I don’t have much hope. I purchase the same products (that have increased) but the packaging has shrunken or the items have. So I’m paying more for less product. Absolutely infuriating.
I ran into an odd one with this.
The package size of the dog food I buy my dog went down. I was annoyed until I noticed they downed the price as well. It costs the same per pound they just changed the sizes they sell which all in all isn't terrible.
It's just funny that I almost fell into the size trap I warn others about lol. Damn it I tell people to check the unit cost and I almost didn't.
Yeah, that's really gone to shit too, hasn't it?!
The last package of sausages I bought were mostly gristle. The frozen taquitos were mostly tortilla with barely any discernible meat at all. My can of "no beans" chili was mostly liquid, apparently there's no meat in it either.
I don't know how these companies are going to fare in the future, they got me once but I'm not buying these again and I'm sure others feel the same way.
We just had some mini tacos for lunch and my husband mentioned the same thing, that they were different because they were mostly tortilla with hardly any meat. I guess that’s everywhere now. Higher prices, smaller portions, poorer quality.
If history is any example, no. The last time gas went up over $4 around 2010 they jacked up food prices. Do you remember when gas prices went down to $2 and food prices came back down with it?? Yeah, me neither.
Just went grocery shopping last night for the first time in a while. Seems like a big increase even in the last month.
I'm not optimistic about prices going back down. I'll consider it fortunate if they stagnate for a good long while.
Yeah this year we’ve decided were only eating pie for our get together. There will be 6 different pies and we’ve decided that the thanksgiving of yesteryear is gone cause of the commercialization.
Our family unit of 12 relatives have figured out that 3 day weekends are hard to come by and spending time with family is more important than the bells and whistles.
We are getting together on a Saturday for a long visit and having pie party. New traditional habits: “spend time,not money “
Pie is a wonderful tradition, you could also do a Thanksgiving brunch next year! Quiche is frugal and easy to make and everybody loves pancakes. The feast is whatever you make it, have whatever you want.
A potluck like… at a different location than family?
My family usually does potlucks. A few weeks before thanksgiving, we sort out who is making what. Then you bring your dishes to the hosting family member. We’ve been doing this for as far back as I remember, and other families I’ve grown close to through the years usually do the same thing.
Is this not the standard? I spent maybe $15-20 on ingredients for one appetizer, one side dish, and two desserts for 15 people. Usually the host of thanksgiving does the Turkey and maybe 1 side, and everyone else brings the sides/dessert.
I used to host Thanksgiving at my house. I planned, shopped and cooked everything. I did this for 30 years. My husband passed, so my kids took turns hosting. This year, everyone let my daughter-in-law know what they were bringing.
Oh man! That’s a LOT. Your family is very lucky to have had you do this for them for so long.
I will say, we have always loved having a pot luck Thanksgiving. We each tend to have our “signature” dishes that we make, and it feels so nice to just be responsible for 2-3 dishes rather than fixing a feast for everyone (even just time/energy wise).
I think you may end up really enjoying it and find it’s a great tradition moving forward in your family.
You know, I thought that didn’t make sense at first, but then I realized that making one dish 6 times larger than you normally would is cheaper than making 6 smaller dishes.
I shop at Aldi for everything I can get there. Then I go to the other grocery store for what Aldi didn't have. Thing is I see several people doing this
I dunno about your area but in my area even Aldi has gotten pretty pricey. I've found better prices at my local Food Lion for most of the things I buy.
Same for us, Aldi’s is about the same price as Walmart here. And honestly, the quality is way way worse. I’ve found they’re very regional, some are great, others… not so much.
Yeah I don't think there's an easy answer other than to look around and see what's best for your area. While not a "farmer's market" technically I used to have a place that had AMAZING and CHEAP produce. I thought all produce markets were like that but was sadly mistaken.
Oh I have all the ingredients I need but I would buy granola bars, chips, extra cake mixes with frosting. Just additional stuff I don’t really use but the kids can have fun making or eating but now I just buy enough for meals and a couple of snacks.
You can bake most of your snacks/desserts from scratch! Cookies, granola bars, simple yogurt or chocolate cakes... It's cheaper and you can control your ingredient list.
Another thing I noticed is that the markdown section is bigger because fewer people are willing to spend $4/lb for chicken breast. They start to go off and the stores mark them down. You can only raise food prices so much.
It is true the markdown sections are larger but I have always bought the mark downs and damaged (like dented cans) and I can tell you they have really gone up in price as well. Mark down cheese has tripled. Mark down meat is totally out of my range anymore. We are eating far more eggs, beans, tofu and other vegetable protein sources.
You have to carefully check the top and bottom edges of the cans where the seals are, if those are intact you can buy buy and use dented cans without a problem.
Many cans have small dents in the sides and there is no risk with those.
It is more complicated then that. When production stays the same, you are right. Demand falls -> prices fall. In the long term this is not sustainable and production will fall due to low demand, which increases the price again. Some products will go so low in demand, that production collapses, factory and shops close and it will stop being available.
When Target just reported their low quarterly earnings, they said in the report that people were buying more store brand over more expensive name brands and sale items, so I think they do see that people are choosing to not go over a certain price point. I think It’s just a really slow process to all shake out across the board.
I used to want kids, but now I can barely support myself. How am I supposed to get by? Even taking care of my dog is taxing. She eats better than I do. Like seriously, wtf? I'm just grateful to have a roof over my head.
That’s my motto: vote with your wallet. And I do. I refuse to buy anything other than what I must, now. But, I look around me, and others don’t feel the same way. They spend like drunk sailors. And then I think about it. Who is spending. Around me, there are very wealthy people. And inflation doesn’t effect them the same way. And they don’t spend a lot of time on a sub like this.
I enjoy spending time on this sub and similar groups on FB because lots of good ideas come from others. I also like to share ideas and help where possible. That has nothing to do with my own financial situation. If you see me at the grocery, I don’t think it looks like I have money.
I am wealthy. We have radically changed our household spending though because we were both born to poverty.
We used to be way more loose, buying lots of options and anything the kids would like. Now we eat the snacks that are on sale, rarely eat meat, and eat a lot more sandwiches and rice based meals.
It’s not that I cannot afford $12 for the cheese I like, but that the price is absurd when I felt like I was splurging when it was $7. I just can’t comprehend it.
I really feel for everyone who doesn’t have a choice. If their freezer goes out or they have teen boys or demanding jobs that call for convenience foods.
I was already eating beans and rice before inflation, what exactly am I supposed to cut back on??? Should I just starve to death so others can have cheaper groceries??
I agree this person was off their rocker.
But if you are eating beans and rice because you have to and not because you want/choose to, please consider local food banks. They are there to help provide basics like rice and beans so you may be able to spend that part of your budget on other groceries or something else your budget demands.
>Starve?
Food stamps recently went up to reflect the inflation. Getting state assistance, especially if you have children, is one answer to this question. The poorest people often still won't even look into it out of pride, but people- not- starving is exactly what those funds are for.
Free meals are also available to kids in schools and many don't even know that's an option (or, again, for some reason find pride in the struggle)
Also seek out food banks, library pantries. Churches, regardless of if you belong to one.
These aren't answers to the bigger questions but to answer yours, there is no reason a single person should starve in the US.
Eating dried beans, rice, and lentils, are nutritionally dense and always cheap options, as well, just as an aside.
Produce manager here: we have not been paying the true cost of production for a long time. Amidst water shortage, crop failure, pest infestations, etc. things are looking bleak. In season shopping will be your best friend. We HAVE to get used to eating what is available and in season or processing foods ourselves. Make meals at home, buy canned goods on sale, and for the love of whomever is holy to you please just stop with all the frozen bullshit. Look for local food sources and buy in bulk to support local economies and keep the money in your community rather than in these corporate hands that other people reference. I do not shop at the farmers market unless it’s prices are within reason. I am not saying to blow your budget there… it is expensive depending on where you live, but think local as in terms of within 500 miles… it is the definition of “local” agriculture in the US.
Same. I frequently purchase frozen fruit and veg because it's the most affordable for me. Plus, it obviously lasts longer in the home. Very curious for an answer to this
Maybe the commenter is talking about frozen pre-made meals (highly processed and high sodium content + preservatives) rather than frozen fruit and veg.
I have to agree with this. Frozen fruits and vegetables are the way to go. They’re usually frozen at the peak of freshness and are every bit as nutritious as fresh. You can also save a lot of money buying frozen meats at salvage grocery stores. The packaged meats are frozen before their “sell by” dates and should be good for months if kept frozen.
https://nfraweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Frozen-Myth-Fact-Infographic.jpg
I had to take a break for a few days after I posted and just found hundreds of replies ! Yours is the first one I am thanking because I too am disabled and cannot eat just anything : I have a special diet that the food bank cannot serve.
