COVID-19 and the Economy

President Biden reported the number of shipping containers sitting for more than eight days is down by more than 40% this month. But that is trickling down slowly to small businesses.

The day after Thanksgiving typically marks the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season, but stores in recent years have put less emphasis on it. This year, many may see higher prices and empty shelves due to the supply chain crisis.

North Texas liquor store owners say it might appear they have plenty to choose from, but make no mistake that supply chain issues have them struggling to maintain more than ever before. The issues are leading their suppliers to raise prices, so stores raise prices on customers.

Over the years, American presidents have tried, and mostly floundered, in their efforts to quell the economic and political menace of consumer inflation. Now, President Joe Biden is giving it a shot.

North Texans are definitely feeling the pain at the pump. And while it is not enough to stand in the way of Thanksgiving with family, people say they will have to start making other cuts. And don't expect prices to come down anytime soon as a result of President Biden's move to tap into the strategic oil reserves.   

One food bank in Tarrant County says demand is higher now than it was during the height of the pandemic in 2020. And the supply chain is only making it harder to get enough food on North Texas tables.

The crisis is clear when walking through your local grocery store or ordering at your favorite restaurant. It is also crippling businesses that you may not think about.

Now is not the time to buy a new car, as the global supply chain crisis is causing new car prices to soar.

Arlington ISD makes 50,000 student meals a day. They say while they’re not in danger of not being able to feed kids, they’re facing challenges with nearly every item they serve.

The U.S. Postal Service is looking at filling about 1,500 positions in the metroplex. USPS says they are hiring more this year to help keep up with demand. But there is concern about filling all these positions for the holiday season and how it might affect delivery dates.

A North Texas accountant admitted to orchestrating a fraud scheme to get more than $23 million in forgivable PPP loans — which were intended to help small businesses struggling during the pandemic.

Major retailers and shipping companies are stepping up operations in hopes of overcoming nationwide supply chain issues affecting businesses and industries. The effects are being felt from major retailers all the way down to local North Texas businesses.

In a pre-pandemic world, Dallas-based chef Meika Johnson was thriving preparing meals for private businesses. But in recent months, she's struggled to find both food and equipment. Now, she's forced to shut down her business, saying she’s spent more searching for products and less time actually making a profit.

The Dallas Regional Chamber distanced itself from the governor, saying businesses should make their own decisions. The Texas Hospital Association president said in a statement that the time is now to set politics aside.