A dockworkers strike is days away. What would it mean for the economy?

The deadline for negotiations between the union representing dockworkers and the ports is next week.
Wesley Lapointe for The Washington Post via Getty Images

There's a logic to the chaos of the global supply chain

Jun 14, 2024
Peter Goodman of The New York Times discusses the complex inner workings of our fragile system and why it broke down during the pandemic.

Port congestion is easing. But supply chain congestion isn't going away soon.

Jun 10, 2022
China’s COVID-19 lockdowns, which shut down much of the country’s manufacturing and exports, are partly to blame.
President Joe Biden addressed was at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday. Though the port is clearing, the bottlenecks may not be over yet.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Companies reroute cargo away from Russian rail network

Mar 16, 2022
It could put extra pressure on global shipping and force companies to raise prices.
Some goods with high price margins, like computers and car parts, typically travel between China and Europe by rail. Above, a freight train rolls through a forest in Poland.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

New supply chain worries emerge as China races to contain omicron

Jan 18, 2022
About 20 million people are in lockdown under China's zero-COVID policy, and economic disruptions may be ahead.
Lockdowns could affect the operations of the tech industry and Chinese ports.
Jade Gao

Inflation is a global problem

Dec 16, 2021
But a few unique factors are driving up prices in the United States.
Packages from a delivery truck are spread on a New York City street. While the U.S. is near the top in inflation, it's first among nations in spending on goods.
Spencer Platt via Getty Images

How the shipping container revolutionized freight and trade

Nov 23, 2021
Before the shipping container, goods were manually loaded into barrels and wooden creates.
Malcolm McLean realized it didn’t make sense to put entire trucks on a ship, so he came up with the container system.

For public good, not for profit.

With shipping costs sky-high, is importing products even worth it?

Nov 8, 2021
For some businesses, the answer is no, but it depends on the value of the product in question.
With costly manufacturing and delayed shipping timelines, the value of certain products is shifting in the eyes of retailers. Above, people watch a container ship at the Port of Los Angeles.
Mario Tama via Getty Images

China's troubles at home weigh on growth

Oct 18, 2021
Energy problems, supply chain woes and a shaky real estate sector are slowing down Chinese GDP growth.
A view of the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai.
Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

More and more shipping containers are falling into the sea

Apr 27, 2021
Increased demand for imported goods — and more treacherous weather — are among the reasons.
A fully-loaded container ship sits anchored in the San Francisco Bay in March.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images