Greater LA
How will LA’s shipping backlog affect consumers and business owners as holidays approach?
The ports of LA and Long Beach handle more shipping containers per ship than any other port complex in the world, and right now, dozens of cargo ships are anchored off the coast.
By Steve Chiotakis • • 25m ListenThe ports of LA and Long Beach handle more shipping containers per ship than any other port complex in the world, and right now, dozens of cargo ships are anchored off the coast. Dock workers are hustling 24/7 to reduce the backlog, and one of them tells KCRW what it all looks like on the ground.
As the holidays approach, many sought-after items won’t be on store shelves, but do people really need to buy so much stuff anyway?
In this episode
3 storiesLA’s port problem is building up ahead of the holidays
With consumer confidence and demand rising ahead of the holidays, business owners and shoppers are facing perhaps the most significant interruption yet. Dozens of ships currently sit off the coast of LA full of cargo. Workers at the ports of LA and Long Beach have been instructed to offload 24/7.
Read the story7 min24/7 ports won’t fix the supply chain backlog alone, says longshoreman
“There's a big clog, but it ain't us. We have become a storage facility instead of a throughput facility. We are inundated with a lot of cargo. We're moving as fast as we can," says Danny Miranda, who has worked at the ports for more than 40 years.
Read the story7 minPeople buy things to compete and stand out, but a new handbag won’t make you happier, says professor
People who spend money on experiences, like vacations and dinners with friends, are happier than those who spend money on materialistic possessions, like a new handbag or new poster to hang on the wall, explains Sonja Lyubomirsky, psychology professor at UC Riverside.
Read the story11 min
