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(CNN Business) -
As you prepare for the July 4th weekend festivities, add fireworks to the list of items that will be more expensive this year, if you are lucky enough to find them.
For the second year in a row, the fireworks shortage is leaving the shelves empty and raising prices ahead of the holiday weekend.
Consumers should be prepared to stock up early and pay more this year if they want July 4 fireworks, Alan Zoldan, executive vice president of Phantom Fireworks, told CNN Business.
«If you pay the same amount, you will get less.
I have no doubt, ”said Zoldan.
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As the economy has reopened and started to recover from the pandemic, supply chains have struggled to keep up with demand, leading to shortages and congestion at ports.
For the fireworks industry, which relies on shipments from China, the result has been a "very, very narrow bottleneck," Zoldan said.
Even without the additional pressures of a recovering economy, the fireworks industry was already in a "secondary position" because fireworks are considered dangerous products, according to Zoldan.
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The industry is struggling with fewer shipments and high costs
The challenges are not just limited to importing goods to ports.
Part of the industry challenge is the current labor shortage in the United States, which is further slowing fireworks deliveries and contributing to limited inventory.
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“There are not enough dock workers.
Not enough capacity… not enough truckers, ”Zoldan said.
Last July 4, the fireworks industry had a record season, nearly doubling its previous sales.
While the sales were a big boost for the industry, there have been long-lasting effects, according to Zoldan.
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"It reduced inventories not just for our company, but for the entire industry to the lowest levels on the consumer side that we have ever seen and created."
For customers, this all means fewer deals, lower inventory, and higher prices.
Historically, customers who came looking for fireworks in the days leading up to July 4 could find products in showrooms.
This year, however, things are not so promising.
I see shortage at the end.
My advice is definitely to get there as soon as possible, ”said Zoldan.
CNN Business's Annie Hager contributed to this report.
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