‘Snowball effect’: The global reasons why you can’t buy what you want right now

Nearly two years into the Covid pandemic, the virus that has infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans continues to disrupt the powerful supply chain that moves goods from factories to U.S. homes. 

The problems seem endless and varied — creating headaches for manufacturers down to consumers:

Liquor producers can’t get enough glass to make bottles in their signature shapes.

A fast food restaurant had to cancel its marketing campaign because labor shortages led to a scarcity of chicken tenders.

Sets of Lincoln Logs are languishing in factories...