A nightmare before Xmas
Turkey, toy and beer-free festive season looms
A “NIGHTMARE” Christmas of turkey, toy and beer shortages is looming, experts warn.
A retail analyst warned of a “distinct lack of choice”, and scarce essentials.
With some shop shelves already empty, Clive Black, of Shore Capital, added: “I expect Christmas will be a nightmare. Shortages of labour have meant businesses have not laid down the same number of turkeys or planted the same number of crops.
“The HGV driver shortage is compounding the problem. A lot of people eating on Christmas Day will be asking, ‘What the hell is this?
“Equally, if the CO2 problem does not settle, expect beer and carbonated soft drinks to be in short supply, and a lot more expensive.”
He added that Christmas will be “pricier generally” due to extra costs of food and distribution firms.
He predicted shortages of toys, bicycles, sofas and electronic goods because of delays at ports, and difficulties with shipping and containers. Labour said the Government had been complacent and ignored warnings from experts.
Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband said: “It is Conservative complacency that has led to the fuel crisis, energy costs crisis and supply chain crisis our country is experiencing, with ministers ignoring warnings from businesses and failing to plan ahead.”
The Petrol Retailers Association says its survey found 27% of forecourts now have no fuel, 52% have both petrol and diesel, and 21% have only one type. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke denied the HGV driver shortage is a result of Brexit. He said the problem is “shared by other European countries”. Labour fears Britain is heading for another winter of discontent. It branded the Government’s £500million Household Support Fund, announced yesterday, an “inadequate sticking plaster”. The party says millions face a “crisis point” with energy bills to rocket and £20 Universal Credit uplift ending.