Odd Lots

Two Big Changes That Would Help Ease the Shipping Container Strain

Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg
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There are several factors behind the inflation and shortages we’re seeing in the economy right now. But one factor that the topic always keeps coming back to is the surging price of shipping, owing to a shortage of containers and freight capacity. This comes up over and over again, in numerous conversations. And you can see why. Here’s the latest look at shipping costs from Shanghai to Los Angeles. Lately it’s been a straight line up.

Presumably over time, the market will do its thing, and supply and demand will stabilize, bringing some kind of equilibrium to the space.