’t enough applicants. Currently, there is a severe labor shortage in the United States.

There has been a labor shortage in a variety of sectors, including the production of long-lasting commodities, commerce, education, and health care. The labor shortfall is caused by a “complex combination” of “many distinct economic issues,” according to Business Insider. Only 4.3 million individuals left their employment in December of 2021. There has been a lot of chaos in the supply chain because of this shortfall.

 

Coffee

Because of the pandemic, there has been a significant uptick in global commerce, which is a development that should be celebrated and hailed as a net positive; however, this has led to a dearth of available shipping containers. Because of this, imports were delayed, and one of the most significant repercussions was a coffee shortage.

Coffee drinkers all over the nation were forced to share a limited supply of steamy beverage. Despite the fact that Brazil produced a record crop, coffee supplies in the United States are at a six-year low. Because of the terrible weather and the enormous cost of shipping, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope that Starbucks has our backs.

 

Hot Dogs

As far as food industry sources go, the hot dog shortage is actually a good thing. There are currently shortages of pork products such as hot dogs, bacon, and other pork products; however, this can be attributed to the growing number of barbecues and other social events.

Due to the hog shortage in 2020, there is already a limited supply of hot dogs, despite the high demand for them. Burgers and dogs are an essential part of the American diet, and as more people get vaccinated, there are more opportunities for people to get together socially. According to a reporter who covers the food industry for BestLifeOnline, it may even be “difficult” for consumers to find “bargains on meat” during the summer.

 

Rental Cars

Understandably, fewer people are opting to rent a car now that there is social distance and additional hygiene precautions in place. Let’s not forget about the travel restrictions and the fact that vacations are the only time we rent cars. Many car rental companies had to liquidate their inventory because demand was so low.

In the travel industry, rented cars have been particularly hard hit. The supply has decreased, but there is no certainty about the demand either, as people begin to travel again. Customers who might be better off looking for an alternative solution at this point in time will see the price go up as a result of this.

 

Pet Food

A large percentage of the population faced loneliness over the past year and a half and found solace in adopting a pet. The unusually high demand for canine companions was the direct result of the widespread popularity of dogs.

Due to the unexpectedly high demand, some stores have even had trouble keeping their shelves stocked, and the expansion of the pet population does not appear to be slowing down any time soon. It’s possible that people who own pets will need to go the extra mile to provide food for their cherished four-legged children. This may involve preparing the food themselves at home using ingredients that are safe for human consumption.

 

Pickle Jars

The problem isn’t with the pickles, but with the jars. It is believed that the shortage of glass jars is the result of reduced recycling programs that have been implemented in order to reduce costs, as well as an increased demand, which is something that we have seen recently as a result of an increase in the number of people storing and pickling their food at home.

Pickling more food at home has cut down on wasted food and saved many people trips to the supermarket. It has also reduced the amount of food that is being thrown away. Despite the fact that there was a significant increase in the demand for pickle jars, the debut of a new sandwich at Burger King had to be postponed.

 

Toilet Paper

When we first went into lockdown in early March of 2020, nobody knew what was going to happen. The public immediately started buying things in a panic, and for some reason, they all went straight for the toilet paper. On social media platforms all over the world, images of bare shelves and shopping carts stuffed to the gills with toilet paper were shared.

Additionally, images of empty shelves were shared. Pasta and other dry goods, for example, were examples of items that made more sense to sell out, but they were among the many other things that went out of stock. Towels, however, were the focus of memes and Walmart wars over who could get to the last roll of toilet paper first.

 

Chicken Wings

Chicken is a big business in Texas and its neighboring states. The chicken-producing states were having trouble keeping up with demand because of the extreme cold that occurred during the winter of 2021-2022, which was unprecedented and resulted in a major winter storm that ultimately affected the majority of North America and Canada.

The need that people have for comfort food was unaffected by the storm, and the demand for chicken wings was as high as it had always been. Some restaurants have increased their prices, while others have been forced to temporarily remove the item from their menus because of the increase in demand. We can only hope that Wingstop will continue to take care of us!

 

Bacon

Who would have guessed that restrictions on holding gatherings indoors would lead to a lack of bacon? The reason for this is that there is simply a greater demand than there is supply, as there are significantly more gatherings held outside than there ever have been.

People are gathering together for barbecues and grilling meat such as bacon and hot dogs, and the food and agriculture industry is finding it difficult to keep up with the demand. According to the experts, it appears as though this trend will likely continue throughout the summer, which is unfortunate for those who enjoy eating meat.