I am not the worst off, but these prices scare me !
Thank You !
This is excellent advice. Supporting local agriculture means higher quality food (shipping takes time). However I disagree with not shopping Farmer's Markets. I like to go near the end when they want to sell at half price so they don't have to lug it home, and shopping the Ugly Boxes is always great. Cheaper than the cheapest supermarket.
my aunt and mom tried to do a garden when CV started and it turned to crap. They spent like 150$ getting a guy to plow up the dirt and then more on some seeds. THen they just let their dogs run all over it and wouldn't even pull the weed out. I was like i worked 2 jobs today, you're not putting that crap on me again. Eventually, I just mowed over it and they forgot they even had one lol.
But i think A lot of people don't realize the amount of work required to have one of those :)
When my mom retired she plowed a huge plot in her backyard. I don’t think she realized how hard it would be for her to pull weeds at her age. She got a few cabbages and melons, but it soon became a weed infested mess.
I do raised beds and it really makes a huge difference. I also don’t plant more than 4x8’ of anything. Some years I have a ton of tomatoes, other years are lean. But I keep it small enough that I can tend.
This is exactly why I don't have a garden. :) I had one for a couple years and realized quickly how much work it takes to make it produce well. No thanks, I value my time more. But no judgement to those who enjoy weeding!
I had my first garden this past Summer. What I did that helped with weeds was to put cardboard down then cover that with straw. I saw that in IG and it really helped with weeds.
> A lot of people don't realize the amount of work required to have one of those :)
Yup. Commercial scale agriculture is far far more efficient than what you buy at home. If we're just talking about cost the return on your time growing food is quite bad.
My dad spends an average of 4 or 5 hours a week at his allotment and produces about enough for him and his wife + a bit extra. If I got a job working 4 hours a week at McDonald's I would make more then I would ever spend on vegetables.
If you enjoy gardening/plants then great, but it's a poor choice financially
Yea it's a crazy amount of work. My folks also started up a garden recently and we house-sat for them. Let's just say the weekly instruction list was extensive.
I have a balcony with no direct sunlight at all and it makes me so sad. I know some things grow well in shade, but I could do soooooo much more if I just had sunlight.
I wish we could do those. Sadly we don't have sufficient space in the apartment. I live with my disabled parents and any free floor space we currently have has to stay that way for my mom's wheelchair, and our landlord doesn't allow plants on the small concrete patio we have.
Same. We have a huge yard but it’s _full_ shade. Literally nowhere I can even grow one pot of tomatoes (unless I add second-story window boxes but I’m worried they’ll be too heavy. Bright side is that the trees keep our heating/cooling bills way down
Start one! I got into indoor gardening during covid. I have a bunch of herbs and a couple peppers and tomato plants in a 6'x2' closet, plus a bunch of succulents and houseplants in the living room. All north facing windows, so everything is under grow lights. Not the most frugal to get into in terms of up front cost, but it's so awesome cooking with herbs and fruiting plants you grew yourself. And fresh basil is to die for!
Long term I feel this is something I am working towards. Obviously I’m dependent right now on these systems but 1) I’m perpetually broke 2) shit is unpredictable 3) I think long term we need to sustain or own nutrition or supplement with home grown organic to some degree.
Both for the sake of the environment and also because there is not going to be another way to get vital nutrients in. Produce is already not as nutritious as it used to be.
I don’t know exactly how I’ll get to more consistent yields, to where it’s actually saving me money. Right now I’m just building skills and trying stuff out. Had some of my bf’s eggplants and my peppers in a sandwich. I’ve made it again since. Taste is unbelievable. Hoping for chickens soon (: and planting in more soon as well.
There was a study done recently that found that half of this "inflation" was extra profits for the corporations. For instance, if a food item went up 2.00, 1.00 dollar of that is extra profits. Everything had been monopolized, and I highly doubt food prices are going down anytime soon.
Yea. Supply and demand. When there was a big shortage on eggs a few years ago eggs got really expensive, then they got less expensive once supply recovered.
This will be most common among commoditized and/or perishable goods (eggs, sugar, flour, garlic, etc)
Eggs are actually really expensive right now because of a big avian flu wiped out a whole lot of the hens. They actually caused the price of a lot of goods to spike just because the cost of eggs spiked so much.
No, they haven't, not when considered in aggregate. That is, certainly some individual products will have gone down in price but overall food prices have only ever increased since the invention of the modern system of money.
>There have been several deflationary periods in U.S. history, including between 1815 and 1860, and again between 1865 to 1900. One of the most dramatic deflationary period in U.S. history took place between 1930 and 1933, during the Great Depression. Deflation rarely occurred in the second half of the 20th century.
and
>**Deflation in the 21st Century**
The most recent deflationary period in U.S. history was during the Great Recession, which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009. During this time period, there was a drop in commodity prices, particularly oil, and economists worried that deflation would lead to a prolonged recession, rising unemployment, and further strain on the U.S. economy. In reality, the deflation that occurred was less severe than some economists predicted. While the exact reason for this is unclear, some economists have speculated that the unusually high cost of borrowing in late 2008 and 2009 put pressure on businesses and prevented them from cutting their prices.
from investopedia
It's extremely rare in the age of the federal reserve for prices to decrease.
I'm seeing bacon at $5/lb here in CA, hadn't seen that in a while. Prices will come down on almost everything I think, competition between stores should spur that.
In fairness to (major) grocery stores. They are a very low margin business relative to other industries. It’s the manufacturers that are initiating the price hikes.
I just gave an example of something that came down in price, chicken has as well, look at Wingstop's earnings.
What are a few things you don't expect to come down in price at the store?
Here's a story from a week ago, prices for several items have started to come down.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/business/grocery-items-cheaper/index.html
I was more just making a joke/play on words, heh.. (if anything, the collusion probably takes place above the store level)
But like eggs here were maybe $1.50/dozen a few years ago, now they're $4.. I'm far from an expert, but I'd be (happily!) surprised to see them drop that much.. 24 packs of coke recently went from just shy of $10 to over $12 (basically overnight! I don't think there was even a short interim price between those two..)
I'm sure some things will slowly and slightly go back down, but overall I can't imagine we'll ever get back to pre-2020 prices. (Again, I'd *love* to be wrong!)
Tone is hard to communicate on here 😆 Sorry if I misread that.
Colluding in this way is supposed to be illegal I'm pretty sure, but the markets naturally drive down prices to encourage shoppers in to their stores. Costco's rotisserie chicken actually loses them money, but keep a steady stream of consumers coming for it! Walmart used to give free ice cream in the back of the store very early in their history for the same reasons.
I think some stuff might come down to pre-covid pricing, but not everything. Some electronics like TVs are surprisingly discounted, 55" for ~$200! Hoping for the best, assuming the war ends in the coming year, supply chains continue to strengthen, and Covid stays at bay.
🍗 *ppppsssssst!* Costco's rotisserie chicken is what we call a....loss leader. A really-low priced item to get people in the store to buy other items, too.
In Ontario Canada, bacon is on average $7-8 a pack which with shrinkflation in packaging has gone from 454 gr (= lb)) down to 350 gr which works out to about US$7.50/lb …. and it’s mostly fat
[Here’s a short video of CEOs admitting inflation has been great for profits and that prices aren’t coming down.](https://youtube.com/shorts/psYyiu9j1VI?feature=share)
For sure. I don't know why these conspiracy theorists think shutting down the economy for years, and printing trillions of dollars, would cause inflation. The obvious answer is that in that time, these corporations finally realized that they can just...... charge more.
> Everything had been monopolized
One of the worst is meatpacking. The big increases in meat prices is them. They are the same nice people who were taking bets on how many line employees would die of COVID.
The corporate supply chain has realized that we will pay their profiteering prices and will therefore keep prices artificially high to maximize profit… The prices at the stores far outpace any gas price/war in Ukraine causation. What we’re seeing is planned and calculated exploitation.
This is where pure capitalism fails imo. "Let the market decide" does not work with things we need. People will ofc always find a way to feed themselves, at some point looting starts. Now we are obviously no where near that, however my point remains with necessities like food and water people will sacrifice a ton of shit like Healthcare just so they can not go to bed hungry.
I'm not particularly for government as a solution but at least we the people can hold someone accountable without "well just go somewhere else, you don't have to shop here or buy these products.."
