A Brexit Christmas?

I know it’s a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but it’s hard not to with all the caterwauling about likely shortages come December.

One wine company, which just happens to be the world’s fifth biggest, has already warned there may be less of the good stuff, or that it might be very pricey because of truck driver shortages in the UK.

Firms such as Wetherspoons and McDonald’s are affected by similar shortages. Some McDonald’s are apparently running low on bacon, milkshakes and bread. Supermarkets have empty shelves.

British doctors’ surgeries will soon be affected as well because of news that supplies such as flu shots can’t be delivered on schedule on account of the lack of truckers.

This is not just a British problem. The post-Covid recovery is exposing snarls in the global supply chain. These are spurred by labour shortages, which means companies are struggling to meet demand even as shipping bottlenecks cause further headaches. There is a shortfall in semiconductors, the price …