The New Shortages From the Pandemic

We all remember the toilet paper shortage at the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020 and we’re all glad it’s behind us.

But in case you haven’t noticed, and you probably have, all the new supply shortages that have developed because of the pandemic. A report by Axios outlines some of them. From lumber to rental cars to the chlorine tablets and crystals for swimming pools, to a host of consumer products, there are some shortages again.

And of course, now there are signs of some hoarding going on again as well, with people fearing they will run out…like we all worried about when we couldn’t find toilet paper and paper products on store shelves.

As the Axios report points out, some companies hit hard by the pandemic’s impact on the economy, slowed or even stopped making what they usually make to save their businesses. There are even short supplies of some workers at a lot of the finer restaurants from San Diego to New York, because having shut down, workers found jobs elsewhere. Some retail and office jobs, the same thing.

Despite more and more people getting vaccinated and we get closer and closer to a post pandemic world, the effects of the worst public health and economic crisis in modern times thanks to a vicious virus, that spread worldwide within a few months, will linger for some time yet.

And there are some things that could be different forever even after the pandemic becomes just something to tell our kids and grandkids about.

(Photo Getty Images)