Happy Real Independence Day!

After so many Fourth of July celebrations were canceled last summer because of COVID, demand for sparklers, cherry bombs, bottle rockets and more sophisticated amateur fireworks hit a record high.

Now there's a problem this summer: A shortage of fireworks in the United States.

[...] Although sales are fairly concentrated into a tight time period around Independence Day, vendors buy year-round and try to have a buffer if demand is high. Last year, many vendors sold out early and depleted that buffer that would normally have rolled over into 2021. In addition, the supply chain this year hasn't recovered from the pandemic.

Phantom Fireworks, the leading fireworks retailer in the country, has several locations in Wisconsin, including one in Racine that serves the Milwaukee area. The company had a 48% increase in sales of fireworks cases from 2019 to 2020.

William Weimer, vice president of Phantom Fireworks, said this year has been difficult due to logistical issues. Fireworks, most of which are imported from China, are still getting shipped out. But there are a host of "inefficiencies," he said, in getting them to specific locations. One of his containers was off-loaded from a boat on April 14, but is still sitting in a U.S. port, waiting for truck transport.

The company expects to receive only 70% of what it ordered from China this year, even though it normally receives 100%.

Luckily, Weimer said, the company ordered more than a year’s supply due to the high demand last year. He said he does not anticipate locations running out, but some may have less variation or options for products.

He also said the shortage has led the company to increase prices for products on average about 15% to 25%.

After a year with not much bang, fireworks sales are booming as we enter the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Shops that sell consumer-grade fireworks are packed.

Jamie Bair, of York County, was checking out the shelves at Sky King Fireworks. He told News 8 how much money he plans to spend.

"Maybe a hundred," he said.

Fireworks can be expensive. Some of the mortars are close to $300, and it's not uncommon for some customers to spend more than $1,000 or even several thousand. There is also an 18% tax for the big stuff.

Sudden Fireworks All the Time outbreaks seem to be happening everywhere but the media won’t talk about it. And I think that’s because everyone deep down knows the truth about who’s setting them off: The evil clowns from 2016. https://t.co/uoJzfg5pvG

— Ben Mathis-Lilley (@BenMathisLilley) June 17, 2020

Today, flying the American flag from the back of a pickup truck or over a lawn is increasingly seen as a clue, albeit an imperfect one, to a person’s political affiliation in a deeply divided nation. https://t.co/TODmHEmPsO

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 3, 2021