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Need to stock up on toilet paper?  Avoid Costco. I’m Brian Banmiller on Business.

Recently Costco’s Chief Financial Officer announced limitations on key items such as toilet paper, paper towels, its signature water and high-demand cleaning items. But this time around it’s not about producing the items but getting them to stores.  Supply chain issues, a lack of truck drivers, and backup at ports are causing massive delays. Now Costco is chartering three container ships with each able to carry eight hundred to one thousand containers at a time. The company anticipates it can make ten cross-pacific trips a year with the ships. And while it can rely on its own ships this adds to the cost. Plus, the prices to make all of these goods is increasing. Things such as trash bags, cups and plates, aluminum foil and soda cans cost more to produce.  Another reason for the shortage, the delta variant. Cases and hospitalizations are surging around the country and leading to panic buying, again. People are stockpiling things they did at the start of the pandemic such as toilet paper, Lysol wipes and hand sanitizers. Happy hunting, Brian Banmiller, CBS News.

About Brian

CBS News Radio national business journalist Brian Banmiller has spent more than 40 years in the news industry, covering business, politics and the economy on television, radio and in print. Currently, his “Banmiller on Business” reports are delivered to an audience of millions nationwide.