The Supply-Chain Mystery
The New YorkerWhy, more than a year and a half into the pandemic, do strange shortages keep popping up in so many corners of American life?
Read when you’ve got time to spare.
Shortages, shipping delays, and higher prices are everywhere, and it’s not just because of the pandemic. To try and make sense of it all, we’ve rounded up some of the best journalism about what’s happening in this frustrating, strange economy and what it means for you, including a transpacific ride-along with a stuffed giraffe and a guide to surviving this year’s holiday shopping season.
Why, more than a year and a half into the pandemic, do strange shortages keep popping up in so many corners of American life?
The global supply chain that brings toys, clothing, electronics and furniture from Asia to the United States each year is clogged, an enduring impact of the pandemic that is unlikely to ease soon.
Behind shipping delays and soaring prices are workers still at mortal risk of COVID-19.
If you want to understand what’s driving inflation in the U.S. economy right now, look no further than Jani the giraffe. Jani used to cost around $87. Now she’s around $116, as costs went up on every step of her journey.
Pandemic-related materials, food, and labor shortages make running an independent restaurant near-impossible. Here’s how three owners are doing it.
One look at the market for steel shipping containers, and it’s clear that a return to normal won't happen any time soon.
U.S. manufacturers are still struggling to keep pace with booming demand. The culprit? Sometimes, it’s a single missing part.
Supply chain delays, shortages, and delivery issues are here to stay.
Supply chain problems haven’t improved. If you want to gift something special, here's how to plan ahead.