Shortage Lies and Damn Lies

Firstly I don’t know whether the shortage predictions will come true at some future date. But what I am hearing on the news doesn’t jibe with what I am seeing all across America. Learn why I say this in Shortage-Lies-Damn-Lies-Bob Davis Podcast 1022.

Might Be Shortages

Secondly I am not saying there aren’t shortages in some places.

Maybe Some Can’t Find What They Want

Even more not saying some people can’t find the things they want.

Above all that all might be true.

My Survey Of Stores In The Southwest

However recently I completed an organized informal survey of several Walmarts in the American Southwest.

A Method To The Madness

Specifically my conclusions are that there are patterns to the empty shelve syndrome we keep seeing on social media.

Inflation?

In addition there are probably two other causes of shortages where they are seen. Both causes seem to make the case for disinflation.

Doom Triggers

Most importantly I think some prognosticators and politicians get a benefit from predicting doom.

No Toys For Christmas!

For example we keep hearing there won’t be any toys for Christmas.

No Candy For Halloween!

Or that Halloween Candy will not be available.

Truth

Firstly the truth is I have been in several stores in Nevada and California in the last two days and there is plenty of Halloween stuff.

Santa’s Loaded Down

In addition the toy and Christmas aisles were jam packed with goods and these same stores.

Trucker Shortage?

But what about the trucker shortage Bob Davis?

Containers Sitting In The Ocean?

Above all what about all those containers sitting in the ocean at the LA Port?

Are We Sure Retailers Want The Containers?

To clarify I personally don’t think a lot of retailers want those containers to be processed and the goods to end up on the shelves. I’ll tell you why in Shortage-Lies-Damn-Lies-Bob Davis Podcast 1022.

Trucking Companies Driver Problem Goes Back Ten Years

And the trucking companies have been complaining about trucker shortages since the early two thousands.

What’s different now?

Mom’s Buying All The Sugar and Flour

Meanwhile what I am seeing fly off the shelves at are staples.

Flour. Sugar. Rice. Syrup.

But Not Honey Nut Cheerios

They’re not even buying Honey Nut Cheerios.

Or Whiskey.

Therefore something else is going on.

Finally these days I don’t like to do controversial subjects. It just ends up being an argument anyway.

But…

I don’t have some deep need to be relevant.

To sum up I’m doing this because all this talk of shortage is not matching what I am seeing in my travels across this country.

It’s All Good

In short from California to Maine and back again I have not been able to find something I need.