General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThese are the products grocery stores are running out of
Can't find what you need at the store again? You're not alone.
As the world reaches the two-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, more items are becoming scarce because of a supply chain shortage across the globe.
Supply chain concerns are due to record-level congestion at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach that has spread to the East Coast, the widespread power outages across China, shortages of truck drivers and service workers, and COVID-19-fueled infections and restrictions, Tinglong Dai, a business professor at Johns Hopkins University, told USA TODAY in an email.
Shipping prices have skyrocketed, and the demand for items has outpaced the suppliers.
Impact on the economy:Food prices are climbing amid worker shortages, supply-chain problems, extreme weather and more
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/10/15/grocery-shortage-toilet-paper-coffee-chicken-hard-find/8455259002/
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Interestingly, I don't buy a lot of these things. Others, I buy locally or from smaller suppliers, and the price has gone up.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)I haven't had a problem getting either one where I live. Yet.
GoCubsGo
(32,078 posts)In fact I actually managed to snag a 12-pack of tp last week on the scratch-and-dent shelf last week for dirt cheap--something I hadn't seen since the start of the pandemic shortages. Plenty of it on the shelves, but they have limits. Same goes for coffee, but I have not seen limits on that. I guess people are hoarding tp again.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)She said it was tough right now. Harder to find items and often having to settle for brands that she doesnt like and prices are definitely up.
MissB
(15,805 posts)Gotta be a tough business to be in right now!
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Our local costco has a "Limit 1" sign. So... I buy just one... every trip (recently) so that I don't run out.
Polybius
(15,367 posts)I did that last year for much needed supplies where one wasn't enough. They see so many customers that they won't recognize you, but try to go to a different cashier anyway.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)chillfactor
(7,573 posts)Chicken a staple in this house.
MissB
(15,805 posts)bogo on local boneless chicken breasts. I should be set for the winter/spring. If we cook two for a meal (like we did last night, usually Ill only eat about a third. Dh will eat a whole one but the rest of mine is used for another meal like a quesadilla or for the top of a salad. We only use like 2 breasts a week.
Kaleva
(36,291 posts)I buy when things are on sale and there doesn't appear to be a shortage of chicken where I live.
MissB
(15,805 posts)But I have enough for now.
Dh buys about a half pound of coffee each month and hasnt had any issues. He gets whole beans from Peets.
Im sure its going to be challenging!
The spices stood out to me. I tend to grow and dry my own herbs but there are a few that I buy, just not that often and usually from the bulk section so Im sure I wouldnt notice a shortage of McCormicks gourmet line.
Im noticing a lack of Diet Pepsi but Ive been weaning off that for a bit after having totally gotten off it recently then having it again. Its a struggle but hey if its in short supply then fine, just wont buy it!
samnsara
(17,615 posts)luvs2sing
(2,220 posts)but thats about all.
Clash City Rocker
(3,396 posts)They never seem to be out. I guess people dont think about going to a pharmacy for toilet paper.
When it comes to diapers, pull-ups and the like, online shopping is often the way to go.
pressbox69
(2,252 posts)The Great TP Shortage of 73?
GoCubsGo
(32,078 posts)One store will be out of one or two brands of TP, usually whatever is on sale, another will have tons of it. The same goes for just about everything else. And, there's no guarantee that it's a "shortage," either. Often, they have stuff in the back, and it just hasn't been stocked yet. I was at the Kroger yesterday. They had a huge case full of chicken, and enough carbonated beverages to feed an army. Some frozen food items were out, but they've been discontinuing some things, and bringing in new products a lot lately.
madville
(7,408 posts)Sometimes I just dont feel like going to the store for weeks so Ill order things from Walmart. Its free shipping over $35 worth of stuff also. Just looked, they have any coffee you might want for 2-3 day shipping.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Walmart curbside pickup. I've noticed plenty of "out of stocks" in I guess all departments for the past few months and growing. I just decide to make or get something else, or rarely pick it up elsewhere if I really want it, but a list of unavailable items at any time now would be very long. Fortunately a list of what is available would be much longer.
Runningdawg
(4,514 posts)Leg quarters .49/lb at the Hispanic market. You have to think outside the big box stores. The Hispanic market near us never had an empty shelf during the whole pandemic. The workers were masked and as friendly as always.
Coffee is life, there are 6 large cans in the freezer, 3 in the pantry and we buy one each time we shop. Even though the price is going up, no problems finding it so far.
Solved the TP problem last summer by installing a bum gun AKA hand held bidet.
The rest of that stuff we don't use.
Kaleva
(36,291 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(9,962 posts)bamboo tp at Costco. Locally roasted coffee (Mayorga) at Costco. Get a lot of our meat from a subscription service and much of the rest from a farm stand that carries local stuff, but we really do not eat that much. Local, seasonal veggies as much as we can. I'm also stocked up on dry beans and whatnot if we need those. I reckon we'll survive.
