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Rmis32
Apr 29, 2011 10:00 AM
The price increases are due to higher demand Over a billion people in China are eating Chinese food ... and an hour later they're hungry again.
But seriously, now that we've exported our jobs overseas, the Chinese, Indians (with a billion people in each country) can afford a richer diet.
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re: Rmis32
It's really the dramatic increase in the price of oil more than anything else. Food these days means transportation, and an oil based transport system leaves the price of food at the mercy of the price of gas.
That along with the massive (and unnecessary) subsidies for ethanol have hit grain and meat prices in the US and overseas.
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flourgirl
Apr 25, 2011 10:47 AM
I guess it's all relative. I've been noticing higher prices at the market as well & I've been complaining about it. But my family just returned from a trip to the Cayman Islands where we did some grocery shopping our first day there. For just some fruit, water, cereal, eggs, milk, juice, a bag of chips, tonic, granola bars, a package of bacon and some TP, the bill was $118 U.S. dollars.
I went to the gorcery store here in NJ the day we returned and for $137, I bought a wagon full of food, including organic milk, organic eggs, fruit, lettuce, potatoes, onions, a ham (which was highly discounted through a frequent shopper program) some good quality cheese, dried sausage, crackers, olives, pickles, cookies, ice cream, some cold cuts, bread, and a bunch of other stuff. It looked like a screaming bargain after our experience buying food in Grand Cayman.
Oh yeah, and gas was over $5 Cayman dollars a gallon.
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For those interested in looking past claims of natural reasons for shortages, "Main Basse Sur le Riz" is an interesting film. It's also a film for people who speak and understand French, I'm afraid, although I believe there's an English language version out there.
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re: Lizard
HillJ
Apr 21, 2011 09:30 AM
http://translate.google.com/translate...
Link will take you to an English version of the film
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re: HillJ
Sorry, HillJ, but I still don't follow. Perhaps you could just provide the link itself. This FIPA competition page lists the producers and distributors (always nice for people to see, so thanks) but apart from providing a list of all films in this festival, I cannot find this link you mention.
But it is nice that you've offered google translate as a means for people to see a bit more about the film! These discussions of global food markets and subsidies make important interventions into the sad assumptions many in the Global North hold that famine and poverty result from natural causes/lack of knowledge/civil unrest alone.
And another link, not in French
http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/2010...-
re: Lizard
HillJ
Apr 22, 2011 04:59 AM
I was able to translate these clips.
Does this work for you, using translate? http://www.youtube.com/results?search...
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re: HillJ
OK, I'm a bit confused by what your aiming to accomplish. Are you trying to help me translate, or provide other hounds with options to translate>? If the former, thanks, but I don't need it, I can manage without the help. If the latter, the link didn't seem to provide anything for the anglophones here.
To my knowledge, there is no official English-language version of this film that has been released ("English language version" does not refer to anything one can get google translate to hack at, actually). The DVD may actually have English subtitles, although I can't check as I've lent it out. You mentioned a link to an English language version in an earlier message. If it exists, why not post that link for the help of those wishing to source an English language version (although the youtube clips have value, as does this extract from the Arte release, and at Amazon.fr you can buy the DVD).
That said, as you are so eagerly posting these clips, am I to understand you've seen the film? What are your thoughts?
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re: Lizard
HillJ
Apr 22, 2011 06:05 AM
Confused or frustrated.. and mind you it wasn't my intent to do either. I was referring to the films video clips avail on Google & YouTube and translated in English by subtitle. The DVD does offer translation options. I already recognize YOU didn't need translation but since you mentioned the film I was trying to offer English options. My bad.
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DiningDiva
Apr 19, 2011 08:20 AM
New article from MSNBC on consumer price increases, what's going up and what's expected to go up. Unfortunately, they're saying no relief is in sight :-(
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justanotherpenguin
Apr 13, 2011 06:02 AM
wife and i went shopping at a "winco" a few days ago. their claim to fame is that they sell a lot of stuff in bulk, don't take credit cards and give shoppers a small credit for using cloth (reusable) bags. we thought that many prices were up. wife had a receipt from a month ago and started comparing. without going into great detail, a significant number of the same items were up from 15-30%.
in the meantime, came across this article on how the govt has changed it's method of inflation calculation. this explains a lot:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/42551209
still plan to revisit this thread in jan12.
