AO.com became the latest retailer to highlight the impact of this blizzard of issues today, warning on its full-year profits as a result.

The white-goods etailer said its UK sales in the six months to September 30 had been hampered by “the nationwide shortage of delivery drivers and ongoing disruption in the global supply chain”.

Much of the focus – both from the media and politicians – has been on how these issues are affecting food availability heading towards the end of the year. Only last Friday, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warned the government that there were just “10 days to save Christmas” for the retail industry.