Industry experts say automakers are having trouble getting all manner of parts and raw materials for a variety of reasons, including Covid-related plant shutdowns by suppliers, logistical problems involving shortages of ships, shipping containers and truck drivers, and difficulty that some suppliers are having filling jobs. That’s making the cost […]
worse
The shipping crisis is getting worse. Here’s what that means for holiday shopping
“The pressures on global supply chains have not eased, and we do not expect them to any time soon,” said Bob Biesterfeld, the CEO of C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest logistics firms. The partial closure of the world’s third busiest container port is disrupting other ports in China, […]
India’s Covid-19 catastrophe could make global shortages even worse
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has so far resisted calls to impose another total lockdown on the country, even as many regions have announced their own heavy restrictions. But several global industries that rely on India are looking on anxiously. Should the crisis deepen, everything from clothing and pharmaceuticals to financial […]
A shortage of these metals could make the climate crisis worse
As countries switch to green energy, demand for copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements is soaring. But they are all vulnerable to price volatility and shortages, the agency warned in a report published on Wednesday, because their supply chains are opaque, the quality of available deposits is declining […]
The global chip shortage is going from bad to worse. Here’s why you should care
A growing number of manufacturers around the world are having trouble securing supplies of semiconductors, delaying the production and delivery of goods and threatening to push up the prices paid by consumers. Several factors are driving the crunch, which was initially concentrated in the auto industry. The first is the […]
Diapers are already a huge expense for families. It’s getting even worse
Disposable diaper prices rose 8.7% during the year ending April 10, according to the latest numbers from NielsenIQ, which tracks point of sale data from retailers. Diaper makers recently said they are planning additional price increases, which may further stretch low-income families’ budgets if stores choose to pass on the […]