 

Computer Chips

If you’re saving up for a new piece of technology, there’s a chance you might have to wait longer than expected. It is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers all over the world to obtain supplies of semiconductors. This is causing significant delays in the production and delivery of technological goods, and there is a possibility that this will lead to an increase in prices in the not too distant future.

These setbacks result from the worldwide economic downturn and the profound shifts in consumer behavior that it has prompted. Because fewer people are purchasing vehicles, the automotive industry has been hit the hardest of all industries. There has been an increase in demand for certain types of technology in the last year and a half.

 

Chlorine

Most of the time, it is the things that we do not expect or appreciate the most that seem to vanish. It appears that a lack of chlorine is the issue at hand, which may be the only thing that will prevent us from having a beautiful blue pool this summer.

The destruction of a chemical plant in Louisiana by Hurricane Laura in August of 2020 is the root cause of the shortage that has ensued as a result. Because of the fire, supplies are extremely low, and as a result, prices have increased. At the moment, the price of chlorine is approximately two times higher than its typical going rate on Amazon.com.

 

Gasoline

When there were severe shortages in the summer of 2021 as a result of pipeline hacks, larger geopolitical factors were at play. Because there is a shortage of truck drivers, fuel deliveries are being held up, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

Unanticipated shortages of fuel have been reported at gas stations all over the country as a direct result of a lack of available drivers who meet the required qualifications. We now know that this is an industry that is in need of new employees, so if you are currently looking for work and are comfortable driving for long periods of time, consider applying!

 

Boats

On the surface, it may appear that there is no location more conducive to maintaining your bubble than being on a boat in the middle of the ocean on a hot summer day. If you had anticipated doing that during the summer of 2022, you should be prepared for the possibility of unforeseen setbacks.

There has been a disruption in the supply chain, which has resulted in a lack of key supplies. As a result of this disruption, boat sellers are simply unable to keep up with the surge in demand. Because would-be sailors are required to remain on land, for the time being, waiting lists are currently longer than they are typical.

 

Blood

Even though it’s difficult to think of blood as a thing or a product, it is absolutely something that is always required, and unfortunately, during the pandemic, there has been a very low supply of blood available. People are hesitant to leave their homes, with the exception of absolutely necessary journeys, most notably to visit medical establishments.

We have been reassured by organizations concerned with public health that it is safe to donate blood, which is more important than ever before. Donating blood, plasma, or platelets to a person who is in need of assistance is something that can go a long way toward potentially saving their life.

 

Oxygen

We never anticipated having to worry about something like this, but it is without a doubt something that must be done. The catastrophic effects of such a scarcity have been observed in nations like India, which has experienced a jump in the number of cases.

According to the World Health Organization, the cost of providing oxygen for one year is around $1.6 billion. Today, that number has increased to $6.5 billion, and despite urgent efforts to gather the funds necessary to distribute oxygen, such efforts have not been successful as of yet.

 

Chocolate

The lack of chocolate is perhaps one of the most distressing aspects of this whole list. Because cocoa beans are in such short supply at the moment, the availability of cocoa on a worldwide scale is in threat. According to the NOAA, the harm that has been done to the ecosystem would certainly cause cocoa plants to become extinct by the year 2050.

Begin stockpiling your chocolate right away since there is a good chance that you will be able to sell it for a healthy profit in the year 2050. The cocoa market is currently experiencing a shortfall of 8,000 tons, which comes directly on the heels of a surplus of 123,000 tons that was recorded in the previous year.

 

Homes

The crisis in the property market has resulted in a decrease in the number of properties on the market and an increase in the number of buyers. People have adjusted the way they work, and many of them now do their jobs from home. It’s possible that things may never return to the way they were before 2020.

This has resulted in a reorganization, in which large numbers of people have relocated out from densely populated areas and into the suburbs and rural houses in search of more open space. At the same time, property appraisals are on the rise, and the asking prices for recently listed properties are far higher than anything previously observed.

 

So, what can you do? Go for it if you want to hoard toilet paper and snacks like a boss. But really, the best thing you can do is stay informed. Keep an eye on the news and social media – not just for information about the virus but also about potential global shortages of goods. When something is in short supply, prices usually go up. If you see that happening with any products that are important to your daily life, stock up (without going overboard) while you still can. It might seem like a pain now, but being prepared could save you from some serious headaches down the road.