shipping

Stung by supply chain breakdowns and worried about labor unrest, many shippers have rerouted goods to the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast.

Retailers have managed to offload excess inventory, and global shipping is returning to pre-pandemic normal.

“Sharing a room with another alpha female is not easy. […] We know how to work with each other at this point,” says Yvette Rodriguez.

A new law has given the Federal Maritime Commission the teeth it needs to tackle high shipping fees and congestion at the ports.

Shipping costs, wait times and sourcing materials are still a big problem for business owners in South Carolina and Calif.

“I’m taking a very, very big risk opening another retail location,” says Annie Lang Hartman, owner of the Michigan retail brand Wild Lettie.

The retailer says it’s part of an effort to keep prices low for customers. That can be hard to do in the long term.

Experts point to inefficiency, lack of warehouse space and outdated technology.

“It’s the kind of stuff that keeps you awake at night,” said Teresa Asbury, a senior executive at the Legacy Cos.

From the shipping slowdown in China to the excess of inventory on hand, there are a number of likely reasons for the drop.