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Heat waves in Spain are threatening the olive harvest this year. This means — you guessed it — olive oil supplies are threatened. Get ahead by buying one more bottle of olive oil next time you shop.
During the fall and winter, much of the U.S. enjoys lettuce from California, specifically the Salinas Valley. But this year’s crop was struck with a virus, decimating up to 75% of the local supply of both iceberg and romaine varieties and sending the price skyrocketing 400%. When you spot a sale, try to stock up on freezer-friendly heads of romaine, spinach or butter lettuce.
Why Supply Chain Problems Will Persist in 2023
Periodic shortages of popular goods are not unprecedented, but supply disruptions may be a long-term problem for global trade.
It’s a cliche to say hindsight is 20/20, but as shortages and supply chain issues continue, it definitely feels valid for shoppers. If only we could go back and tell our pre-pandemic selves to buy extra hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
Picking up a few extra items or buying early is a smart way to stock up, though, without emptying store shelves for other shoppers.
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We’re not trying to crack you up with this one, but the construction industry is having a major issue with keeping steady supplies of concrete and cement on hand. If you’re planning to have some work done around the house in 2023 that involves pouring cement, it might be best to start planning now.
- Cereal, bread and flour
- Lettuce
- Champagne
- Eggs
- Prescription medications
- Tomato products
- Cement and concrete
- Olive oil
- Sand
- Bottled water
- Poultry
- Liquor and beer
12 Things You Should Stock Up Now to Avoid Shortages
Due to extreme drought, California is struggling to keep the tomato crop from going under this year. That means higher prices for everything tomato, including staples like salsa, marinara sauce and even ketchup (gasp!).
Perhaps most concerning of all are current shortages of popular prescription medications such as antibiotics, antivirals and even ADHD medications, which are largely driven by increased demand. And while you can’t always stock up on meds, you can keep a closer eye on your pill supply and allow extra time for refills at the pharmacy.
1. Cereal, Bread and Flour
Because of the global supply chain and consumer demand, what starts across the pond doesn’t always stay across the pond, so freeze an extra bird or two before stores raise prices.
2. Lettuce
Extra-virgin olive oil should be kept in a cool, dark place and stored for up to 20 months.
3. Champagne
Certainly, some supply chain shortages and issues caused by the pandemic — and, in some cases, panic buying — have eased. For instance, the waiting-list-only demand for bicycles is mostly resolved.
4. Eggs
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5. Prescription Medications
While concerns about most things in the dairy case have eased, eggs are still in short supply and experiencing significant price hikes. Much of this is due to a raging avian flu epidemic that is ravaging the global supply of poultry and creating consumer distrust of overseas sources.
6. Tomato Products
However, other shortages remain challenging and are unlikely to be solved soon.
Multiple supply chain issues — such as problems at production facilities, already fragile global supply chains, production capacity, climate change, and labor and truck driver shortages — have converged to create the perfect consumer storm. And while we’re unlikely to see the empty shelves of 2020 and 2021, the supply chain crisis is far from over.
7. Cement and Concrete
Unfortunately, it may take years rather than months to resolve shortages completely, particularly in the semiconductor industry, where the production of cars, smartphones, computers and cameras has been affected.
8. Olive Oil
But first, don’t give in to the temptation of panic buying. Artificial demand can create supply chain disruption — think the great toilet paper shortage of 2020.
If it’s made out of grain, specifically wheat, it will only get more expensive. The price of grains is soaring due to the war in Ukraine, stressing the world’s wheat supply. Complicated by the destruction of Ukraine’s power grid, this problem is likely to be a long-term one. So squirrel away a few extra cereal boxes or a big bag of flour for the winter.
9. Sand
We can’t always predict when some products will be back in stock (parents are still struggling to find baby formula), but you can shop (or order) now for some items and avoid higher prices and empty shelves later.
10. Bottled Water
Toss a few extra bottles of anything tomato into your cart in the coming weeks to see some savings later.
11. Poultry
Here are 12 products expected to be affected by supply chain shortages and heavy consumer demand in early 2023.
Avian flu and labor shortages on production lines mean poultry supplies of chicken and turkey have also been hard hit. Several countries, like the U.K., where poultry is a popular holiday menu item, are braced for scarcity and rising costs as trucking capacity compounds problems.
12. Liquor and Beer
Source: thepennyhoarder.com
Kaz Weida is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
Buy Now, Save Later
Shortages aren’t always predictable, but anticipating supply chain disruptions can help shoppers get ahead of empty shelves. And if you have the space and funds to stock up now, those savings can really add up later.
Champagne shortages started with a drought affecting the crop in early 2022, and a glass shortage has compounded the issues. Experts anticipate champagne won’t dry up, but some brands will be pricy and scarce. If bubbly is your thing, supply lines should improve again once seasonal demand eases. <!–
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Don’t panic, but pretty much everything in a glass bottle or aluminum can is vulnerable to price increases and shortages right now. That includes liquor and beer — and even products you haven’t thought of, like maple syrup. Shortages of beer and fizzy drinks in particular are also tied to disruptions in key materials like the supply of carbon dioxide.