Helium shortage may leave office parties balloon-less

12/09/2006

A global helium shortage could mean that partygoers have to celebrate the Christmas season without balloons this year.

The world's supply of helium has suffered due to plant delays, according to US officials, meaning that some party-supply stores have been forced to cut back on their orders.

A contract for helium from a Qatar plant and two in Algeria have been offline, the US Bureau of Land Management - which provides more than one third of the world's helium - has said.

However, most shop-owners are unconcerned by the temporary shortage, believing that balloons will be back in time for the season when they are most in demand – the time of office Christmas parties.

Pam Brooks, a retailer who supplies balloons for office parties, told Forbes: "Any kind of balloon - especially helium balloons that float around - are visual and attract attention and display a sense of fun.