OMAHA, Neb. (Nov. 15, 2021) – While the U.S. economy will experience a strong holiday buying season, Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss, Ph.D., expects that consumers will see higher prices, fewer bargains and a lack of in-demand products due to supply chain disruptions, worker shortages and soaring inflationary pressures.

Goss produces two monthly economic surveys at Creighton—the Mid-America Business Conditions Index of manufacturing supply managers in nine states and the Rural Mainstreet Index of financial institution CEOs in rural areas of 10 states. Based on survey economic indicators, he has identified trends that will impact shoppers this holiday season.

Strong retail growth but high inflation due to supply chain bottlenecks – Stores within the
Mid-America and Rural Mainstreet regions are expected to see strong sales this season, with growth rising up to 10% from last year. Unfortunately for retailers, approximately 5% of the increase in net sales is due to inflation caused by supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages. These supply chain bottleneck disruptions are related to transportation delays and truck driver shortages. In response, 30% of supply managers reported intentional hoarding or stockpiling of inventories to reduce the risks of the supply chain disruptions.

Hiring headaches impact the shopping experience – The second most important factor restraining the U.S. economy is a hiring shortage. As a result, shoppers can expect to encounter longer checkout lines and less customer service assistance – something that hasn’t been seen in decades.

More consumers will shop in-store instead of online – While online shopping increased last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many consumers will shop in-store to avoid transportation delays that could cause their holiday gifts to arrive late. Consumers also are more likely to shop local than previous seasons because of rising fuel prices. However, with many business closures, shoppers will have fewer retail options, particularly outside of metropolitan areas.

Less bargains and empty shelves ‒ Consumers will see fewer deals this holiday shopping season due to hiring shortages, supply chain disruptions and surging inflation rates. Consumers who shop earlier will be more likely to encounter deals than last-minute shoppers.

More cash to spend – With two federal stimulus programs and an unprecedented Federal Reserve expansion, consumers will likely increase their cash-to-credit ratio this holiday shopping season, resulting from shoppers having a significantly larger cash cushion than in 2020.

Holiday travel – With less travel restrictions this year, individual and family travel are expected to increase. More people will be driving to their destination instead of flying due to fears of flight delays and cancellations across the country because of current hiring shortages. Business travel will remain weak.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Corrections is continuing to try and find ways to hire new people to work in the state’s prisons. Corrections director Beth Skinner recently told the Board of Corrections they are working on retention too. “Because one thing we are learning this year, is that we can hire a bunch of people, but we’re losing people out the front door. And it’s like, my analogy was like, it’s like filling up a water jug with holes in the bottom of it,” Skinner says. She says they have talked with other state agencies to get ideas to adjust the hiring process.

“Looking at how we can change up our interview process in terms of making it just more efficient. Getting people in the door to meet us to get to know us. Reduce as many barriers as possible,” she says Skinner says they still need nurses –but have found the competition tough — even when they offer a three-thousand dollar incentive. )”Hospitals are doing 10, 15-thousand sign-on bonuses, or they are having traveling nurses and temps, and they are making really good money and we can’t compete,” according to Skinner.

“What we have to do is talk about as a career, as a public servant, as a profession, and how you’re giving back to your communities by serving and working in corrections.” Skinner says they have better benefits — but that isn’t an incentive to some. “The Millenials, the young people from high they are thinking about the 15-thousand dollar bonus — and the pay,” Skinner says. She says that’s an issue in some cases with corrections officers — as Nebraska is offering a 15-thousand dollar sign-on bonus.

The Clarinda Police Department is asking the public’s assistance in locating Cynthia Karen Miles who was last observed in Clarinda on the evening of Thursday, November 11th at shortly before 10:00 p.m. Cynthia is 64 years old, 5’9″. 170 lbs., blue eyes with shoulder length gray hair. She does not have a vehicle. Miles walked away from a local shelter.

If you see Cynthia, please call the 24 hour dispatch center at 712-542-1419.

Cynthia Miles

DES MOINES – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, Monday (today), honored five Iowans for their efforts to stop the abuse and fraud of their fellow community members during the office’s inaugural Consumer Protection Hero recognition ceremony in the Iowa Capitol Rotunda. Miller said  “Today, we honored these exemplary citizens for their dedication and service to those in their communities who have been or could have been the target of fraudsters. These individuals have gone above and beyond to protect their fellow citizens.”

One of those who was honored, was Scott Kilmer, of Exira. Kilmer was driving a customer to a bank in West Des Moines in early 2020. The trip wasn’t out of the ordinary for the Yellow Cab driver, but as their conversation continued, it was apparent something was amiss. The 83-year-old woman was preparing to withdraw $38,000 from her account and transfer it to someone she didn’t know. She received a call from a man claiming to be with the IRS, urgently telling her a family member needed funds to pay a bill or he’d be sent to jail. Kilmer knew this was the hallmark of a scam. He and a bank representative spoke with the woman and convinced her she was being scammed. Kilmer then notified the Attorney General’s Office, providing information about those who attempted to scam the woman.

(Pictured (l to r): Randy Meier, Carla Houston, Attorney General Tom Miller and Scott Kilmer.)

The other who were honored can be found HERE. The AG’s Consumer Protection Hero award was created to shine a spotlight on the work everyday citizens do in their communities. Whether these individuals use their knowledge of scams to educate the public or recognize when others may be the target for scams or financial exploitation, they are heroes in the eyes of the AG’s Consumer Protection Division.

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to three years in prison for postage fraud. In March, 43-year-old Bradley Jon Matheny was found guilty in March of postage meter forgery and counterfeiting connected to an eBay business he ran out of his home in Marion. Matheny shipped his goods via the U.S. Postal Service. Prosecutors say by altering numbers, Matheny able to pay First Class rates, but the packages were routed through the quicker and more expensive Priority Mail system. A Postal Service inspector estimates the scheme saved Matheny about 380-thousand dollars in postage from 2013 to 2017.

Matheny has been ordered to pay the U.S. Postal Service more than a quarter of a million dollars in restitution. Matheny was also convicted of making false statements on customs forms, claiming packages he was sending to Russia, Israel and other countries were inexpensive gifts rather than merchandise that had been purchased by the recipient of the package. The move meant the packages weren’t subject to taxes.

Officials with the Glenwood Police Department, Monday (Nov. 15), said a man from Bellevue, NE., was arrested Sunday. 35-year-old Ryan Dean was taken into custody for OWI/1st offenses. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.

(Panora, Iowa) – A UTV accident Friday evening near Panora resulted in suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries to three people. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says a 2016 Honda SXS10M5D operated by 37-year-old Chad Aaron Ratcliff, of Panora, was northbound on Soldier Trail at around 5:50-p.m., when the machine went out of control and rolled over at the intersection with 245th Avenue.

Ratcliff was transported by Panora EMS to Iowa Methodist in Des Moines. Two passengers, 37-year-old Nathan Dorsett, of Panora, and 31-year-old Adam Sanders, of Lincoln, NE., were injured. Dorsett was transported to the Guthrie County Hospital by a friend. None of the injured were ejected from the machine when it rolled.

Damage to the UTV was estimated at $20,000. It was declared a total loss.