The biggest supply chain interruption most Americans have ever seen was during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So it's no surprise those are the supplies people are grabbing off shelves — but the dockworker strike will impact a different set of goods.
The International Longshoremen's Association dockworker strike started on Oct. 1 and has brought operations from 36 ports to a standstill, ranging from Maine to Texas all along the eastern coast of the U.S.
If contract agreements are unable to be reached regarding wages and automation practices, it might get harder to stretch your Aldi budget.
Read on to find out what products will be the hardest to find.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today
Bananas
Price: $0.11 each (estimated)
Roughly 75% of the nation's bananas arrive through East Coast ports, and the difficulty of storing the highly perishable fruit makes it difficult to reroute them through other transportation methods.
Aldi produce prices can vary by location but haven't yet been hit with increases. Fresh bananas might be difficult to find in the upcoming weeks.
Shrimp
Price: Varies by location
Several types of seafood are predominantly imported from other countries, including shrimp. Aldi offers frozen wild-caught Gulf shrimp that you'll want to stock up on if you can't do without for a few weeks.
Cod
Price: Varies by location
Much of the cod supply is imported from Iceland or Canada, but even the Alaskan cod fillets from Aldi will be hard to get on the East Coast if the dockworker strike is lengthy. The frozen fillets are easy to store in your home freezer, so you might want to stock up while supplies last.
Get a protection plan on all your appliances
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.
Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.
For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.
Alcohol
Price: Varies by type and location
Your favorite adult beverages might be hard to find in the upcoming weeks if they aren't produced domestically. Wine, beer, and other spirits imported from Europe, South America, or the Caribbean will likely be impacted. Luckily, there are plenty of American-made options to soften the blow.
Cherries
Price: Varies by location
Cherry season is largely from June to July, but imports allow the fruit to be available most of the year. That may not be the case this year if the dockworkers strike lasts more than a week.
Trending Stories
Avocados
Price: $0.95 each (estimated)
The price of avocados varies by location and type, but many are imported from other countries. Florida avocados will be in higher demand, meaning the price could increase significantly the longer the dockworkers strike continues.
Grapes
Price: Varies by location
The U.S. is ranked sixth highest in grape exportation, but the temporary shutdown of Eastern shipping ports could still impact availability. Fewer grapes on the shelves could mean a price increase if demand remains the same.
Chocolate
Price: Varies by type
Aldi is known for a wide selection of European chocolates, but it could prove difficult to continue importing during the strike closing the East Coast shipping ports. If you love the Choceur brand sweets always available at Aldi, you'll want to stock up now. Otherwise, you may be stuck with Hershey for a while.
Bottom line
More than 45,000 union workers from 36 shipping ports are currently on strike, which is likely to cause the biggest supply chain interruption since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, toilet paper and hand soap will not be hard to find this time.
Imported food will probably be the first noticeable impact. However, other products will be impacted if the strike continues for over a week.
Electronics, pharmaceuticals, car parts, and machinery parts are heavily imported goods.
Unavailability could have noticeable effects well into the holiday season if negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance cannot reach a mutual contract agreement.
Savvy shoppers will want to purchase any must-have toys or electronics intended for Christmas now to save money on shopping.
Even if the strike ends prior to Thanksgiving, the ripple effect could cause price disruptions throughout the year.
More from FinanceBuzz:
- 7 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially.
- Are you a homeowner? Get a protection plan on all your appliances.
- 6 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know.
- Learn how you can escape the paycheck-to-paycheck grind.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.