Why the Baby Formula Shortage Continues in the US

Baby formula, one of the most important items on grocery shelves, continues to be in short supply in many places in the US. Severe scarcity sent families across the country scrambling in May and June. Despite the restarting of the plant at the epicenter of the crisis and a government effort to fly in from abroad the equivalent of millions of bottles of formula, in many states, demand is still outstripping supply.

Nationwide, the in-stock figure -- measuring the percentage of expected demand that suppliers have available for sale -- was 72% for baby formula powder the week ending July 10, a slight improvement from 70% the week prior, according to data from IRI Worldwide. The figure was below 60% in only one state, Alaska, compared with five states the week ending July 3.