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re: HoosierFoodie
DiningDiva
Apr 13, 2011 08:12 AM
And I'm in the non-commerical food service industry and concur, food prices are not done going up
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FoodFuser
Mar 16, 2011 09:49 AM
As others upthread have said
it's the role cost of energy
just now we are coming to recognize.Interleaved with the dumptor of caveat emptor
of shoppers who don't know their prices.Transport, refridging, and total deep freezing
costs of natural gas fertilizer, harvesting fuel
have led us to precipice so long ignored.Reckoning now descending, it's simply upon us.
When First Lady Obama tried by example to share with us gift of the garden,
her efforts were sprayed and dismissed with each turn of her spade.Getting real real about soil's appeal
And the chest thump of growing a Victory Garden
For me far outweighs those two weekend days
when lawnmowers rather than tillers shape our food song.Only one increment in recovery instrument
but we've gotta get back up to where we belong. -
I didn't see this mentioned in the above threads, so I'll throw this in.
This is what happens when you take food and turn it into fuel, I'm talking about ethanol here, made from corn in the US. You can thank your government for requirements that gas at the pump is going to have to contain 15% ethanol. When you take farm land and grow fuel on it, that land is no longer producing food, not just food for you and me, but for the cows, pigs, chickens, etc. that are part of the food chain. Most US beef is corn fed prior to slaughter, the price of corn has risen considerably, because there isn't enough corn for both food and fuel. Ethanol form corn is in many cases energy negative, that is, it takes more energy to make the ethanol than can be derived from it. Ultamately, this makes the cost of food go up and the cost of fuel go up, which in turn makes the cost of food go up even more, as it now costs more to get the food to market.
But, there are some very, very happy corn farmers out there!
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justanotherpenguin
Feb 11, 2011 10:07 AM
i'm still planning to revisit this thread in jan12, in the meantime:
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re: justanotherpenguin
DiningDiva
Feb 11, 2011 11:44 AM
Try this article - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41481344/...
This is the message I got from my produce company this past Tuesday (2/8
)OLD MAN WINTER HURT LETTUCE, BROCCOLI AND
CAULIFLOWER CROPS IN YUMA AND THE CALIFORNIA DESERT.
FLORIDA WAS HIT IN DECEMBER. NOW, HE’S TAKING HIS
FREEZING TEMPERATURES INTO MEXICO. THERE HAS BEEN
A MAJOR FREEZE IN A CROSS SECTION OF THE MEXICAN
GROWING AREAS.
THE EXTREME FREEZING TEMPERATURES HIT A VERY BROAD
SECTION OF MAJOR GROWING REGIONS IN MEXICO, FROM
HERMOSILLO IN THE NORTH ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO LOS
MOCHIS AND EVEN SOUTH OF CULIACAN. THE EARLY REPORTS
ARE STILL COMING IN BUT MOST ARE SHOWING LOSSES OF
CROPS IN THE RANGE OF 80 TO 100%. EVEN SHADE HOUSE
PRODUCT WAS HIT BY THE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPS. IT WILL
TAKE 7-10 DAYS TO HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE FROM GROWERS
AND FIELD SUPERVISORS, BUT THESE GROWING REGIONS
HAVEN’T HAD COLD LIKE THIS IN OVER A HALF CENTURY. THIS
TIME OF YEAR, MEXICO SUPPLIES A SIGNIFICANT PERCENT OF
NORTH AMERICA’S ROW CROP VEGETABLES SUCH AS: GREEN
BEANS, EGGPLANT, CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, PEPPERS,
ASPARAGUS, AND ROUND AND ROMA TOMATOES.
