Because of continued supply chain disruption and retail labor shortages, many U.S. shoppers say out-of-stocks are worse now than during the height of the pandemic.
A study of more than 1,000 U.S. shoppers by Retail Insight found 7 in 10 consumers felt product out-of-stocks are now worse in-store compared to when consumers panic-bought at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Another 61% reported online stock availability was also lower now than during the same period of panic buying.
The Retail Insight survey also found 54% of shoppers said out-of-stocks seemed to be more of a bricks-and-mortar issue. When they could not find items in-store, shoppers were able to find those missing products online in some cases. However, 6 in 10 consumers said when they were in-store there was often a replacement item that met their needs if their usual products or brand was not available on the shelf.
Online shopping also suffered from the same out-of-stock problems as brick-and-mortar stores according to shoppers. Forty-six percent of shoppers reported more products were missing or not available in their online grocery orders, and the same number said they had experienced more substitutions in their weekly online shopping.
While 48% blamed the pandemic in general as the biggest cause of out-of-stocks, another 37% felt there were not enough staff available to stack shelves in-store, while 36% blamed a shortage of warehouse operatives as a reason for the empty shelves. A further 37% blamed the rising cost of food production and another 44% of consumers said retailers did not have the technological infrastructure needed to cope with heavier demand to keep shelves stocked with products.