IREI has been hosting virtual roundtables throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and the meetings during the past month have provided another opportunity for i3 board members to discuss issues and trends in the market. The discussions over the past month have focused on supply chains, the energy transition and the fundraising market, in particular.

The COVID pandemic, for example, has affected supply chains and contributed to labor shortages and inflation. Ports have struggled to offload cargo from container ships, partly because of labor shortages, including truck drivers that carry cargo off the docks. The American Trucking Association estimates there is a record shortage of 80,000 truckers. This puts added pressure on ports, which have persistent cargo backlogs despite around-the-clock operation.

This slowdown is adding to costs of shipping and distributing goods, which is contributing to higher inflation. Roundtable participants noted both the immediate issues that stem