Multiple items essential to the everyday lives of Americans are becoming harder to find and they may not be available any time soon due to global supply chain problems.  

According to The New York Times, the pandemic has disrupted the global supply chain. The areas of manufacturing, transportation and logistics typically run smooth, pushing consumers to a place where they expect immediacy and frequent restocks. But that is no longer the case.  

RELATED: Biden to Order a Review of US Supply Chains for Vital Goods 

The issues began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when the virus forced large manufacturing plants to close completely or limit capacity. Additionally, shipping companies cut down schedules due to a drop in demand for moving products across the globe.  

As industries such as travel fell victim to the pandemic, consumers stayed home and turned to online shopping. So as demand increased, the supply did not. This has made it difficult for various industries to continue developing products.  

Car manufacturers have been delayed as they wait for computer chips to become available. Other industries like paint manufacturers are stalled because essential chemicals needed to produce products are hard to come by.  

RELATED: State Supply Stocks Sparse and Dated Before Virus 

BNC is taking an in-depth look at the supply chain shortages and its impact on holiday shopping, food, beauty products and home essentials. It will also examine the shortages’ effect on items important to Black, Brown and low-income families.  

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Backlog at the Ports

Disruptions in the global supply chain are causing major delays at U.S. ports, with the ripple effects being felt across the country. BNC correspondent Walter Morris spoke with experts who say it is going to get worse over the next few months.  

Dr. Nada Sanders, a professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University, described the chaos as a highway jam. “So kind of like this highway system that is backed up and you’re sitting way back miles away and you can’t move,” she said. “So this entire chain has been backed up, on the one hand, because consumer spending has changed and skyrocketed, but on the other side, we’ve had COVID shutdowns across the globe, which have created all kinds of barriers and slowed things down.”  

RELATED: More Than 100K Workers in Various Industries Threaten Strikes  

In addition to those problems, Sanders said labor shortages are also making it more difficult for the supply chain to proceed to normal operations. As a result, the price of items is expected to increase. “I tell the average person, there is something bigger going on,” Sanders said. “It’s not just you, and watch your pocketbook, watch your money, what is going to happen is things are going to get more and more expensive,” she said. 

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Buy Now or Miss Out: Supply Chain Chaos Impacting Holiday Shopping

BNC’s Astrid Martinez reports on the latest on the supply chain shortage, impacting shoppers nationwide. Due to a U.S. trucker shortage and shipping backups at the country’s ports, shoppers worry they won’t find the items they need.

“That combination of online shopping, COVID shutdowns, resupplying things that were out of stock and the holidays together have all combined into what really is a crisis of shipping and a crisis of consumer products,” Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Toy Association, told BNC.

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School Meal Shortages

Families are struggling to put food on the table due to shortages stemming from a backup at U.S. ports and a lack of truck drivers.

Will Adams, CEO of Team Tribute, speaks to BNC about the shortage and how his organization is trying to fill in gaps for schools who are struggling to feed every student.

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Human Hair, Wigs & Closures

After surviving the COVID-19 pandemic, many hair salons are facing a new challenge caused by global supply chain issues.  

Salons across the United States are dealing with reduced supplies, including shortages of human hair, closures and wigs. Samuel Ennon, the founder of the Black Owned Beauty Supply Association, spoke to BNC’s Anita Bennett about the recent struggles. “The Koreans control the distribution,” he said. “So they bring it in by the container.”  

Ennon also notes the human hair industry thrives off of shipments from other places like China, India and Cambodia. But, regardless of the location, hair is taking a lot longer to arrive because of supply chain disruptions.  

Diapers and Baby Essentials 

The disruptions to the global supply chain are causing prices to skyrocket and making shelves scarce. These issues are also having a direct impact on diapers and other baby essentials. For families who are contending with more than one financial setback during the pandemic, this situation can make life more stressful.  

Some parents have to decide between frequent diaper changes or groceries. BNC correspondent Stephanie Bertini looks at how diaper banks are helping with what is a growing problem for parents.