Grocery stores are experiencing extreme shortages ahead of the holiday season

 

GOSHEN, Ind -- Your favorite grocery stores are experiencing a shortage when it comes to the every day items and it's all happening weeks before the holidays.

It's the simple household items missing from stores and if they are available, the prices have been increased and people are noticing.

"I’m shopping today mostly to do baking and was able to find everything I needed. I thought the prices, I can see that they had increased," said shopper and resident Lorene Bowser.

As we approach the holiday season, an issue that's hard to miss is the lack of items on the shelves.

"I did see some shelves that were sparsely stocked but it wasn’t anything that I really needed today," said Bowser.

What I saw today while walking through the stores were empty shelves of common items.

Customers tell me items come and go, and they never know what will be in stock and when.

"I had trouble finding minute rice and a few things that I normally shop for, before when I was here. Two weeks ago, I guess it was. When I see it, if I need it, I buy it. No matter what the price is because sometimes it’s not," said Bowser.

The worry is things like milk, turkey, hams, and other holiday items aren't available as we approach the holiday season.

That's why experts suggest shopping early this year.

"You get to all get together this year but you don’t have food, you don’t have presents. So, all you have to do is just be together and have fun I guess – and hope you have toilet paper," said shopper and Elkhart County resident Margie Dalton.