ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) — Supply chain problems continue to persist. Restaurants are reporting shortages of tater tots, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. But there should be an ample supply of chicken wings for Superbowl parties on Sunday, according to Dan Simpher at Epic Pizza in Soulard.
“From talking to our suppliers in the last week or two, right until yesterday, there are plenty everywhere,” he said.
Simpher said the cost of a case of chicken wings went from $80 before the pandemic to $140 last year and then back down to $125 in 2022.
Preparations for Valentine’s Day have been challenging because of supply chain issues and inflation. Andy Karandzieff, owner of Crown Candy Kitchen, said he was worried about getting his shipment of strawberries to make chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day.
“Fortunately a truck showed up today, it was late by a day, but our strawberries did arrive. But they’re also $10 more a flat than they were last year,” he said.
Karandzieff also said his supplier of heart-shaped boxes failed to ship his order and he’s worried about running out by Saturday.
Chuck Knoll at Walter Knoll Florist said there’s an ample supply of roses this year, but they’ve experienced shortages of other flowers.
“For years I’ve always gotten peonies and this year, I can’t get the peonies. But people are very understanding, he said.
He said prices and shipping costs are higher this year, but they’ve chosen to not raise the price of roses.
Senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Fernando Leibovici, said supply chain disruptions are starting to recede and that there are signs that the inflation rate will start to decline in the near term. But he said no one can predict when that will happen.
“I mean, if we know exactly a date, it can be great. The key is to think about the direction in which things are going,” he said.
Leibovici said when inflation drops back down to more normal levels, he doesn’t expect to see prices go back down to pre-pandemic levels.
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