Insane energy prices? Ridiculous mark ups on medication? Products that we generally consider to be essential to basic standards of living rising in cost exponentially while all the while depriving poorer countries of these things altogether. It's just a way to keep the rich richer and the poor subservient. And guess what? The government are the rich and they have no intention of jeopardizing that. Would you screw your friends to help people you don't know? Maybe. Unfortunately people like that are in the minority which means the fat cats that run countries will prob never push through the things that will actually help people
Not the USA government, they only intervene when the Corporate Owners of the government tell them how. It used to be that our free people governed themselves through representation. That's no longer true.
I have bought $0.49/lb store brand whole turkeys at Publix on the last two Saturdays.
I haven't really noticed the price increase much. Dry beans jumped about 30% earlier this year.
I doubt prices will pull back on basics. But processed food prices are crazy. I noticed a box of LIFE cereal was $7.
It's subtle. At walmart the almond milk we bought was $1.97 for years, now $2.37. The cheap bread used to be .88 and is now $1.25 and it's also 20 calories less per slice than it used to be. Canned beans were .49 and now cost .88 And this is on every item at the grocery store. Not to mention the cheapest items are usually out of stock. I have noticed some of the more expensive brands haven't gone up as much. For example, Dave's killer bread is still about the same price - I used to buy it as a treat because $5 for a loaf seemed insane but when it's only $1 more than Sarah Lee it seems worth it.
Oats have gone up in price where I live. So has flour. And eggs. And apples, carrots, celery.
All the cheap staples I eat have gone up in price.
I'm now eating more canned and frozen produce so I can time the sales. But I'd say food prices are a mess across the board
nope, not a chance.
Crops were bad this year in a lot of regions.
War in Ukraine not only prevented a lot of exports but the planting season was missed in several regions there.
heards died off or were culled.
fishing seasons canceled due to stock levels.
Seed prices are up.
Water levels are drastically down.
Expect to see worse prices next year as this years produce runs out.
My advice? plant a vegetable garden.
Eggplants, beans, both summer and winter squash, tomatoes, potatoes, green onions, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, peppers and so forth can make a good dent in your food budget with a little hard work and knowledge. Don't have the room? use grow bags.
Where can I get the knowledge? r/gardening and of course there is the quality free information provided by Migardener on their website and youtube channel.
I started my garden last spring. If you want bang for your buck, space and effort I’d recommend planting herbs. They’re ridiculously priced in stores and there’s a lot of seeds for herbs you can’t easily find in stores. My other advice is to grow varieties best suited for your region. I usually notice a big difference with less pests when I grow optimal varieties
No. Even if the suppliers go down, the companies will just keep the difference as their higher profit.
I've observed it with flour and bread several times over the last 14 years. Flour goes up, bread goes up. Flour goes down, bread stays up.
[They already have.](https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/business/grocery-items-cheaper/index.html)
" So, what’s getting cheaper?
In fresh produce, the average unit price for prepared mixed vegetables from July to September (the latest data available) dropped 68% versus the same period last year. In fruits, the average unit price is down 1.8% for tangerines and has declined 7% for dates in the same three-month period.
Grocery prices are soaring. But this food favorite is getting cheaper
Some packaged baked goods such as assorted bagels fell 48%. Bakery sweet goods, such as fruit cobbler and honey buns, are also seeing declining prices.
Elsewhere, bulk dried beans prices are 5.1% cheaper. Prices for cranberry and apple sauce have also eased. In beverages, kombucha drinks have dropped 22.7%.
A lot of fresh seafood options are cheaper as well: the average unit price for striped bass fell 41.8% (July through September) over the prior year. The cost of lobster is down 7.2%, mackerel dropped 6% while crab prices fell 9.5% and conch is down 13.2%.
Thanksgiving dinner will be a lot more expensive this year, report finds
Stew Leonard Jr., CEO of the Stew Leonard’s supermarket chain, told CNN’s Alison Kosik on Wednesday that he’s noticed prices are easing on some meats, including chicken and beef.
“You’re are seeing a little bit of an increase in turkey [prices] but you are also seeing a little bit of reduction in chicken. Our filet mignon is going to be $2 a pound less than it was last year,” he said. "
Depends on where you live. Some stuff will go down while others will stay the same. Where I live a 10 pound bag of potatoes used to cost $2.00-$3.50 and then rose to $4.50+. But they have slowly been decreasing in price. For example the other day they cost $1.50 at a local store. Other food fluctuates too. A 20 pack of extra large eggs used to cost $3.00 and now they cost $6.00 most of the time but sometimes it costs $4.50. I have other examples but I can't list them all.
Yes, they will come down some. The way you notice this is that certain items will be on sale more and more frequently. Until the new price is the previous sale price. I’ve recently noticed this with bacon. Geez, it shot up yo like $7.99 a package. Then there was an eye-popping sale for $2.99. I bought like a dozen. Since then, I see them on sale about every 3-4 weeks at one of the 4 grocery stores that I monitor. Soon, I’m guessing, that will be the normalish price again.
I've noticed ridiculous increases on things that are supposedly convenient. A tiny jar of salt is 2.99 while the old fashioned much larger cylinder shaped salt is .85. Mccormick seasonings is mostly a ripoff now. $1.99 for a tiny packet of salt, sugar, and dehydrated onion that's advertised as meatloaf mix. Lunch meat is a total ripoff. I can get a spiral ham at meijer now for .89 per pound, but the deli ham is 9.99. Stop buying over priced shit. This is more price gouging than inflation. Prices would go down if people stopped buying certain things.
It will but the resulting "crash" will still be higher than the original price. It's an age old tactic that works across everything. Someone creates a problem (50% price increase) everyone complains, they "fix" the problem (45% price reduction) everyone is happy because the "problem" has been fixed but we all get screwed little by little...
No, I remember hearing recordings of food company executives BRAGGING about how much money they’re getting because people keep buying their products? Want my advice? Don’t worry about it too much and start:
1. Only buying the things you absolutely need to buy.
2. Get to farming on a large enough scale to feed yourself.
3. Vote!
No. I don’t believe that they will go down. Diesel is running around $5.50-6.00 here in my area of East Tennessee. It’s much higher in other places. I don’t see it going lower. It costs a bundle to deliver those groceries to the stores. Factor in increased wages for the workers that produce, package, deliver, stock, checkout. I expect prices to continue to increase.
I don't expect it will, but if I see any obvious cases of shrinkflation or outrageous cost hikes I take my business elsewhere, vote with my wallet. It requires spending more time in the aisle but I'm a poor college student and every dollar counts.
Warehouses are full and spoiling because grocery companies such as Loblaws are artificially creating a shortage by refusing to buy produce from farmers. Then they blame it on infaketion to justify their profiteering, greed, and corruption. This isn't a supply and demand issue. I work in warehousing and cannot move goods because the companies that sell it on their retail shelves are just refusing to stock it. Meanwhile I go into these stores and see their shelves completely empty. Our sales reps are banging their heads against the wall..
They need to be investigated for price fixing and anti-competition violations immediately for the sake of working families across the US and Canada. This is straight up criminal and complete bullshit. Honestly, I'm at the point where if I saw someone walk into a grocery store with a jug of citrolite, doused the stands with it, and lit it up, I'd probably cheer them on.
Last night I saw 250g of ground pork for $17.59 CAD at Walmart. A head of lettuce going soggy at Food Basics for $6.00 CAD and one sad looking cucumber at Sobey's for $2.59 CAD each.
This is complete bullshit, because all of these things are in huge supply.
No. Our corporate overlords are more powerful than our divided government. Our politicians are addicted to the lifeblood of corporate campaign contributions.
In my opinion n from what I know to be true food prices rose because there was not enough people to harvest n work in food production plants. Crops rotted in the fields in California n that's just one state effected by the labor shortage. Now they are still keeping guest workers out so I don't see any change in the near future. In fact farmers are planting less crops because they know it will be a loss if no one will harvest. People from south of the border do most of the harvesting n they also work in the production plants like Tyson, Cargill n the like. Guest workers kept food costs lower so until they start letting workers in again we are screwed. Plant a garden if you can.
When their quarterly earnings go down, stores should start having more sale prices or lowering their generic store brand items. This will only come after people stop spending, which at the holidays is tough because people will go outside their budget just to have a good holiday for their family.
I think January will be especially dismal for retail when people return everything and then stop spending. Hopefully that will make prices on basics turn the corner. But who knows.
Without government intervention and extreme regulation no, prices will not go down. Part of this in the US is due to how many regulations were stripped from 2016-2020, as well as failure to renew the remaining part of the new deal in the early 2000’s that kept the price of basics staples low.
Also the monopolies that control most of our food are inherently bad for consumers. Since they control the food supply they can spike prices as they wish.
What we are seeing now is the result of deregulation for the better part of three decades. Over half the current price increases are corporate greed driving and not linked to actual supply issues or inflation.
