It may take two to seven years for gas markets to recover from the current glut, Laut said.

That's just the way agriculture works. Thomas acknowledged, however, that the traditional dynamic may be changing in this current glut.

Across the current glut of comedy panel shows, the same handful of faces appear to crop up on all of them.

Farmers say shortcomings in a government crop support program, and weak overseas demand have combined to produce the current glut of onions.

Audience anxieties may fuel demand for disaster pictures but film industry economics have played a role in bringing about the current glut.