Something I have noticed over the past few months that seems to be accelerating…goods are disappearing from stores. Have you noticed this? Stores are carrying more and more store brands (the quality of which I find questionable in many cases) and removing the brand names. Less of particular types of goods are being carried and by result, there is more ‘space’ in a store (less shelving). And goods are not being restocked and less is being restocked. This goes from Walmart to grocery stores to the local Sam’s club to Target even down to Pet Smart. (In fact, one Walmart store has completely removed their jewelry section). This is troubling to me and I can’t quite put my finger on ‘why’ this is occurring. I understand that we are in the midst of an economic depression that isn’t being spoken about and that sellers are adjusting to lower sales of ‘higher’ priced items (read that name brands) and that they are putting in less choice because they don’t want to put the money into items that are or could be slow movers. But not restocking? Is there a supply problem I don’t know about? Or perhaps shipments are being delayed because they are running less trucks and they are trying to save on money for fuel? (but give me a BREAK, fuel costs went up 2 years ago so that doesn’t float with me). Or is it that we, the public aren’t being told the truth about the value/exchange rate of our dollar and the supply problem (thanks NAFTA) is starting on the other end of just getting the raw product or item into theUS? Something is a miss when the Pedigree dog food I buy from a particular Walmart is ‘missing’ for weeks before they get it back in. Something is not right when a good selling product (such as organic canned veggies or even Dr.Pepper soda) goes on the missing list and I am told they don’t know when or IF they will carry it again. Maybe I am spoiled…but the list of things I have noticed go ‘missing’ is growing and rapidly growing, but the cheap crap from China (including food that is of a questionable nature in terms of safety…such as apple juice of which over 60% comes from China and contains levels of cyanide that I find unacceptable…that stuff never gets out of your body and you wonder why I insist on organic??) is coming in here faster than it can be sold. What is the deal there? I understand that money is being deflated and costs are being inflated making it harder and harder for the average American to maintain a higher standard of living…but this is starting to feel like an attack is upon us…a trade/monetary war of which is not being spoken. Take a product away and they will buy something else from us. But what about socks? I swear a month ago I went looking for just run of the mill cotton socks and the local Walmart had NONE or next to none in any size, neither did the Target, neither did the Old Navy store near by. And it was only 2 weeks ago that they refilled the shelves. I even had a hard time finding ordinary socks online IN STOCK!! This just strikes me as very odd…and its alarming at the sametime to me, one of the indicators of collapse is the unavailability of goods for a length of time. And before someone points out this to me, I do understand that this past year the cotton harvest was abysmal, so that could be a part of the problem too. But I have to wonder, what are we not being told? Where is it going? And the big question…why?
With this said, I am going to give you a list of items that I have noticed are ‘disappearing’ or getting hard to get that you may want to get when you find:
1) Cotton socks
2) Fire starting methods (lighters, lighter fluid, matches, etc.)
3) Quality Canned Goods (store brand is the lowest grade of food available, avoid if you can!)
4) Bottled Water
5) Baby Food
6) Quality Pet Foods
7) Ammo
8) Batteries of all types
There are other things such as soda, garbage bags, detergent of all sorts and media (CDs, Books).
Anyone else notice the ‘disappearance’ of something I haven’t mentioned? Maybe I am paranoid or maybe I just spoiled about having choices, but what I am seeing is concerning me, anyone else? I know at this point, when I see these items I am very likely to get everything I can afford to…tell me what you think?
survivingshtfmom 
I found your post on “Paratus Familia”. I have not noticed any of what you said above in any stores here in South Texas. There is much more ammo on the shelves down here than in the past several years since the wars overseas have slowed down and much more miltary grade ammo is being dumped on the market since the feds are buy less ammo.
If I start noticing a trend, i will post what I find on your blog.
I live in central Va…thanks for following through from Paratus Familia Blog. I don’t know if its a regional problem or if the big stores are shifting around product to where they know it will sell, but this is what I am seeing in my neck of the woods and family/friends out in Iowa are seeing the general trend there too. Please do keep your eyes open, the more we see and share the more we will be forewarned. Thanks!
Well im in rural australia and we are seeing the same thing happening here and in the city too, identical problem ,somethings not right in a lot ways and a lot of people are switched off or dont want to know !
I have noticed local stores carrying more of their own brand and some items go missing for weeks here in the western north carolina mountians
Its interesting for sure…I am wondering where in the supply chain the problem is OR is it that stores are not ordering due to less profit until its all gone and then it takes time? can’t figure it out.
I have noticed the same thing happening in North Carolina. Shelves that used to contain two layers of canned goods now only have one. Half the usual inventory. There is still pleanty there to be had, but It struck my as odd.
I assume it’s some sort of cost saving measure, but I don’t know enough about how grocery stores work to know what is going on.
My understanding is that it is cost saving when you see this…the ‘just in time’ inventory system…but it also has something to do with credit to the stores. They can’t afford to keep more than what they sell on hand. The dangerous thing about this is if and WHEN something happens and people flood the stores there will be extreme shortages. Stores used to have 3 days supply and I believe they are cutting back to 1 or 2 days now.