COVID how does it impact holiday shopping?
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Cynthia Haggitt
Are waiting to get your holiday shopping at the very last minute, you might want to reconsider that approach this year.
Thanks to COVID supply and demand has hit hard around the world and late shoppers could have trouble buying gifts such as the latest iPhone, clothing items, certain food items, jewelry, or some bubbly for that special champagne toast on Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
When buying toys for your children, shoppers might be worried this year because there could be toy shortages this year. Shipping toys could be a problem because some toys come from overseas (A good example is toys made in China) In addition to shipping problems and shortages of toys due to materials such as plastic shortage, electronics are going to be short in demand due to most toys having electronic chips in them because there is a shortage on technology materials needed for certain technological devices. Also, the course of the pandemic hasn’t been smooth in some of the countries where toys are typically manufactured. Clothing retail stores have had problems with being closed on and off again for the last 20 months. Inventories are watched more carefully and the stores are very tight with certain types of apparel but if you are looking for a certain outfit or garment you may want to start shopping now because of supply and demand shortages.
Looking for jewelry for that certain special loved one? Maybe you’re finally going to propose? Experts reveal that you may want to buy items such as this faster than usual. A lot of the higher-quality items come in from places overseas and selections are going to be limited and inflation on prices will be higher than usual.
What will happen when a person goes shopping for the holiday meal? Well if you plan to eat a turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas don’t go into sticker shock by the cost of your bird. According to The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 36th annual Thanksgiving dinner cost survey shows the average holiday meal costs 14% more than in 2020.
“Thanks to inflation and supply chain interruptions, nearly every ingredient in your holiday meal is more expensive. The cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $53.31, more than $5 a person, the federation’s survey shows. It’s the priciest meal in the survey’s 36 years and up 14% from $46.90 in 2020.”
Unfortunately, the economy has not bounced back from the pandemic and shopping this holiday season will end up frustrating more people than usual. Remember to start your shopping list early to save time on the headache of missing out on that special gift for a loved one.
