supply shortages
Not enough goods
Supply shortages occur when demand for goods exceeds available stock—whether from production failures, distribution problems, or sudden spikes in need.
The phrase typically describes systemic scarcity affecting markets or regions: Supply shortages drove prices up, The war caused widespread supply shortages.
Unlike simple unavailability, supply shortages imply disruption to expected flows of goods.
- scarcityInsufficiency of something needed
- out of stockInventory exhausted
- rationingLimiting distribution during scarcity
- hoardingExcessive accumulation of goods
- empty shelvesStorage with nothing stored
backorder · deficit · just in time · famine · drought · bottleneck · panic buying · warehouse · inventory · rations · essential workers · queues · waiting list · long lines · allocation · demand · crisis · rolling blackouts
- disaster responsedisaster relief, search and rescue, first responders, emergency preparedness, emergency shelter
- hurricaneshurricane, tropical cyclone, Andrew, Katrina, eyewall
- catastrophesdisasters, disaster, natural disasters, catastrophe, apocalypse
- GallipoliGallipoli, Dardanelles, ANZACs, April 25, war cemeteries
- inflationinflation, CPI, price hikes, hyperinflation, cost-push inflation
- shipping impactscarbon emissions, packaging waste, storage fees, lost cargo, freight rates
supply shortagessurplus
Amount exceeding requirement
abundance · oversupply · glut · plenty · overabundance
supply shortagesbuyer's market
Conditions favoring purchasers
overproduction · market saturation · oversaturation · excess capacity · overstock
supply, supplies, supplied, supplying, supplier, suppliers, shortage, shortages, short