Newest shortage: Paper and cardboard.
As a press operator/paper handler, I can tell you this is not a new shortage. This shit started last year when lumber prices skyrocketed.
Ever since then, its steadily gotten worse and worse. Most paper actually comes from China. So there for a bit, it was tied up at the ports.
Those ports got backed up on purpose. California decided "no trucks over 10 years old" suddenly, which eliminated a LOT of truckers.
It was taking us a month to get paper at that point.
Fast forward, paper cost has increased twice, up 20%, and now we can hardly find any paper at all, and sometimes takes up to 3 months to get!
The way I understand it, they have tried firing up the old paper mills here in the states, but they are only operating at 50% capacity.
ALL printing companies are feeling this effect. Some even began panic buying, and bought up what stock there was from suppliers, causing other companies to not be able to get any. Shit is ridiculous!
All of our last minute customers are having a fit, because now they have to wait.
Of course all this is having a ripple effect on most things we buy. Like for instance I cant hardly find paper plates anymore. Expect this to affect boxes for food products and such too.
