“I’m taking a very, very big risk opening another retail location,” says Annie Lang Hartman, owner of the Michigan retail brand Wild Lettie.

The retailer says it’s part of an effort to keep prices low for customers. That can be hard to do in the long term.

Experts point to inefficiency, lack of warehouse space and outdated technology.

“It’s the kind of stuff that keeps you awake at night,” said Teresa Asbury, a senior executive at the Legacy Cos.

From the shipping slowdown in China to the excess of inventory on hand, there are a number of likely reasons for the drop.

It could put extra pressure on global shipping and force companies to raise prices.

The global supply chain pressure index shows that recent disruptions are extreme. But the labor situation is not represented.

David Erlanger is dealing with shipping delays and price increases the likes of which he hasn’t seen in his decades in the business.

While businesses are not immune to the global logistics nightmare, those that primarily source domestically have an advantage.

Gift-givers seem to be paying attention to messages urging them to ship early.