FLORIDA NORMALLY IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER FOR THESE ITEMS
AS WELL BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRUCK WITH SEVERE
FREEZE DAMAGE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY AND UP UNTIL
NOW HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE PRODUCT OUT OF MEXICO TO
FILL THEIR COMMITMENTS, THAT IS NO LONGER AN OPTION.
WITH THE SERIES OF WEATHER DISASTERS THAT HAS
OCCURRED IN BOTH OF THESE MAJOR GROWING AREAS WE
WILL EXPERIENCE, IMMEDIATE VOLATILITY PRICES, EXPECTED
LIMITED AVAILABLITITY, AND MEDIOCRE QUALITY AT BEST. THIS
WILL NOT ONLY HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON SUPPLIES,
BUT BECAUSE OF VERY STRONG BLOSSOM DROP, THIS
WILL ALSO IMPACT SUPPLIES 30 – 60 DAYS FROM NOW.
SOME GROWERS ARE MEETING WITH THEIR BOARDS RIGHT
NOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY
RE-PLANT, HOPING FOR A HARVEST BY LATE-MARCH-TO-EARLYAPRIL,
OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD DISC THE FIELDS UNDER
AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER SEASON-
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re: mlgb
DiningDiva
Feb 11, 2011 12:39 PM
Or visit your local farmers market if you happen to live in an area with year-round markets. If your local area has not been affected by the winter weather, then chances are some of the vendors in the farmers markets in yoru area are going to have produce.
Certainly commercial distribution of produce has -or at least will - taken a hit and that impact will probably be felt fairly shortly.
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re: justanotherpenguin
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re: justanotherpenguin
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eclecticsynergy
Jan 30, 2011 03:52 PM
Haven't you heard? There's no inflation in America.
Nothing to be concerned about- it's all in our imagination. -
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Went to A.P. Bell,Cortez, Fl yesterday just as a commercial longline boat was unloading we pulled some"Yellow-Edge" Grouper averaging about 15 lbs. each!!
The price was $6.50/lb Whole, but gutted. With a yield of 45-48% that figures out to about $14.00-15.00/lb. Not considering your time to filet large fish. These fish were large enough to cut out the cheeks and throats, a somewhat time consuming process. Prices are going back up after a very bad 2010, Gulf oil spill, and I know that not much Yellow-Edge gets to the market, But Gag and Black Grouper prices were up too.
The reason Yellow-edge is more than other grouper is it is a very deep water fish; caught at a depth of 500 ft or more.
In general, all prices are up over last year. There was a packing line for Black Mullet Roe, all of that commands a high price as it is exported to Japan, (dried and formed into cakes). I think prices will continue to climb at the wholesale level as diesel fuel is going up in price for the boats as well as inland truck transportation.
Veggo, Star Fish was a zoo, 1-1/2 hours to get your "Box", it was not S.Fs fault they were just slammed, Lots of out of state tags!!!›1 Reply -
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re: justanotherpenguin
alanbarnes
Jan 24, 2011 07:40 AM
According to the graphic in that article, food prices are now as right about where they were in the middle of 2008. Wasn't that the year that Des Moines erupted in riots over food costs? The year of bread lines in Albuquerque? The year that thousands starved on the streets of Manhattan?
What, no? Food costs in 2008 didn't bring about the end of the world as we know it? But so many crackpots - er, experts - were claiming that it would! Surely they've learned their lessons and laid off the apocalyptic rhetoric by now. Right?
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re: alanbarnes
"Wasn't that the year that Des Moines erupted in riots over food costs? The year of bread lines in Albuquerque? The year that thousands starved on the streets of Manhattan?"
No, but there were riots in several other countries where the people were poorer--probably helps to take a global perspective.
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Veggo
Jan 20, 2011 01:44 PM
They are, and my ranking of the underlying causes is:
1) global population of 7 billion is exerting tremendous pressure on food commodity supplies.
2) oil over $80/ bbl adds considerable cost to fertilizer and transportation
3) the emerging chinese middle class is huge, and wants to eat better. They want more meat. 35% of soybeans grown in the US are sold to China for animal feed.
4) Poor weather-related harvests will always occur around the world. Wheat in Russia, corn in Mexico, sugar in Cuba are recent (within 2 years) examples. Recovery lags by a year or two.
