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Let them eat... turnips? Tomato shortage in UK has politicians looking for answers

Tomato shortages in the U.K. are being blamed on bad weather, energy prices and trade policy AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images

Economy

Let them eat... turnips? Tomato shortage in UK has politicians looking for answers

Frost, floods, energy prices and Brexit are among the possible culprits in the shortage of tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli and lettuce in the U.K.

Let them eat... turnips? Tomato shortage in UK has politicians looking for answers

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Warehouses are overwhelmed by America's shopping spree

A person walks in an Ikea warehouse in New York City on Oct. 15. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Stuck in transit: The supply chain in disarray

Warehouses are overwhelmed by America's shopping spree

The U.S. is dotted with more warehouses than ever. But they are overwhelmed by record-level imports, a lack of workers and a shopping spree of unprecedented proportions.

Warehouses are overwhelmed by America's shopping spree

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Shortages: Inflation In Disguise?
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The Indicator from Planet Money

Shortages: Inflation In Disguise?

The pandemic spurred a year full of shortages, so why haven't producers responded by raising prices in most cases?

Shortages: Inflation In Disguise?

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Can't Find A Chess Set? You Can Thank 'The Queen's Gambit' For That

Anya Taylor-Joy plays a swaggering chess prodigy in the new Netflix hit, The Queen's Gambit. It's success may lead to a shortage of chess sets this holiday season. Phil Bray/Netflix hide caption

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Phil Bray/Netflix

Culture

Can't Find A Chess Set? You Can Thank 'The Queen's Gambit' For That

Who'd have guessed that a centuries-old game would become 2020's hard-to-find, must-have toy? Sales spiked after the release of the hit Netflix show, and now toy analysts are warning of a shortage.

Can't Find A Chess Set? You Can Thank 'The Queen's Gambit' For That

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Why It's So Hard To Buy A New Refrigerator These Days

A worker pushes a cart past refrigerators at a Home Depot in Boston in January, before the coronavirus pandemic threw a monkey wrench into the supply and demand of major appliances. Steven Senne/AP hide caption

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Steven Senne/AP

The Coronavirus Crisis

Why It's So Hard To Buy A New Refrigerator These Days

Some shoppers looking to buy new fridges, freezers or washers have been finding themselves out of luck. The coronavirus pandemic has thrown a monkey wrench into both supply and demand.

Why It's So Hard To Buy A New Refrigerator These Days

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