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IPFS News Link • Inflation

Do Empty Shelves Count As Inflation?

• https://www.zerohedge.com, by John Rubino

Meanwhile, an increasing number of products are appearing at the same price but in smaller packages.This is inflation's slippery first cousin "shrinkflation."

Here's a sampling from a recent study:

Bounty paper towels: The triple back has shrunk from 165 sheets to just 147.

Costco's toilet paper: A large pack was 425 sheets last year, but now is just 380.

Dial Body Wash: Reduced from 21 ounces to 16 ounces, a 25 percent reduction.

Ziploc freezer bags: 54 bags last year, but just 50 bags this year.

Quaker Instant Oatmeal: 10 packs last year, but just 8 this year for some varieties.

Empty Shelves
But what about when the thing you want just isn't there? Where does the complete absence of something fit on the inflation spectrum? This question is no longer academic, as empty shelves appear in stores across the US. (One nearby example: The Sequim, Washington Costco is – shades of 2020 — currently out of toilet paper.)

From yesterday's Wall Street Journal:

Why You Can't Find Everything You Want at Grocery Stores

Labor shortages, raw materials' scarcity make supermarket supplies unpredictable; some executives say problems are worse than spring 2020's dearth.

Grocery-store chains are still battling supply challenges that some executives said are as bad as what they saw in spring 2020, when hoarding left holes in stocks of some staples.

Industry executives say new problems are arising weekly, driven by shortages of labor and raw materials. Groceries including frozen waffles and beverages remain scarce as some food companies anticipate disruptions lasting into 2022. A wider range of products is running short and logistical challenges are compounding for many retailers.


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