5)Commodity speculation magnifies imbalances and leads to hoarding and irrational pricing.
6)Numerous countries can no longer afford to provide traditional food commodity subsidies - examples are corn, wheat, and rice through Mercal in Venezuela, maize in Mexico, flour and cooking oil in Iran.
7) Productivity - a mixed bag. Brazil is enjoying the best agricultural productivity in the world. South African productivity has fallen 40% since the large farms were confiscated.
8)Political instability slams the door on productivity - Venezuela, Kenya, South Africajust my musings...and I don't think the US government representations of food price inflation are accurate.
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re: ospreycove
Veggo
Jan 21, 2011 03:08 PM
Deal me in. As much as I enjoy the soulful smoked mullet at C&K Smokehouse in Parrish and at Star Fish in Cortez, I would like to do my own. And just when I fell out of love with the Bell family in Cortez (who own Star) for several fish disasters in a row, I read today they are torpedoing the Cortez Fish Festival next month over a political appointment. Nasty.
I wish you would e-mail me.
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Meat has definitely increased in price. And anyone notice the bones have disappeared? I think the grocer is selling them for feed supply--unless they are getting them from the supplier like that. I note that some bone in pork chops are reappearing recently. But meat is really more expensive all the time. We eat less and less as a consequence. I blame ethanol. Corn is being grown for fuel instead for the feedlot. And for us on a budget, buying grass fed is not financially feasible.
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re: sueatmo
coll
Jan 23, 2011 03:24 AM
Grocers don't buy most meat on the bone, they buy it already butchered into subprimals which rarely involve bone. Remember the days of the whole carcass hanging there? It cost too much to ship all that extra weight that just got thrown out anyway. The slaughter houses separate meat from bone and they are the ones selling the bones for feed, especially for pet food (and that's where your glucosamine and chondroiton come from which a lot of pet owners look for) and also the chew bones you buy at Petco. Lots of money there, and put to good use. But also I think part of it is many people don't know what to do with bone-in meat anymore, so less demand. I prefer bone in meat and find that on sale more than filets, so there's the upside. All the frugal older people are snatching it up!
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Can anyone explain why the price of Best Foods (Hellmans) mayonnaise has gone from 2 to three dollars, to 5 to 6 dollars? To make matters worse, it isn't even 32oz anymore, but 30 oz. This is an almost hundred percent price increase. What's up? Is mayonnaise becoming an endangered species?
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re: postemotional1
alanbarnes
Jan 21, 2011 02:00 PM
Even if those assertions are true (which I doubt), what possible relationship do they have to the price of mayonnaise?
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re: postemotional1
alanbarnes
Jan 23, 2011 12:12 PM
Well, that'd be great if it were true. But contrary to your assertion above, diet soft drink sales have been consistently increasing their market share compared to regular soft drinks total market since at least 1980. Average BMI is higher for Gen X than Gen Y. And apparently condiment sales - including ketchup, mustard, and mayo - have been stagnant in the US for the last decade.
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re: dratlover
coll
Jan 23, 2011 03:16 AM
When the price of oils went up a few years ago, Hellmanns raised their prices outrageously above and beyond. They assumed everybody would pay anything they charged, as in the past, and this seemed like a good opportunity to set new sky high price levels. Unfortunately for them, wholesale buyers (especially places that buy 100 gallons a week like a deli), for the first time in recorded history a majority of them switched to other brands of mayo that it turned out, were almost as good and half the price of Hellmanns. Hellmanns is the best but there is a tipping point, and since this happening when the economy was collapsing, they lost that bet. After they realized what they had done, they lowered their price by 25% with another 20% of rebates after that, and they did get most of their restaurant business back after losing mega money due to lost sales for a year or so. Obviously they're not losing money with these new low prices. On the other hand, for us regular people, if you just buy a quart... I mean 30 z.... every few weeks for home you'll just suck it up, and probably still buy the exact same amount as always. Due to total arrogance on their part they lost a lot of money overall though, and trying to make it up where they can I guess. I stock up in the summer when it's on sale for $1.99 (and if you find a 40z "bonus" jar whoopie!) I still have enough in the garage to last me til Memorial Day...I hope!
