SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS: As Japan shutdowns drag on, auto crisis worsens. “Because parts and supplies are shipped by slow-moving boats, the real drop-off has yet to be felt by factories in the U.S., Europe and Asia. That will come by the middle of April.”

Related: Japan’s Automakers Painted Into Corner By Shortages. “For many automakers, it was a big challenge just to pinpoint where the supply chain had snapped. . . . And because the worst-hit suppliers are in the electronics and chip-making sectors, getting them back up to speed is a big hurdle. Vehicle assembly lines are relatively easy to stop and restart, but chip-making equipment is far more sensitive and can get really messed up by an unscheduled shutdown.”