[KozmoNau7]

We're not seeing empty shelves in supermarkets just yet, groceries are still available, because most places have reasonably local production available.

But electronics, cars, machinery, the kinds of things that are produced more centrally in just one part of the world are facing shortages. It's a small thing, but there was a 3 week wait on the access point I bought recently, where in normal times that would have been a day-to-day delivery. The mechanical keyboard I was looking to buy took a full year to get back in stock before I could order it.

These are of course small things, luxuries in the grand scope of life. But industries are facing component shortages that are going to last for years.

[88913527]

Even then, supermarkets being stocked isn't a self-sustaining vacuum. Not all goods sold are produced within 100 miles. The fields are cleared with industrial equipment, sourced with semiconductors and parts produced across continents, the grain is processed in a facility, the product is delivered by a driver, and some point later a 99¢ box of pasta is on the shelf. Very few items can carry on forever due to complete sourcing, production and distribution occurring as closed systems. We simply don't have that level of vertical integration.

[KozmoNau7]

Equipment keeps on running until it needs to be repaired or replaced. If you can't get parts or new machinery at that point, you're screwed for a while, currently that can be a long while. Those situations will add up and get worse and worse.