Is the supply chain blockage finally starting to loosen up?

[AVSJeff]

Let me know what you think.

[tripplej]

I doubt it..

At the grocery store, I still see lots of empty shelves.. And every now and then, I will see things come in but very little at a time..

[David Vaughn]

Not in my daytime industry. Raw materials are still very scarce (and expensive). We aren't projecting improvement until Q3 at the earliest. 

[AVSMike]

Let me know what you think.

Nope.

[SRW1000]

The company I work for does metal stamping, and there have been no noticeable improvements that we've seen.  Some metal isn't hard to come by, but some mills are late getting products to the processors.  More exotic materials are scarce with really long lead-times.  Even the lead-times for common commodities such as cardboard packaging and skids have increased.

An even bigger problem is labor.  I was hoping that things might have improved after the last round of stimulus checks and the elimination of the enhanced unemployment benefits, but we have yet to see that.  We just can't seem to get people to stay, even with a generous increase in benefits and wages.  Not that it's only our business, it's affecting everyone in our area.  

I can't see things staying like this for much longer before the overall economy starts to take a big hit.  Sounds simplistic, but we really need people to make stuff in order for everyone to have stuff to buy.

[jkasanic]

The number of ships sitting off the coast of LA or “slow steaming” the Pacific is 2.5x what it was this time last year (approx 40 vs 100). Despite what our President has been saying recently in the news about the health of the supply chain, I’m with David in saying my industry is also not predicting any signs of improvement until at least the 3rd quarter.

And on a separate note, the supposed self-inflicted short supply of lumber due to mills shutting down prematurely in response to Covid fears drying up demand seems to have been a convenient excuse as lumber only came off its peaks for 2-3 months and is now roaring back back up again. Translation: a 4500 sq ft house is estimated to have $180k in lumber alone 😳

[bmoney]

When will it end is q3 accurate. That is a long time away sheesh. What a mess

[TRainH2O]

Until I can reliably find more of my favorite Bourbons, I say no. I mean, it's not like we stopped growing corn. 

Seriously, it's strange to see some of what has been in short supply here. Just yesterday, my wife said that she needed Q-tips. So I go out to the grocery store and there are no Q-tips. Closest pharmacy......no Q-tips. There were no name-brand or store-brand cotton swabs. If we as a nation can't glue enough tiny bundles of cotton onto a stick, we're screwed.

[David Vaughn]

Until I can reliably find more of my favorite Bourbons, I say no. I mean, it's not like we stopped growing corn.

Seriously, it's strange to see some of what has been in short supply here. Just yesterday, my wife said that she needed Q-tips. So I go out to the grocery store and there are no Q-tips. Closest pharmacy......no Q-tips. There were no name-brand or store-brand cotton swabs. If we as a nation can't glue enough tiny bundles of cotton onto a stick, we're screwed.

All the production is being dedicated for Covid swabs to shove up people's noses

[tripplej]

I saw on the news yesterday that liquor prices are going up due to very short supply and lot of brands will not be able to stock till late summer.

[TRainH2O]

Not in my daytime industry. Raw materials are still very scarce (and expensive). We aren't projecting improvement until Q3 at the earliest.

A friend of mine is repainting his dining room a fairly deep red color. He's been complaining that the paint won't cover and he's applied 5 coats to some areas. I thought he was exaggerating but he says no and he still has some places where the old paint shows through. Says he's buying good quality paint and it has primer in it.

[tripplej]

A friend of mine is repainting his dining room a fairly deep red color. He's been complaining that the paint won't cover and he's applied 5 coats to some areas. I thought he was exaggerating but he says no and he still has some places where the old paint shows through. Says he's buying good quality paint and it has primer in it.

He needs to go to another brand/store.. Not all Paint is the same quality/texture..

[bmoney]

I JUST repainted my bathroom that was navy blue. To white. It took two coats of primer and two of paint. So I’m guessing it’s the paint he chose 

[David Vaughn]

A friend of mine is repainting his dining room a fairly deep red color. He's been complaining that the paint won't cover and he's applied 5 coats to some areas. I thought he was exaggerating but he says no and he still has some places where the old paint shows through. Says he's buying good quality paint and it has primer in it.

Tracy,

Tell him to go to a Benjmain Moore store and have the color matched in Aura...it will cover in two coats (and probably one). It's the best paint money can buy, bar none. 

[AVSCraig]

When will it end is q3 accurate. That is a long time away sheesh. What a mess

Try spring 2023.