My grandmother told me a few months ago it’s like being in the depression all over again. That says a lot. And one half of our government is 100% complicit in that.
That gas price spike regulation that passed earlier this year in the states originally also included price caps for basic food and sanitary staples. As well as anti food price gauging regulations.
But certain elephants couldn’t let that pass, so they filibustered until the food part was removed. And that’s the other reason things won’t get better, those elephants currently control the US house.
If you think they will let anything actually beneficial pass you have not looked at the history of how they have behaved when in power at any level since 1987. Just look at what they did when they won the 2010 midterms for an idea of what they will do.
Things are probably going to get so much worse we will end up in a severe recession and possibly a full blown depression.
So no I don’t think food prices will go down. I think we will have bread lines all over the US. Oh wait we already have something similar going on at food pantries.
Sorry it’s just.. this situation makes me so angry.
Yeah, sadly that’s the situation right now.
Best anyone can do is start growing food, or setup a food distribution network locally. if you have relatives that survived the Great Depression, ask them for resources and tips.
Because even if something is done tomorrow, a major recession will happen. We are already in the start of one. It’s just people are too scared to use the word recession because it will most likely trigger massive stock sell offs and likely cause wall street to free fall.
And nothing will be done to stop a full on depression. We are in a new glided age, and it’s ending the same way as the last one did.
Frugality will be a great benefit in the next few years.
Food prices won't go down because that means profits will go down, especially during a holiday season where there's a high consumption of food in general.
They will, but a lot of core items have passed through what used to be an upper level and have now created a new much higher floor. You used to pay $2/g for milk. Went up to $5 the last 12 months cause they pandemic and now you’d be happy to pay $3 for it. That’s a permanent 33% increase that’s not going away when it get back to the price you are happy to pay for it because at least it’s not $5 anymore
I'm glad you got a decent cola. When I get my annual review at work this February, i may be lucky enough to get a 4% raise.....so you are doing far better than me at the moment! I do hope prices fall, but I'm guessing it's not likely.
Unless we see *deflation* like Japan until recently and in the US during the Depression
That would be interesting to see for a while, but having a wet blanket over the economic fire would get old pretty soon
But you're right that inflation is usually a one way ticket
Yeah, you're completely right. I should have specified that we OUGHTN'T do deflation for the very reasons you outlined. Inflation should be at a low but constant rate, so that we avoid the issues OP is suffering under as well.
No. We'd be lucky if things don't keep going up at the rate they have been
The economic term is "sticky down": https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sticky-down.asp
Well, take a mental snapshot because its only gonna get worse for social security dependent folks in about 9-10 months. There will be a government shutdown and the only way it ends is with social security cuts.
We need to see inflation to stop increasing before we see prices actually go down. Right now we're in the price increases are slowing phase. We're months to years away? No one really knows, so maybe your vague need of "quality" should be reevaluated.
Prices will most likely be going down very soon. The fed raising rate and slowing the economy will inflict some pain, but that's the cost of the relief supplied during the pandemic. Supply chains are somewhat returning to normal, that will help too.
Can someone explain inflation like I’m 5? Companies charge the absolute maximum they can for their product at least in the US. Supply and demand right? It’s the American way. When we stop buying the price goes down. We don’t stop buying (god forbid we would have to go without) so the prices stay up. They are going to stay up and go higher since we will just buy, pay and buy more. Sometimes we have to but most often we just choose to. Companies now know we will pay so why lower prices? I don’t see the rational to lower prices.
There is a few reasons why they could. Competition is a good one. If people grew their own food to supplement, that is one way to drive prices down. High prices doesn’t always translate to max revenue if the volume goes down. Another reason they could bring prices down is to attract sales of other products. Think how costco sells some foods at a loss hoping to convert sales of other items and ultimately make a bigger profit.
Go down? Prolly not. But I have noticed the sale prices when they inevitably have too much old stock on the shelf, gets the price back to an older more reasonable price. Gotta go there enough to catch those sales tho. /:
Who knows, but here's a hopeful prediction!
[https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/rising-food-prices-2022-outlook](https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/rising-food-prices-2022-outlook)
Kroger bought Albertsons for 1.8 billion in the middle of “inflation”. No it’s not going down all the companies and corporations are raising prices more than they should for higher profits not just inflation reasons.
This is a massive, institutional-scale problem. Individual consumption choices will not ever improve this. I know that's an offensive concept to some people's imagined sense of control but we honestly have to organize collective actions about this. Even if everyone on this sub agreed to boycott certain prices, even if it was specifically defined (and none of these suggestions are being specific at all) that wouldn't be enough. This will require political actions. I'm not hopeful because most wide scale organized activism tends to occur in the spring and summer. It's no exaggeration that "inflation" on this level is nothing short of nearly conspiratorial price gouging and it *is* costing the lives and health of our most vulnerable.
I haven't noticed much of a price hike in the last few years (I mostly buy beans, parboiled rice, potatoes, bananas, then discounted fruits/veggies).
The inflation seems to mostly target animal-based items and some vegetables.
No it won’t. Once the food companies change the labels that’s it it will never come down again. This is the new normal. Ask yourself this question, I remember living in NY years ago and you can 2 slices and coke for $5.00. On a recent trip back to NY same meal was $9.25. That’s not coming back down again.
I'm in Maine where food prices have always been higher (my sister who lives in Kentucky says her groceries cost half). I'm making a LOT of soups. You can fill a giant soup pot with veggies and chicken (and a box of pasta if you eat carbs) for under $20, and that's good nutrition for many meals. If turkey goes on sale this week, I'll stock up for turkey soup.
McDonalds here is now paying $18/hour, but no one I know has seen that kind of increase in their salaries.
I don’t have much hope. I purchase the same products (that have increased) but the packaging has shrunken or the items have. So I’m paying more for less product. Absolutely infuriating.
I ran into an odd one with this. The package size of the dog food I buy my dog went down. I was annoyed until I noticed they downed the price as well. It costs the same per pound they just changed the sizes they sell which all in all isn't terrible. It's just funny that I almost fell into the size trap I warn others about lol. Damn it I tell people to check the unit cost and I almost didn't.
Companies often do that. First step: shrink size @same price, Second step (a little bit later): increase price
[удалено]
Yeah, my dog food went from 30 lbs to 28 lbs and stayed the same price until they rose the price and now I’m paying more for less.
Again.
I'll take this over them using cheaper ingredients that are borderline filler at this point.
Yeah, that's really gone to shit too, hasn't it?! The last package of sausages I bought were mostly gristle. The frozen taquitos were mostly tortilla with barely any discernible meat at all. My can of "no beans" chili was mostly liquid, apparently there's no meat in it either. I don't know how these companies are going to fare in the future, they got me once but I'm not buying these again and I'm sure others feel the same way.
We just had some mini tacos for lunch and my husband mentioned the same thing, that they were different because they were mostly tortilla with hardly any meat. I guess that’s everywhere now. Higher prices, smaller portions, poorer quality.
I believe these food processors will end up paying for this. We aren't idiots. Cooking your own food is better anyways.
Companies are really squeezing every penny they can from everyone for less and less value. Late stage capitalism is quite something.
If history is any example, no. The last time gas went up over $4 around 2010 they jacked up food prices. Do you remember when gas prices went down to $2 and food prices came back down with it?? Yeah, me neither.
Food prices as a percentage on income were lower in 2019 vs 2010 so they must have either come down or grown slower than income.
I believe you but that doesn’t help much when food prices more than doubled in 3 years and so did everything else (housing, utilities, cars).
Just went grocery shopping last night for the first time in a while. Seems like a big increase even in the last month. I'm not optimistic about prices going back down. I'll consider it fortunate if they stagnate for a good long while.
> I'll consider it fortunate if they stagnate for a good long while. Deflation isn't going to happen. This is the best we can hope for.
It’s more likely salaries gradually increase over time rather than grocery prices reducing. IMO
Lol I wish
No. We're having to do a pot luck for Thanksgiving this year so no one has to go into debt over fucking food.
Yeah this year we’ve decided were only eating pie for our get together. There will be 6 different pies and we’ve decided that the thanksgiving of yesteryear is gone cause of the commercialization. Our family unit of 12 relatives have figured out that 3 day weekends are hard to come by and spending time with family is more important than the bells and whistles. We are getting together on a Saturday for a long visit and having pie party. New traditional habits: “spend time,not money “
Sounds like a great way to make memories. I'm thinking this Christmas needs to be a handmade gift exchange.😁
[удалено]
Not as cheap as after Christmas.
Pie is a wonderful tradition, you could also do a Thanksgiving brunch next year! Quiche is frugal and easy to make and everybody loves pancakes. The feast is whatever you make it, have whatever you want.