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alanbarnes
Jan 20, 2011 08:47 AM
Okay, after reading all the posts by people claiming that the world is coming to an end I went out and found actual numbers for food prices. According to the USDA, food prices are expected to rise 2-3% in 2011. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/usda...
Of course there are those who will insist that the gummint doesn't know what it's talking about and that the sky really is falling. Me? I'm not holding my breath.
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re: ipsedixit
alanbarnes
Jan 20, 2011 10:24 AM
I believe wage increases are vanishingly unlikely, and therefore assume that the real cost of food will increase. My point was that the increase will likely be minimal or moderate, and that there's no basis for claims that we're seeing the first signs of hyperinflation.
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re: alanbarnes
ipsedixit
Jan 20, 2011 01:27 PM
Don't the discount the possibility that real wages are actually decreasing, thus making a 1 or 2 percent increase in food prices much greater than their absolute numbers may show.
That said, like you, I do not believe there are uncontrolled spiraling food prices, at least not in the short or medium term. And no one is prescient enough to make long term, accurate, bets on food prices. Even industries that are notorious hedgers (e.g. cruise, chain restaurants, etc.) do not get it right all the time.
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re: alanbarnes
I am not anti-government one bit but when I go to store and see that the same five pounds of flour that last year cost $1.79 now costs $3.59 and the same box of oatmeal that last year cost 99 cents now costs $2.39, and the USDA predicts that food costs are going to rise 2-3% in the coming year, I have to assume either that USDA folks are lousy at math or that they mean 2-3% on top of the 100-150% that prices have already risen in the PAST year. Also I keep reading that food costs are not calculated in the national inflation figures.
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re: Querencia
alanbarnes
Jan 21, 2011 06:33 PM
The claim that food prices have increased 100-150% in the last year is absolutely and demonstrably false. What prices will do in the future is a matter of opinion, but what they've done in the past is a matter of fact. And the fact is that food prices went up 1.8% in 2009 and about 1.5% (final numbers aren't in yet) in 2010. http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/cpif...
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re: alanbarnes
coll
Jan 24, 2011 10:33 AM
I figure McDonalds keeps their eye on food prices, and just saw this http://www.optimum.net/Finance/AP/Art...
for what it's worth.-
re: coll
alanbarnes
Jan 24, 2011 10:54 AM
That seems consistent with the outlook offered by most mainstream economists. McDonald's is estimating a 2 to 2.5% rise in food costs in the US in 2011 - the low end of the 2-3% range I mentioned above.
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re: alanbarnes
coll
Jan 24, 2011 11:28 AM
That's what I thought too, McDonalds knows what they're doing to say the least. Just looked over my grocery flyer for next week and was thinking how much more all the meat is compared to this time last year. I do see country ribs for 99 cents but everything seems to be $3.99 and up...and this is my cheapie store! Guess we'll get used to it.
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re: alanbarnes
Veggo
Jan 24, 2011 12:03 PM
I saw a report this morning that food prices are trending at 1.5X overall inflation, and with the inflation indicator as of Jan. 21 at 1.39, the food inflation rate is presently at 2.1%. It surprised me a bit, but we all tend to remember abrupt increases and overlook what stays unchanged or goes down.
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DiningDiva
Jan 19, 2011 04:07 PM
It's bad and going to get worse. I work in the non-commercial sector (Colleges & Universities) of the food industry. We're being hit with escalating prices as well. I buy a lot of product and work directly with various vendors.
Our produce vendor sends out a weekly newsletter updating conditions. Let's just say they're pretty bleak right now. The freezes in Florida and the Southeast have pretty much devastated the tomato and citrus crops. The excessive rain has done in any number of crops in CA, lettuce being a big one. Mexico isn't an option for some items as the USDA has embargoed some Mexican produce due to various pest problems, most notably limes.
