Fear of Holiday Shortages as Supply Chain Woes Persist

Reports across the spectrum are warning of potential holiday goods shortages as producers struggle to meet consumer demand amid supply chain backlogs. Roughly 200,000 shipping containers are stuck on cargo ships waiting off the coast of Los Angeles, and a record number of cargo vessels —over 100 — are currently anchored outside the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Facing a national truck driver shortage, President Joe Biden reportedly plans to sign an executive order to temporarily raise weight limits so trucks can transport more cargo. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Wednesday that "There are going to be disruptions and shocks to the system as long as the pandemic continues."

The supply chain crisis has been covered prominently across the spectrum. Many reports on all sides cited economic experts who warned that issues could continue through winter, potentially disrupting holiday shopping as well as consumer and retail in general. Some coverage from left-rated sources quoted experts who were optimistic that issues would be gone by this time next year. Reports from right-rated sources often mentioned rising inflation in their supply chain coverage and framed the current economic situation as dire.