NPR

Amid A Deep Recession, Outdoor Equipment Is Flying Off The Shelves

Kayaks and bicycles are now almost impossible to find in stores across the country. People who were able to keep their jobs and those who got expanded unemployment benefits have been driving demand.

Heather Larson has enjoyed kayaking for several years. Before the pandemic, she'd often rent a kayak for the weekend and ride it at state parks in Illinois and nearby Wisconsin. But the Des Plaines, Ill., resident has had no luck finding one for the past three months.

On secondhand sites like Craigslist, she sees used kayaks priced at $100 over what a new one would typically cost. As soon as new shipments hit stores, the camping and outdoor Facebook groups she's in light up. People post that they're driving

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