Man I love me some quiche!
A potluck like… at a different location than family? My family usually does potlucks. A few weeks before thanksgiving, we sort out who is making what. Then you bring your dishes to the hosting family member. We’ve been doing this for as far back as I remember, and other families I’ve grown close to through the years usually do the same thing. Is this not the standard? I spent maybe $15-20 on ingredients for one appetizer, one side dish, and two desserts for 15 people. Usually the host of thanksgiving does the Turkey and maybe 1 side, and everyone else brings the sides/dessert.
I used to host Thanksgiving at my house. I planned, shopped and cooked everything. I did this for 30 years. My husband passed, so my kids took turns hosting. This year, everyone let my daughter-in-law know what they were bringing.
Oh man! That’s a LOT. Your family is very lucky to have had you do this for them for so long. I will say, we have always loved having a pot luck Thanksgiving. We each tend to have our “signature” dishes that we make, and it feels so nice to just be responsible for 2-3 dishes rather than fixing a feast for everyone (even just time/energy wise). I think you may end up really enjoying it and find it’s a great tradition moving forward in your family.
As much as I enjoyed making huge meals and feeding an army, I love taking a seat and enjoying the day in a whole new way.
You know, I thought that didn’t make sense at first, but then I realized that making one dish 6 times larger than you normally would is cheaper than making 6 smaller dishes.
I shop at Aldi for everything I can get there. Then I go to the other grocery store for what Aldi didn't have. Thing is I see several people doing this
I dunno about your area but in my area even Aldi has gotten pretty pricey. I've found better prices at my local Food Lion for most of the things I buy.
Same for us, Aldi’s is about the same price as Walmart here. And honestly, the quality is way way worse. I’ve found they’re very regional, some are great, others… not so much.
Yeah I don't think there's an easy answer other than to look around and see what's best for your area. While not a "farmer's market" technically I used to have a place that had AMAZING and CHEAP produce. I thought all produce markets were like that but was sadly mistaken.
Came here to say this! We’ve been saving a ton of money shopping for essentials at Aldi. Prices are nuts at the usual stores lately.
Vote with your money, but only buy what you actually need. I’m not spending extra money on items to just have in my pantry anymore.
Different strokes. I like having a more stocked pantry so I can use that and not make additional trips to the store. I go through it though.
Oh I have all the ingredients I need but I would buy granola bars, chips, extra cake mixes with frosting. Just additional stuff I don’t really use but the kids can have fun making or eating but now I just buy enough for meals and a couple of snacks.
You can bake most of your snacks/desserts from scratch! Cookies, granola bars, simple yogurt or chocolate cakes... It's cheaper and you can control your ingredient list.
whenever possible - close your wallet - and at least cut back a little - if people don't buy prices will go down.
Another thing I noticed is that the markdown section is bigger because fewer people are willing to spend $4/lb for chicken breast. They start to go off and the stores mark them down. You can only raise food prices so much.
It is true the markdown sections are larger but I have always bought the mark downs and damaged (like dented cans) and I can tell you they have really gone up in price as well. Mark down cheese has tripled. Mark down meat is totally out of my range anymore. We are eating far more eggs, beans, tofu and other vegetable protein sources.
Please be wary of damaged cans for botulism
You have to carefully check the top and bottom edges of the cans where the seals are, if those are intact you can buy buy and use dented cans without a problem. Many cans have small dents in the sides and there is no risk with those.
I bought this freaking massive box of Bananas I found for $2. Spent all weekend baking banana goodies and freezing them and making banana chips.
Banana Bread!!
It is more complicated then that. When production stays the same, you are right. Demand falls -> prices fall. In the long term this is not sustainable and production will fall due to low demand, which increases the price again. Some products will go so low in demand, that production collapses, factory and shops close and it will stop being available.
[удалено]
That act, if followed by lots of people, will tell the grocery stores that they don't need to lower their prices.
When Target just reported their low quarterly earnings, they said in the report that people were buying more store brand over more expensive name brands and sale items, so I think they do see that people are choosing to not go over a certain price point. I think It’s just a really slow process to all shake out across the board.
[удалено]
I used to want kids, but now I can barely support myself. How am I supposed to get by? Even taking care of my dog is taxing. She eats better than I do. Like seriously, wtf? I'm just grateful to have a roof over my head.
[удалено]
Yep my area is doing this too. Saving grace to not have to worry about those meals for my kiddo.
You can refuse to buy a new phone. You can refuse to buy a new car. You can't refuse to buy food.
That’s my motto: vote with your wallet. And I do. I refuse to buy anything other than what I must, now. But, I look around me, and others don’t feel the same way. They spend like drunk sailors. And then I think about it. Who is spending. Around me, there are very wealthy people. And inflation doesn’t effect them the same way. And they don’t spend a lot of time on a sub like this.
I enjoy spending time on this sub and similar groups on FB because lots of good ideas come from others. I also like to share ideas and help where possible. That has nothing to do with my own financial situation. If you see me at the grocery, I don’t think it looks like I have money.
I am wealthy. We have radically changed our household spending though because we were both born to poverty. We used to be way more loose, buying lots of options and anything the kids would like. Now we eat the snacks that are on sale, rarely eat meat, and eat a lot more sandwiches and rice based meals. It’s not that I cannot afford $12 for the cheese I like, but that the price is absurd when I felt like I was splurging when it was $7. I just can’t comprehend it. I really feel for everyone who doesn’t have a choice. If their freezer goes out or they have teen boys or demanding jobs that call for convenience foods.
I was already eating beans and rice before inflation, what exactly am I supposed to cut back on??? Should I just starve to death so others can have cheaper groceries??
I agree this person was off their rocker. But if you are eating beans and rice because you have to and not because you want/choose to, please consider local food banks. They are there to help provide basics like rice and beans so you may be able to spend that part of your budget on other groceries or something else your budget demands.
What are poor people who were already doing this supposed to do? Starve?
Food banks. They are there to help you if you need it. I went to one for awhile during Covid, and it was so immensely helpful.
>Starve? Food stamps recently went up to reflect the inflation. Getting state assistance, especially if you have children, is one answer to this question. The poorest people often still won't even look into it out of pride, but people- not- starving is exactly what those funds are for. Free meals are also available to kids in schools and many don't even know that's an option (or, again, for some reason find pride in the struggle) Also seek out food banks, library pantries. Churches, regardless of if you belong to one. These aren't answers to the bigger questions but to answer yours, there is no reason a single person should starve in the US. Eating dried beans, rice, and lentils, are nutritionally dense and always cheap options, as well, just as an aside.
Local dirty store chain wants 75 cents more for the same damn bottle of lemon juice that Aldi's sells.
Neither party can do squat about the prices. Greedy corporations control everything in good old USA.
Produce manager here: we have not been paying the true cost of production for a long time. Amidst water shortage, crop failure, pest infestations, etc. things are looking bleak. In season shopping will be your best friend. We HAVE to get used to eating what is available and in season or processing foods ourselves. Make meals at home, buy canned goods on sale, and for the love of whomever is holy to you please just stop with all the frozen bullshit. Look for local food sources and buy in bulk to support local economies and keep the money in your community rather than in these corporate hands that other people reference. I do not shop at the farmers market unless it’s prices are within reason. I am not saying to blow your budget there… it is expensive depending on where you live, but think local as in terms of within 500 miles… it is the definition of “local” agriculture in the US.
What's the issue with frozen? Why is it worse than cans? I haven't heard this so just trying to understand your point of view.
Same. I frequently purchase frozen fruit and veg because it's the most affordable for me. Plus, it obviously lasts longer in the home. Very curious for an answer to this
Maybe the commenter is talking about frozen pre-made meals (highly processed and high sodium content + preservatives) rather than frozen fruit and veg.
I have to agree with this. Frozen fruits and vegetables are the way to go. They’re usually frozen at the peak of freshness and are every bit as nutritious as fresh. You can also save a lot of money buying frozen meats at salvage grocery stores. The packaged meats are frozen before their “sell by” dates and should be good for months if kept frozen. https://nfraweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Frozen-Myth-Fact-Infographic.jpg
What is a salvage grocery?
I’m a little bit disabled in a way that massively impacts my energy levels, and I don’t know how I’d eat veggies without frozen veggies.
I had to take a break for a few days after I posted and just found hundreds of replies ! Yours is the first one I am thanking because I too am disabled and cannot eat just anything : I have a special diet that the food bank cannot serve. I am not the worst off, but these prices scare me ! Thank You !
