Supply-Chain Chaos: Holiday Edition

This week, Craig Siminski, of CMS Retirement Income Planning, shares an article discussing economic conditions and retail trends, including sharply higher prices and the potential for sporadic product delays and shortages:

The supply chain is the network by which products flow from the factories of suppliers to the inventories of retailers so they can ultimately be purchased by consumers.

Corporate supply chains have been under pressure since the pandemic began, but the stress intensified in the latter months of 2021, with demand for goods surging and the holiday season fast approaching.

The California ports that receive about 40% of U.S. imports are now operating 24/7, but workers still can’t keep up with the rush of container ships arriving from overseas. In mid-November, there was a record backlog of vessels waiting offshore for more than two weeks to unload their cargo.2 Other U.S. ports are also congested, and severe shortages of truck drivers and warehouse workers have further slowed the distribution of goods throughout the nation. These bottlenecks held up finished merchandise, as well as the inputs and raw materials needed to manufacture products domestically.

Compounding supply-chain issues have been increasing freight and labor costs, delaying shipments, and leaving consumers with higher prices and fewer options since the spring of 2021. As summer turned to fall, logjams remained and time was running out, raising fears that…

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Craig Siminski is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, with more than 23 years of experience. His goal is to provide families, business owners, and their employees with assistance in building their financial freedom.

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