HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Shortages of consumer goods have been reported on since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but what exactly is causing these shortages?
A professor with the University of Alabama in Huntsville Center for Management and Economic Research says the issue is related to the supply chain.
"It starts with raw materials, natural resources, that are involved in making the materials and it ends when it gets into your hands," said UAH Professor Nicholas Loyd.
Loyd says the issue is that the raw materials aren't getting to the manufacturers who make consumer goods. There are four main factors when it comes to the supply chain.
"We call them the four 'Ms,'" said Loyd. "There's manpower, there's materials, there's machines and there's method."
Loyd says the supply chain is facing a shortage of both raw materials and manpower. The lack of manpower is especially prevalent in the trucking industry.
"The problem with the trucking shortage right now, and it isn't their fault, because, it's not like there's existing truckers out there that are just not working hard enough," said Loyd. "The increasing demand is greater than the number of people in the industry that was already declining."
The manpower shortage doesn't just stop at the transportation level of the supply chain either.
"It's not just truckers, there's an even greater shortage of workers in the warehousing and distribution industry," said Loyd.
All of these factors impact the consumer. Loyd says the one thing people should NOT do is panic buy.
"Worst thing people can do is panic and try to buy more when there is a shortage of something," said Loyd.