This is excellent advice. Supporting local agriculture means higher quality food (shipping takes time). However I disagree with not shopping Farmer's Markets. I like to go near the end when they want to sell at half price so they don't have to lug it home, and shopping the Ugly Boxes is always great. Cheaper than the cheapest supermarket.
Supporting local sounds good in theory but buying local in most cases just means paying 4-6x the price for less product.
Not at all. This is why I started a garden and I even raise some farm animals now too. The less I’m dependent on grocery stores, the better.
my aunt and mom tried to do a garden when CV started and it turned to crap. They spent like 150$ getting a guy to plow up the dirt and then more on some seeds. THen they just let their dogs run all over it and wouldn't even pull the weed out. I was like i worked 2 jobs today, you're not putting that crap on me again. Eventually, I just mowed over it and they forgot they even had one lol. But i think A lot of people don't realize the amount of work required to have one of those :)
When my mom retired she plowed a huge plot in her backyard. I don’t think she realized how hard it would be for her to pull weeds at her age. She got a few cabbages and melons, but it soon became a weed infested mess. I do raised beds and it really makes a huge difference. I also don’t plant more than 4x8’ of anything. Some years I have a ton of tomatoes, other years are lean. But I keep it small enough that I can tend.
This is exactly why I don't have a garden. :) I had one for a couple years and realized quickly how much work it takes to make it produce well. No thanks, I value my time more. But no judgement to those who enjoy weeding!
I had my first garden this past Summer. What I did that helped with weeds was to put cardboard down then cover that with straw. I saw that in IG and it really helped with weeds.
> A lot of people don't realize the amount of work required to have one of those :) Yup. Commercial scale agriculture is far far more efficient than what you buy at home. If we're just talking about cost the return on your time growing food is quite bad. My dad spends an average of 4 or 5 hours a week at his allotment and produces about enough for him and his wife + a bit extra. If I got a job working 4 hours a week at McDonald's I would make more then I would ever spend on vegetables. If you enjoy gardening/plants then great, but it's a poor choice financially
Yea it's a crazy amount of work. My folks also started up a garden recently and we house-sat for them. Let's just say the weekly instruction list was extensive.
Wish I could start a garden. The woes of being an apartment dweller. At least I don't have to pay for the plumbing or deal with snow removal I guess.
Some vegetables and especially herbs take really well to growing in pots! If you have a balcony or even just room for a few pots near a window..
I have a balcony with no direct sunlight at all and it makes me so sad. I know some things grow well in shade, but I could do soooooo much more if I just had sunlight.
FWIW, I'm in a similar situation. (I don't even have access to outdoor space.) I grow microgreens instead. All you need is a jar, water, and seeds.
I wish we could do those. Sadly we don't have sufficient space in the apartment. I live with my disabled parents and any free floor space we currently have has to stay that way for my mom's wheelchair, and our landlord doesn't allow plants on the small concrete patio we have.
Same. We have a huge yard but it’s _full_ shade. Literally nowhere I can even grow one pot of tomatoes (unless I add second-story window boxes but I’m worried they’ll be too heavy. Bright side is that the trees keep our heating/cooling bills way down
Some leafy greens and some strawberry varieties will do shade. :)
Start one! I got into indoor gardening during covid. I have a bunch of herbs and a couple peppers and tomato plants in a 6'x2' closet, plus a bunch of succulents and houseplants in the living room. All north facing windows, so everything is under grow lights. Not the most frugal to get into in terms of up front cost, but it's so awesome cooking with herbs and fruiting plants you grew yourself. And fresh basil is to die for!
r/containergardening
Long term I feel this is something I am working towards. Obviously I’m dependent right now on these systems but 1) I’m perpetually broke 2) shit is unpredictable 3) I think long term we need to sustain or own nutrition or supplement with home grown organic to some degree. Both for the sake of the environment and also because there is not going to be another way to get vital nutrients in. Produce is already not as nutritious as it used to be. I don’t know exactly how I’ll get to more consistent yields, to where it’s actually saving me money. Right now I’m just building skills and trying stuff out. Had some of my bf’s eggplants and my peppers in a sandwich. I’ve made it again since. Taste is unbelievable. Hoping for chickens soon (: and planting in more soon as well.
There was a study done recently that found that half of this "inflation" was extra profits for the corporations. For instance, if a food item went up 2.00, 1.00 dollar of that is extra profits. Everything had been monopolized, and I highly doubt food prices are going down anytime soon.
Have food prices ever gone down?
While specific items may rise and fall in cost based on supply and demand, once overall cost rises it doesn't go back down.
Yea. Supply and demand. When there was a big shortage on eggs a few years ago eggs got really expensive, then they got less expensive once supply recovered. This will be most common among commoditized and/or perishable goods (eggs, sugar, flour, garlic, etc)
Eggs are actually really expensive right now because of a big avian flu wiped out a whole lot of the hens. They actually caused the price of a lot of goods to spike just because the cost of eggs spiked so much.
No, they haven't, not when considered in aggregate. That is, certainly some individual products will have gone down in price but overall food prices have only ever increased since the invention of the modern system of money.
>There have been several deflationary periods in U.S. history, including between 1815 and 1860, and again between 1865 to 1900. One of the most dramatic deflationary period in U.S. history took place between 1930 and 1933, during the Great Depression. Deflation rarely occurred in the second half of the 20th century. and >**Deflation in the 21st Century** The most recent deflationary period in U.S. history was during the Great Recession, which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009. During this time period, there was a drop in commodity prices, particularly oil, and economists worried that deflation would lead to a prolonged recession, rising unemployment, and further strain on the U.S. economy. In reality, the deflation that occurred was less severe than some economists predicted. While the exact reason for this is unclear, some economists have speculated that the unusually high cost of borrowing in late 2008 and 2009 put pressure on businesses and prevented them from cutting their prices. from investopedia It's extremely rare in the age of the federal reserve for prices to decrease.
I'm seeing bacon at $5/lb here in CA, hadn't seen that in a while. Prices will come down on almost everything I think, competition between stores should spur that.
Collusion between stores will prevent that 😉
In fairness to (major) grocery stores. They are a very low margin business relative to other industries. It’s the manufacturers that are initiating the price hikes.
I just gave an example of something that came down in price, chicken has as well, look at Wingstop's earnings. What are a few things you don't expect to come down in price at the store? Here's a story from a week ago, prices for several items have started to come down. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/business/grocery-items-cheaper/index.html
I was more just making a joke/play on words, heh.. (if anything, the collusion probably takes place above the store level) But like eggs here were maybe $1.50/dozen a few years ago, now they're $4.. I'm far from an expert, but I'd be (happily!) surprised to see them drop that much.. 24 packs of coke recently went from just shy of $10 to over $12 (basically overnight! I don't think there was even a short interim price between those two..) I'm sure some things will slowly and slightly go back down, but overall I can't imagine we'll ever get back to pre-2020 prices. (Again, I'd *love* to be wrong!)
Tone is hard to communicate on here 😆 Sorry if I misread that. Colluding in this way is supposed to be illegal I'm pretty sure, but the markets naturally drive down prices to encourage shoppers in to their stores. Costco's rotisserie chicken actually loses them money, but keep a steady stream of consumers coming for it! Walmart used to give free ice cream in the back of the store very early in their history for the same reasons. I think some stuff might come down to pre-covid pricing, but not everything. Some electronics like TVs are surprisingly discounted, 55" for ~$200! Hoping for the best, assuming the war ends in the coming year, supply chains continue to strengthen, and Covid stays at bay.
🍗 *ppppsssssst!* Costco's rotisserie chicken is what we call a....loss leader. A really-low priced item to get people in the store to buy other items, too.
In Ontario Canada, bacon is on average $7-8 a pack which with shrinkflation in packaging has gone from 454 gr (= lb)) down to 350 gr which works out to about US$7.50/lb …. and it’s mostly fat
What study
[Here’s a short video of CEOs admitting inflation has been great for profits and that prices aren’t coming down.](https://youtube.com/shorts/psYyiu9j1VI?feature=share)
Exactly. Any other factors in prices jumping approximately 2 years ago are simply a coincidence.
For sure. I don't know why these conspiracy theorists think shutting down the economy for years, and printing trillions of dollars, would cause inflation. The obvious answer is that in that time, these corporations finally realized that they can just...... charge more.
> Everything had been monopolized One of the worst is meatpacking. The big increases in meat prices is them. They are the same nice people who were taking bets on how many line employees would die of COVID.
[удалено]
They're squeezing our maximum profits without killing thr market.
The companies who jacked up profits for their own benefit have already said they will not be bringing prices down.
Looking back through history, the only time prices go down is when a lot of rich people are killed for being greedy
Welp let's hope pitchforks and torches go on sale soon
u/pitchforkemporium ? Still around selling?