When grain prices go up, feed prices to farmers go up? End result? Higher meat prices. Also, if you can recall, about 3 years ago Colorado and somes of the other plains states experienced a bitterly cold winter. Some cattlemen reported losing up to 90% of the cavles born during this period. That would mean there was less beef on the hoof to reach maturity.
My primary distributor has already told me to expect prices to go high for most meats, dairy, cheese and eggs. Typically eggs spike through the holidays but come back to reasonable level by mid to late January. Our egg prices in 2010 were pretty consistently at least 50% higher than in 2009, while our meat and dairy prices held pretty firm. Not expecting that this year.
Fuel costs always play into the equation. A major portion of the food distribution in the U.S. is by truck. When fuel prices go up, so does the price of the goods they carry. Most distributors add fuel surcharges on to each delivery when gas spikes. Some vendors, especially the smaller ones, simply increase their prices and send a letter stating the price increase is due to high fuel and delivery charges.
Gas is the most obvious, but petroleum products are well represented in the food industry. Plastic film products, plastic utensils, most disposables, and so on.
Another huge factor that's going to affect food prices, because it will be passed through, are the health insurance costs that employeers are being charged by their carriers to cover their employees. Many, if not most, manufacturers are union shops with union wages and attractive benefit programs, the best of which is health care. Many, if not most (and probably almost all) truckers and warehousemen are also union employees with union wages and attractive benefit plans. Insurance companies were allowed to raise their rates substantially on January 1st. Whatever increase manufacturers, distributors and grocery stores get from their corportate insurance carriers will be passed along to the customer.
Based on the information I'm getting from my industry sources, it's going to be a pretty bumpy ride for food prices in 2011.
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re: jla1960
DiningDiva
Jan 19, 2011 07:30 PM
Most of the food manufacuturers I've had the opportunity to visit or tour usually indicated they were union shops. Perhaps I just happened to visit mostly union shops.
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re: DiningDiva
amyzan
Jan 19, 2011 07:56 PM
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs021.htm : "In 2008, about 11 percent of truck transportation and 7 percent of warehousing and storage workers were union members or are covered by union contracts, compared with approximately 14 percent of workers in all industries." Most of the truckers I know are self employed owner-operators, who buy their own insurance, and they've told me the industry is trending toward this sort of independent contractor arrangement.
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re: amyzan
DiningDiva
Jan 19, 2011 08:52 PM
I believe you, however, the driver of every truck that hits my loading dock is a Teamster.
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re: DiningDiva
Food prices are going up because customers are willing to pay them.
Our current ethic of self-actualization derides thrift as a denial of one's true self.
Denial of one's true self is the root of evil.
Thus imprudent spending is the affirmation of life!
Thank you, you've been a wonderful audience...remember dinner is included with the early show.
Try the veal, it's terrific!
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re: postemotional1
Caroline1
Jan 20, 2011 06:09 AM
Food prices are going up because customers are 'willing?' to pay them???? ummmm... Do you mean that if we all get together and petition the grocery chains, they'll drop thier prices just for the asking? Food prices do NOT go up because shoppers are willing to pay. Unless you're a farmer or have a huge fertile garden, you pay for groceries, not out of choice, but to eat. Plain and simple.
But for the rest of what you say, I agree. The legacy of the ME generation sucks!
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re: ospreycove
DiningDiva
Jan 21, 2011 04:16 PM
Unless you are a subsidized grower in the U.S. One of the functions of the USDA Commodity program is to stablize agricultural pricing in order to prevent the bottom from falling out.
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re: Caroline1
Fuel prices went up in California (hit $3/gallon) almost a year before the rest of the US. I would see vehicles end to end waiting for a burger and fries -all that In-N-Out sells- and in the same parking lot, seven cars waiting for a beverage at Starbucks. Californians complacently paid and did not even consider conserving.
I honestly believe that the manufacturers saw that Californians did not care/did not conserve and that was why it spread and hit closer to $4 that one summer. Until the more conservative Midwesterners did not buy into all of that and did start to consciously conserve.
