Safety Stockpiling Hits Three-Year High as Manufacturers Rush to Protect Against Inflation and Shortages Safety Stockpiling Hits Three-Year High as Manufacturers Rush to Protect Against Inflation and Shortages

Global Supply Chain Volatility Index

June 2026

Global: 1.55

Asia: 2.96  -0.83

EU: 1.43  -0.21

NA: 1.69  +0.17

U.K.: 1.34  +0.38

SAFETY STOCKPILING HITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN OVER THREE YEARS AS BUSINESSES RUSH TO PROTECT AGAINST INFLATION AND SHORTAGES: GEP GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN VOLATILITY INDEX

  • Global supply chains remain under significant strain as manufacturers front-load purchasing to guard against anticipated higher prices in the second half of 2026
  • Safety stockpiling, shortages and transportation costs have all been elevated for three straight months, a rare signal outside the 2021-2023 supply chain crisis
  • North America supply chain pressures rise to their highest level since August 2022; Asia remains under the greatest strain globally   more...

GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index

-.09 

June 2026

Asia: 2.96

EU: 1.43

NA: 1.69

U.K.: 1.34

Interpreting the data:

When the SCVI > 0, supply chain capacity is being stretched. The further above 0, the more stretched supply chains are.

When the SCVI < 0, supply chain capacity is being underutilized. The further below 0, the more underutilized supply chains are.

Asia: Pressures ease from April peak but remain the highest in the world

Europe: Factory purchasing slows as weakness emerges in Germany and France

U.K.: Supply chain pressures climb to a three-and-a-half-year high

North America: Supply chain pressures rise to highest level since August 2022 on stronger purchasing and stockpiling

The next release of the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index will be 8 a.m. ET, July 13, 2026. 

 

JUST A FEW MORE THINGS ABOUT YOU

About the GEP Supply Chain Volatility Index

The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is produced by S&P Global and GEP. The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is derived from S&P Global’s PMI™ surveys, sent to companies in over 40 countries, totalling around 27,000 companies. These countries account for 89% of global gross domestic product (GDP) (source: World Bank World Development Indicators).

The headline figure is the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index. This a weighted sum of six sub-indices derived from PMI data, PMI Comments Trackers and PMI Commodity Price & Supply Indicators compiled by S&P Global.

The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is calculated using a weighted sum of the z-scores of the six indices. Weights are determined by analysing the impact each component has on suppliers’ delivery times through regression analysis.

The six variables used are 1) JP Morgan Global Quantity of Purchases Index, 2) All Items Supply Shortages Indicator, 3) Transport Price Pressure Indicator and Manufacturing PMI Comments Tracker data for 4) stockpiling due to supply or price concerns, and backlogs rising due to 5) staff shortages and 6) item shortages.

A value above 0 indicates that supply chain capacity is being stretched and supply-chain volatility is increasing. The further above 0, the greater the extent to which capacity is being stretched.

A value below 0 indicates that supply chain capacity is being underutilized, reducing supply-chain volatility. The further below 0, the greater the extent to which capacity is being underutilized.

A Supply Chain Volatility Index is also published at a regional level for Europe, Asia, North America and the UK. The regional indices measure the performance of supply-chains connected to those parts of the world.

For more information on PMI surveys, PMI Comments Trackers and PMI Commodity Price & Supply Indicators, the GEP Supply Chain Volatility Index methodologies, please contact economics@ihsmarkit.com.