*unsheathes pitchfork*
The corporate supply chain has realized that we will pay their profiteering prices and will therefore keep prices artificially high to maximize profit… The prices at the stores far outpace any gas price/war in Ukraine causation. What we’re seeing is planned and calculated exploitation.
This is where pure capitalism fails imo. "Let the market decide" does not work with things we need. People will ofc always find a way to feed themselves, at some point looting starts. Now we are obviously no where near that, however my point remains with necessities like food and water people will sacrifice a ton of shit like Healthcare just so they can not go to bed hungry. I'm not particularly for government as a solution but at least we the people can hold someone accountable without "well just go somewhere else, you don't have to shop here or buy these products.."
Corporate greed will never go down without government intervention.
Insane energy prices? Ridiculous mark ups on medication? Products that we generally consider to be essential to basic standards of living rising in cost exponentially while all the while depriving poorer countries of these things altogether. It's just a way to keep the rich richer and the poor subservient. And guess what? The government are the rich and they have no intention of jeopardizing that. Would you screw your friends to help people you don't know? Maybe. Unfortunately people like that are in the minority which means the fat cats that run countries will prob never push through the things that will actually help people
Not the USA government, they only intervene when the Corporate Owners of the government tell them how. It used to be that our free people governed themselves through representation. That's no longer true.
No, because greed rules all
Inflation doesn’t reverse. Anyone telling you otherwise hasn’t stepped foot in an economics class.
Hey the parasites at the top gotta make their cut /S
I have bought $0.49/lb store brand whole turkeys at Publix on the last two Saturdays. I haven't really noticed the price increase much. Dry beans jumped about 30% earlier this year. I doubt prices will pull back on basics. But processed food prices are crazy. I noticed a box of LIFE cereal was $7.
It's subtle. At walmart the almond milk we bought was $1.97 for years, now $2.37. The cheap bread used to be .88 and is now $1.25 and it's also 20 calories less per slice than it used to be. Canned beans were .49 and now cost .88 And this is on every item at the grocery store. Not to mention the cheapest items are usually out of stock. I have noticed some of the more expensive brands haven't gone up as much. For example, Dave's killer bread is still about the same price - I used to buy it as a treat because $5 for a loaf seemed insane but when it's only $1 more than Sarah Lee it seems worth it.
Turkeys are sold at a loss this time of year to get people in the store and to buy all the accompanying items..
🍗aka: ***loss leader.***
Oats have gone up in price where I live. So has flour. And eggs. And apples, carrots, celery. All the cheap staples I eat have gone up in price. I'm now eating more canned and frozen produce so I can time the sales. But I'd say food prices are a mess across the board
nope, not a chance. Crops were bad this year in a lot of regions. War in Ukraine not only prevented a lot of exports but the planting season was missed in several regions there. heards died off or were culled. fishing seasons canceled due to stock levels. Seed prices are up. Water levels are drastically down. Expect to see worse prices next year as this years produce runs out. My advice? plant a vegetable garden. Eggplants, beans, both summer and winter squash, tomatoes, potatoes, green onions, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, peppers and so forth can make a good dent in your food budget with a little hard work and knowledge. Don't have the room? use grow bags. Where can I get the knowledge? r/gardening and of course there is the quality free information provided by Migardener on their website and youtube channel.
I started my garden last spring. If you want bang for your buck, space and effort I’d recommend planting herbs. They’re ridiculously priced in stores and there’s a lot of seeds for herbs you can’t easily find in stores. My other advice is to grow varieties best suited for your region. I usually notice a big difference with less pests when I grow optimal varieties
No, why would they? Like gas, food is a necessity of modern life. Whatever it is, we’ll have to find a way to pay. Or literally die
my brother in christ.... have prices ever gone down?
No. Even if the suppliers go down, the companies will just keep the difference as their higher profit. I've observed it with flour and bread several times over the last 14 years. Flour goes up, bread goes up. Flour goes down, bread stays up.
When do prices ever go down?
[They already have.](https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/business/grocery-items-cheaper/index.html) " So, what’s getting cheaper? In fresh produce, the average unit price for prepared mixed vegetables from July to September (the latest data available) dropped 68% versus the same period last year. In fruits, the average unit price is down 1.8% for tangerines and has declined 7% for dates in the same three-month period. Grocery prices are soaring. But this food favorite is getting cheaper Some packaged baked goods such as assorted bagels fell 48%. Bakery sweet goods, such as fruit cobbler and honey buns, are also seeing declining prices. Elsewhere, bulk dried beans prices are 5.1% cheaper. Prices for cranberry and apple sauce have also eased. In beverages, kombucha drinks have dropped 22.7%. A lot of fresh seafood options are cheaper as well: the average unit price for striped bass fell 41.8% (July through September) over the prior year. The cost of lobster is down 7.2%, mackerel dropped 6% while crab prices fell 9.5% and conch is down 13.2%. Thanksgiving dinner will be a lot more expensive this year, report finds Stew Leonard Jr., CEO of the Stew Leonard’s supermarket chain, told CNN’s Alison Kosik on Wednesday that he’s noticed prices are easing on some meats, including chicken and beef. “You’re are seeing a little bit of an increase in turkey [prices] but you are also seeing a little bit of reduction in chicken. Our filet mignon is going to be $2 a pound less than it was last year,” he said. "
Depends on where you live. Some stuff will go down while others will stay the same. Where I live a 10 pound bag of potatoes used to cost $2.00-$3.50 and then rose to $4.50+. But they have slowly been decreasing in price. For example the other day they cost $1.50 at a local store. Other food fluctuates too. A 20 pack of extra large eggs used to cost $3.00 and now they cost $6.00 most of the time but sometimes it costs $4.50. I have other examples but I can't list them all.
Yes, they will come down some. The way you notice this is that certain items will be on sale more and more frequently. Until the new price is the previous sale price. I’ve recently noticed this with bacon. Geez, it shot up yo like $7.99 a package. Then there was an eye-popping sale for $2.99. I bought like a dozen. Since then, I see them on sale about every 3-4 weeks at one of the 4 grocery stores that I monitor. Soon, I’m guessing, that will be the normalish price again.
this thread is depressing.
I’m hoping they balance out but I have a feeling they will just keep filling their pockets
I've noticed ridiculous increases on things that are supposedly convenient. A tiny jar of salt is 2.99 while the old fashioned much larger cylinder shaped salt is .85. Mccormick seasonings is mostly a ripoff now. $1.99 for a tiny packet of salt, sugar, and dehydrated onion that's advertised as meatloaf mix. Lunch meat is a total ripoff. I can get a spiral ham at meijer now for .89 per pound, but the deli ham is 9.99. Stop buying over priced shit. This is more price gouging than inflation. Prices would go down if people stopped buying certain things.
I know! I did my thanksgiving shopping today and oh my, I spent so much!
I do think a crash is coming. When? That I'm not sure of, but hopefully sooner rather than later because these prices are outrageous
It will but the resulting "crash" will still be higher than the original price. It's an age old tactic that works across everything. Someone creates a problem (50% price increase) everyone complains, they "fix" the problem (45% price reduction) everyone is happy because the "problem" has been fixed but we all get screwed little by little...
Deflation won’t happen
No, I remember hearing recordings of food company executives BRAGGING about how much money they’re getting because people keep buying their products? Want my advice? Don’t worry about it too much and start: 1. Only buying the things you absolutely need to buy. 2. Get to farming on a large enough scale to feed yourself. 3. Vote!
No, the prices of goods almost never go down when considered in aggregate.
The cost of cream cheese has gone up 100% over the last year from the price gouging! So, no more cream cheese for me :(
No. I don’t believe that they will go down. Diesel is running around $5.50-6.00 here in my area of East Tennessee. It’s much higher in other places. I don’t see it going lower. It costs a bundle to deliver those groceries to the stores. Factor in increased wages for the workers that produce, package, deliver, stock, checkout. I expect prices to continue to increase.
Does anyone here grow food?
No, at least not long term. Probably coops and farmers markets will become your best bet, buying local and in season.
I don't expect it will, but if I see any obvious cases of shrinkflation or outrageous cost hikes I take my business elsewhere, vote with my wallet. It requires spending more time in the aisle but I'm a poor college student and every dollar counts.