We live just off I-81 and that thing is dodge-'em trucks 24/7. I don't know what all they're carrying or where they're going but it stands to reason something is going somewhere.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)Overheard at the grocery store lately ( at the cold coffee cooler, as I was hording 3) " better get 2 more they are always out" (the same reason I was buying extra)
Also shotgun shells for bird hunting, they cant be found
Prediction: those disposable chemical hand warmers, Ima guess those will be in short supply this winter
ecstatic
(32,677 posts)I see thighs and tenderloins on the shelves, but I haven't been able to get my hands on a bag of wings in over a year. And lately my favorite brand of pasta penne is always sold out. Frozen sliced mushrooms and chopped onions are also harder to come by.
mvd
(65,169 posts)I get iced coffee a lot, and the supply of Starbucks definitely feels reduced. Coffee in general is lower stock.
Havent had much of a problem with frozen dinners or toilet paper.
Sometimes ice cream supply in general is low.
Bev54
(10,045 posts)Most poultry producers are guaranteed to grow (when I was in the business) 95% of their quota and if the demand goes up they have a secondary quota, they can produce another 5-10% of their quota and it is easy for them to do, because there are so many family farms, it is not tied to just a few producers and plants. The producers have already built their barns to handle the additional requirements and it is spread across the country. We do not rely on other countries nor do we produce a lot for other countries, it is all about domestic supply, except for a small portion.
marie999
(3,334 posts)OhZone
(3,212 posts)mcar
(42,289 posts)Yes, prices have gone up - but that's been going on for 2 years now, at least.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)Ben & Jerry flavors
Not a big fan. So I don't check them. I see we have plenty of all the ice cream I buy, except one flavor that they can't keep in stock - but that happens over and over for like a DECADE.
Carbonated drinks
Our soda aisle is packed. No shortages.
Chicken
A little pricier than it used to be, but plenty of it.
Coffee
Shelves are stocked. No problems there. Prices about the same.
Diapers
Wouldn't know. I'm a childless loser.
Fish sticks
Wouldn't know. not a big fan.
Frozen meals
Not a huge fan, but I see plenty when I wander down that aisle.
Heinz ketchup packets
Seriously? Get a normal bottle.
Marie Callenders pot pies
Not a fan. So haven't checked.
McCormick Gourmet spices
Our spice aisle is packed.
Rice Krispie Treats
Haven't checked. not a fan.
Sour Patch Kids
Really? People care about that?
Toilet paper
I'm still overstocked from a year and a half ago, but our super marked shelves looked full last I checked.
Also tons of TP and tissues at Dollar tree.
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
dalton99a This message was self-deleted by its author.
ananda
(28,856 posts)yet.
RandomNumbers
(17,595 posts)Did that resonate with anyone else? (in the section about carbonated drinks)
It seems to me, we have no shortage of CO2, just that it is in the wrong place.
I was wondering why this is even an issue. I just assumed that production of CO2 as a pollutant simply far outpaces its use in other products. But no, as usual it comes down in large part to capitalism, apparently.
https://theconversation.com/using-captured-co-in-everyday-products-could-help-fight-climate-change-but-will-consumers-want-them-158683
Silent3
(15,180 posts)
of, say, particular flavors or styles of a product, or no brand-name stuff, but store brand filling in instead. Like settling for garlic Texas toast when we really wanted garlic ciabatta (oh, heavens!).
One grocery store recently had nothing but store-brand toilet (sand) paper, but lots of it. We got more later at a different store.
The biggest impact of shortages for me lately wasnt at the grocery store, but a matter of auto repair. Between parts shortages and short staffing my car was in the shop over a month waiting to get repaired. Fortunately this was all under warranty and, after not having a car for a week, I finally got a courtesy car to drive for the rest of the wait.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)Sour Patch Kids availability at my local Shop Rite.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)Pot Pies are good.
Oh, and Sour Patch kids at Staples of all places -
OhZone
(3,212 posts)Tp supply yesterday-
Raine
(30,540 posts)the variety in it is rea!!y lacking. I don't what I'll do if I can't find it at all. 😿 Things will get ugly if I come home to a very mad cat without it! 😾
Jilly_in_VA
(9,962 posts)There's your answer. They have everything.
Raine
(30,540 posts)LeftInTX
(25,205 posts)Not in stock at any local store.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)XanaDUer2
(10,631 posts)Noticed the same thing about cat food.
brooklynite
(94,481 posts)Meowmee
(5,164 posts)It has never gone back to normal for some items. Outpr closest stopnshop still ha s sottages on numerous things, almost no juice for weeks now. And the apples are mostly bad at every supermarket here. They seem ok sometimes but are soft i side and go bad quickly so I end up returning them. Our WF always had shortage though even before the pandemic.
ProfessorGAC
(64,963 posts)I see no shortages around here on any of those items.
The only significant thing I've noticed is sparse or bare sports drinks. (Gatorade, Powerade, & the like) and somewhat more open space for SOME juices.
I have yet to be in a store short on bottled spices, any brand. Same with TP.
And, my wife just bought pot pies by Marie Calendar for quick lunches.
Also, I'm still seeing really good sales, every trip, on many regular items, so the "skyrocketing" prices aren't reality here.
Are prices up? A little, sure. But, nothing I'd describe as "skyrocketing".