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A logistical nightmare is threatening your holiday turkeys, toys, travel plans, and morehttps://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/a-logistical-nightmare-is-threatening-your-holiday-turkeys-toys-travel-plans-and-more/slidelist/87208668.cms2021-10-22T18:22:41+05:30

A logistical nightmare is threatening your holiday turkeys, toys, travel plans, and more

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Grace KayOct 22, 2021, 18:22 IST

A logistical nightmare is threatening your holiday turkeys, toys, travel plans, and more — Toys and Thanksgiving turkeys could be harder to find this holiday season.Getty
The supply chain has been in chaos since the pandemic started, causing shortages and price hikes.
The logistics industry has been struggling to meet demand, which will rise ahead of the holidays.
Everywhere you look, there seems to be a new shortage popping up.
Major supply-chain disruptions have coincided with a boom in consumer demand, which has caused mass shortages and price hikes. Experts warn this holiday shopping season will look different than any other, as retailers struggle to stock goods in time for the holiday season and travel companies combat a labor shortage.
From shortages of popular holiday gifts to travel cancellations, here are some of the biggest supply-chain snags you should factor into your holiday plans this year.

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Christmas trees

Christmas trees — A Christmas tree harvest at a tree farm in Salem, Oregon. Nathan Howard/Getty Images
Suppliers have warned there will be a national shortage of Christmas trees this year. Natural and artificial trees alike are expected to be in short supply.
A nationwide drought and scorching temperatures across the Pacific Northwest have caused Christmas tree acreage in key states like Oregon to drop by 24% this year, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Supply snags have also impacted the available supply of artificial trees. National Tree Company CEO Chris Butler told Fox Business that he expects retailers will run out of trees by Thanksgiving — the peak week for buying Christmas trees.

Thanksgiving turkeys

Thanksgiving turkeys — Mphillips007/Getty Images
American meat producers say it might be difficult to find turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving.
In particular, meat suppliers say turkeys that weigh less than 16 pounds will be in short supply due to their popularity. One of the largest turkey suppliers in the US, Shady Brook Farms, told The New York Post that the industry is struggling with production issues, as well as a lack of workers.

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Cars

Cars — A car dealership lot with Ram pickup trucks. David Zalubowski/AP
Big-ticket holiday gifts will be more expensive and difficult to find this year.
New and used car prices have surged this year. Automakers were forced to slash production goals due to the global shortage of computer chips.
Used cars became nearly $6,500 more expensive this year, while new cars tacked on about $5,000 to the price tag as compared to the previous year, Insider's Tim Levin reported last week.

Electronics

Electronics — Apple Store Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Popular electronics like smartphones, laptops, TVs, and video game consoles will be in short supply.
The global semiconductor shortage has wreaked havoc on the tech industry. Even Apple has been forced to cut production goals for its iPhone 13 as a result of the shortage.
Top companies, including Sony and Samsung, have warned investors their electronics — which have already been in short supply — will be even more difficult to find during the holiday shopping season.

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Toys

Toys — Courtesy of Montessori in Real Life
Last month, toy makers said parents should prepare for a shortage of popular toys.
MGA Entertainment CEO Isaac Larian said parents might have to pivot toward buying less popular items due to product availability.
The CEO of a mid-sized toy company, Basic Fun, told Bloomberg earlier this month that his company has about $8 million worth of goods — which could fill 140 shipping containers — waiting to ship out on the 75-day trip from China to their final destination.

Clothing

Clothing — Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
If you're planning on buying apparel this holiday season, expect to pay more.
An analysis from Adobe Digital Insights found that clothing had the highest forecast out-of-stock levels of any other shopping category this holiday season.
Shipping delays, as well as near-decade-high cotton prices are impacting the availability and cost of anything from T-shirts to jeans and jackets.

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Rental cars

Rental cars — Used cars are displayed on the sales lot at Marin Acura on July 13, 2021 in Corte Madera, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Rental cars will be pricey this holiday season.
The cost of rental cars has been on the rise all year, peaking at $700 per day. While prices show some signs of easing as demand drops from summer highs, analysts told Insider's Brittany Chang the market will maintain elevated prices through the holiday season.

Airplane tickets

Airplane tickets — A person boards an airplane. MesquitaFMS/Getty Images
Airplane ticket prices and availability could become a major hurdle.
On Wednesday, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said ticket prices are on the rise due to soaring jet fuel costs. The Airline said it is expecting this December to be the busiest air travel month the industry has seen in almost two years.
Earlier this month, Southwest Airline's massive meltdown during Columbus Day weekend hinted at how holiday travel might look different this year. A ripple effect of poor weather and "air traffic control issues" caused over 360 flights to be cancelled and even more to be delayed.

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Gas

Gas — A woman holds a pump nozzle in her hand at a gas station and refuels a car. Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images
Gas prices could throw a wrench in plans to visit family over the holidays.
On Thursday, gas prices hit a 7-year high. The average price in the US was about $3.50 per gallon, but some fuel stations in California climbed as high as $7.59 per gallon.
AAA predicts fuel prices will continue to rise throughout the winter, as cold weather puts more pressure on oil prices.

Hotels

Hotels — Getty
If you're planning to spend your holiday away from home this year, it's going to cost you.
Last month, CNBC reported that major hotel chains, including Hilton and Marriot, are seeing a huge spike in early holiday bookings. Milepro.com, a travel booking website, noted that multiple hotels that have been fully booked for the holiday season already.
Data from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows hotel prices have surged 18% from this time last year.

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