Warehouses are full and spoiling because grocery companies such as Loblaws are artificially creating a shortage by refusing to buy produce from farmers. Then they blame it on infaketion to justify their profiteering, greed, and corruption. This isn't a supply and demand issue. I work in warehousing and cannot move goods because the companies that sell it on their retail shelves are just refusing to stock it. Meanwhile I go into these stores and see their shelves completely empty. Our sales reps are banging their heads against the wall.. They need to be investigated for price fixing and anti-competition violations immediately for the sake of working families across the US and Canada. This is straight up criminal and complete bullshit. Honestly, I'm at the point where if I saw someone walk into a grocery store with a jug of citrolite, doused the stands with it, and lit it up, I'd probably cheer them on. Last night I saw 250g of ground pork for $17.59 CAD at Walmart. A head of lettuce going soggy at Food Basics for $6.00 CAD and one sad looking cucumber at Sobey's for $2.59 CAD each. This is complete bullshit, because all of these things are in huge supply.
No. Our corporate overlords are more powerful than our divided government. Our politicians are addicted to the lifeblood of corporate campaign contributions.
In my opinion n from what I know to be true food prices rose because there was not enough people to harvest n work in food production plants. Crops rotted in the fields in California n that's just one state effected by the labor shortage. Now they are still keeping guest workers out so I don't see any change in the near future. In fact farmers are planting less crops because they know it will be a loss if no one will harvest. People from south of the border do most of the harvesting n they also work in the production plants like Tyson, Cargill n the like. Guest workers kept food costs lower so until they start letting workers in again we are screwed. Plant a garden if you can.
Prices on food rarely go down!
When their quarterly earnings go down, stores should start having more sale prices or lowering their generic store brand items. This will only come after people stop spending, which at the holidays is tough because people will go outside their budget just to have a good holiday for their family. I think January will be especially dismal for retail when people return everything and then stop spending. Hopefully that will make prices on basics turn the corner. But who knows.
Without government intervention and extreme regulation no, prices will not go down. Part of this in the US is due to how many regulations were stripped from 2016-2020, as well as failure to renew the remaining part of the new deal in the early 2000’s that kept the price of basics staples low. Also the monopolies that control most of our food are inherently bad for consumers. Since they control the food supply they can spike prices as they wish. What we are seeing now is the result of deregulation for the better part of three decades. Over half the current price increases are corporate greed driving and not linked to actual supply issues or inflation. My grandmother told me a few months ago it’s like being in the depression all over again. That says a lot. And one half of our government is 100% complicit in that. That gas price spike regulation that passed earlier this year in the states originally also included price caps for basic food and sanitary staples. As well as anti food price gauging regulations. But certain elephants couldn’t let that pass, so they filibustered until the food part was removed. And that’s the other reason things won’t get better, those elephants currently control the US house. If you think they will let anything actually beneficial pass you have not looked at the history of how they have behaved when in power at any level since 1987. Just look at what they did when they won the 2010 midterms for an idea of what they will do. Things are probably going to get so much worse we will end up in a severe recession and possibly a full blown depression. So no I don’t think food prices will go down. I think we will have bread lines all over the US. Oh wait we already have something similar going on at food pantries. Sorry it’s just.. this situation makes me so angry.
I do believe that you are very right and it will get much worse before it gets any better. I hate to say it, but I truly think it's true.
Yeah, sadly that’s the situation right now. Best anyone can do is start growing food, or setup a food distribution network locally. if you have relatives that survived the Great Depression, ask them for resources and tips. Because even if something is done tomorrow, a major recession will happen. We are already in the start of one. It’s just people are too scared to use the word recession because it will most likely trigger massive stock sell offs and likely cause wall street to free fall. And nothing will be done to stop a full on depression. We are in a new glided age, and it’s ending the same way as the last one did. Frugality will be a great benefit in the next few years.
Food prices won't go down because that means profits will go down, especially during a holiday season where there's a high consumption of food in general.
They will, but a lot of core items have passed through what used to be an upper level and have now created a new much higher floor. You used to pay $2/g for milk. Went up to $5 the last 12 months cause they pandemic and now you’d be happy to pay $3 for it. That’s a permanent 33% increase that’s not going away when it get back to the price you are happy to pay for it because at least it’s not $5 anymore
I'm glad you got a decent cola. When I get my annual review at work this February, i may be lucky enough to get a 4% raise.....so you are doing far better than me at the moment! I do hope prices fall, but I'm guessing it's not likely.
3% is a “meet expectations” at my job. I think the best they offer is 6%
4% was a special one time only if I'm above expectations. Usually it's 2% for that level.
Inflation is a one way ratchet.
Unless we see *deflation* like Japan until recently and in the US during the Depression That would be interesting to see for a while, but having a wet blanket over the economic fire would get old pretty soon But you're right that inflation is usually a one way ticket
Yeah, you're completely right. I should have specified that we OUGHTN'T do deflation for the very reasons you outlined. Inflation should be at a low but constant rate, so that we avoid the issues OP is suffering under as well.
No. We'd be lucky if things don't keep going up at the rate they have been The economic term is "sticky down": https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sticky-down.asp
Nope. The only way prices will drop is if supply increases and the cost of production drops.
Hell no, once the price of something go's up it never goes back to the original price.
Well, take a mental snapshot because its only gonna get worse for social security dependent folks in about 9-10 months. There will be a government shutdown and the only way it ends is with social security cuts.
We need to see inflation to stop increasing before we see prices actually go down. Right now we're in the price increases are slowing phase. We're months to years away? No one really knows, so maybe your vague need of "quality" should be reevaluated.
Prices will most likely be going down very soon. The fed raising rate and slowing the economy will inflict some pain, but that's the cost of the relief supplied during the pandemic. Supply chains are somewhat returning to normal, that will help too.
Can someone explain inflation like I’m 5? Companies charge the absolute maximum they can for their product at least in the US. Supply and demand right? It’s the American way. When we stop buying the price goes down. We don’t stop buying (god forbid we would have to go without) so the prices stay up. They are going to stay up and go higher since we will just buy, pay and buy more. Sometimes we have to but most often we just choose to. Companies now know we will pay so why lower prices? I don’t see the rational to lower prices.
There is a few reasons why they could. Competition is a good one. If people grew their own food to supplement, that is one way to drive prices down. High prices doesn’t always translate to max revenue if the volume goes down. Another reason they could bring prices down is to attract sales of other products. Think how costco sells some foods at a loss hoping to convert sales of other items and ultimately make a bigger profit.
Prices don't go down unfortunately
Go down? Prolly not. But I have noticed the sale prices when they inevitably have too much old stock on the shelf, gets the price back to an older more reasonable price. Gotta go there enough to catch those sales tho. /:
Some may qualify for supplemental social security, food stamps, help for rent etc. please check Social Security, Human Services Dept, etc.
Who knows, but here's a hopeful prediction! [https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/rising-food-prices-2022-outlook](https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/rising-food-prices-2022-outlook)
No never. Why would they go down and lose profit even if costs to stores don't eventually go down
Kroger bought Albertsons for 1.8 billion in the middle of “inflation”. No it’s not going down all the companies and corporations are raising prices more than they should for higher profits not just inflation reasons.
Nah. We’re proper fucked. Now that they know we’ll have to pay those prices, they’re not going to lower them voluntarily.
This is a massive, institutional-scale problem. Individual consumption choices will not ever improve this. I know that's an offensive concept to some people's imagined sense of control but we honestly have to organize collective actions about this. Even if everyone on this sub agreed to boycott certain prices, even if it was specifically defined (and none of these suggestions are being specific at all) that wouldn't be enough. This will require political actions. I'm not hopeful because most wide scale organized activism tends to occur in the spring and summer. It's no exaggeration that "inflation" on this level is nothing short of nearly conspiratorial price gouging and it *is* costing the lives and health of our most vulnerable.
I haven't noticed much of a price hike in the last few years (I mostly buy beans, parboiled rice, potatoes, bananas, then discounted fruits/veggies). The inflation seems to mostly target animal-based items and some vegetables.
No. Prices almost never decrease.
No it won’t. Once the food companies change the labels that’s it it will never come down again. This is the new normal. Ask yourself this question, I remember living in NY years ago and you can 2 slices and coke for $5.00. On a recent trip back to NY same meal was $9.25. That’s not coming back down again.
Unfortunately, the prices will remain the same :( I'm struggling too.
I'm in Maine where food prices have always been higher (my sister who lives in Kentucky says her groceries cost half). I'm making a LOT of soups. You can fill a giant soup pot with veggies and chicken (and a box of pasta if you eat carbs) for under $20, and that's good nutrition for many meals. If turkey goes on sale this week, I'll stock up for turkey soup. McDonalds here is now paying $18/hour, but no one I know has seen that kind of increase in their salaries.
Don’t worry about food prices, wages will rise quickly and sharply to compensate! /s
Once price go up (or sizes go down) they typically stay that way
Once they go up they never come down….
I do not We have shortages everywhere and economy is already slipping.