Sam's Club Restricts Rice Purchases

[razorsharp]

<p>

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.‘s Sam’s Club warehouse unit is restricting the purchase of some rice to four bags a visit because of ``recent supply and demand trends.’’ </p>

<p>The limits on jasmine, basmati and long-grain white rice will take place in all U.S. stores where allowed by law and are effective immediately, Sam’s Club spokeswoman Kristy Reed said today in an e-mailed statement

</p>

<p>[Bloomberg.com:</a> Worldwide](<a href=“Bloomberg Politics - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Politics - Bloomberg)</p>

<p>Last I checked, Rice is not used in America to make ethanol. What’s up with this rice problem?</p>

[bulletandpima]

<p>Australia had a drought and so they had no rice for themselves or to export. Thus, they needed to import which caused a shortage for other world exports.</p>

<p>At least that is what I read on the drudge report</p>

[Columbia_Student]

<p>[Food</a> Rationing Confronts Breadbasket of the World - April 21, 2008 - The New York Sun](<a href=“http://www2.nysun.com/article/74994?page_no=1]Food”>http://www2.nysun.com/article/74994?page_no=1)</p>

[marite]

<p>The rice crisis is due to a combination of causes:

1. some natural causes such as drought in Australia
2. the conversion of rice-fields to cash crops or biofuel.
3. the rising price of insecticides and fertilizers both of which are petroleum byproducts.
4. for consumer, the decline in the purchasing power of the dollar. Many local economies are tied to the dollar but may have to import goods using the euro.</p>