Attention U.S. Global Loving Economites, get ready to bend over:

[dmcowen674]

1-9-2004 Container squeeze tightens prices

A squeezed supply of refrigerated shipping containers has caused shipping rates to rise 10 percent to 25 percent since last spring, pushing up prices for frozen and chilled food.

And rates are expected to go higher as shipping lines implement federal security regulations aimed at thwarting terrorism.

"We've seen transportation costs of all types going up, including refrigerated intermodal," said Kathy Pernu, a Kraft spokeswoman. "We've seen predictions that refrigerated container transportation costs could increase anywhere from 2 to 7 percent in 2004 over 2003 across the industry."

 

[zephyrprime]

??

 

[Wolfdog]

So in the end the costs will end up being passed down to the consumer. Since they usually are. Since most everything sold in the US is made elsewhere this will be a major problem for retailers since no one wants to pay a elevated price. Which will get passed down to the employee level by lay offs. This would be a good time for some government in action, but alas Bush is tromping around in some undisclosed location in Mexico.