Shortages are a symptom of central planning gone awry.
In a properly functioning market economy, price signals cause supply to respond quickly to fluctuations in demand. Those crucial price signals have been distorted by massive interventions into the economy by the government and Federal Reserve.
The Fed is artificially suppressing interest rates. That has the effect of artificially stimulating asset market speculation as well as consumer demand – and exacerbating inflation.
If investor psychology shifts toward inflation protection and hunkering down financially, the physical bullion market could see demand overwhelm supply.
Shortages of retail gold and silver products would mean premium spikes and possibly a surge in spot prices as well.