I do think the same thing is happening -and has happened- with food and the prices, notwithstanding the bizarre weather patterns which did devastate some crops. Broccoli was $2 a pound the week before Christmas and crowns were $1/lb last week and is on sale today for 88¢/lb today.
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re: Cathy
DiningDiva
Jan 21, 2011 04:25 PM
Broccoli was $2 a pound the week before Xmas precisely because it was the week before Christmas. It has, however, been a pretty funky crop this winter. Sometimes when the weather is really bad, the initial hit isn't when the bad weather happens. There's usually enough product in the pipeline (i.e. already picked, and or in transit) to keep shelves stocked for a period of time. There's the lag time between when the supplies peter out, the farmers replant and the new crop gets into full production mode when the prices spike because of the interruption in the supply. The produce report I got earlier this week indicated supplies were decent on broccoli, but quality was poor which may account for the price fluctuations you saw.
Eggs typically spike pretty drastically around the holidays and then return to more normal levels by mid to late January.
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re: DiningDiva
Yes. It makes me crazy when they do that. In Chicago sweet potatoes are usually around $1 a pound, but the week before Thanksgiving suddenly they're 18 cents a pound. Is it that they can really afford to sell them for 18 cents and they're just ripping us off the rest of the time?
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re: mlgb
alanbarnes
Jan 22, 2011 02:52 PM
Seasonality plays a role - when supply is up, prices are down. Quantity buying is also an issue. It's cheaper to buy by the truckload than by the piece. But generally speaking, grocery margins are pretty thin. And around the holidays, loss leaders are king.
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re: alanbarnes
Veggo
Jan 22, 2011 04:38 PM
And often, loss leaders truly are being sold for less than the stores' cost. When I can buy Ben & Jerry's for $3.79, buy one & get one free, I load up. I'm in FL, my brother is 20 miles from the B&J facility in VT and he never gets that price. Other items that are often a great buy are mayo, bacon and sausage, English muffins, frozen bagels, Cabot cheese, canned soups, butter.
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re: postemotional1
coll
Jan 23, 2011 11:50 AM
They're called loss leaders because they lose money on that item, or sell at cost at best, it's not just a relatively lower price. If you follow the wholesale market, you'll know when to buy! Similar to watching the stock market but with less risk involved.
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re: postemotional1
Caroline1
Jan 20, 2011 01:49 PM
I did not say it was my way of life. I did say that it is the way of life of many many many Americans today. We are not out of the woods yet on the financial havoc that befell us. There are LOTS of people who live by that paradigm, thank you very much. And heaven help them!
One of the major problems in this country is that we, collectively and including the whooooooooole country, do NOT learn from experience. We bitch and moan and swear we are going to do better, but when the crisis has passed, we regress into our old ways with great joy and no thought for tomorrow. I'll use someone I love very much -- I'm her mother! -- as a typical example of American thinking. When gas prices went up to about four dollars a gallon, she got teed off one night after filling the tank on her giant biggest one Ford makes SUV over having the tab run way over a hundred bucks. The next morning (with a full tank of fuel in the monster) she traded it in and got herself a much smaller Lexus hybrid that ran on both gasoline and electricity. Gas prices came down. Last month she traded in her Lexus for another giant monster gas guzzling Ford "King Ranch" monster SUV with two video screens for rear passengers and that drinks gasoline like there is no tomorrow. And now gasoline prices are going up again. My daughter is VERY American! Typical!
It happens with all of the neccessities of life including food, housing, transportation, the whole nine yards. Americans have the attention span of a gnat and the learning curve of bubble gum. But that's the way it is.
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re: Caroline1
cosmogrrl
Jan 23, 2011 01:25 AM
I find this story amusing, yet somewhat horrifying. But as you said typical. But it did make me chuckle! BTW they (government, car companies) did speak of making those monsters hybrids starting 7 years ago. i wonder what happened?
And even though I've a job now after a year of unemployment, I'm still frugal. And yes, groceries have been and continue to be a big factor in my budget. Yes i can afford more now, but I still must be very careful. I've no dollar for dollar prices on items, but I do know I'm spending more now that I was two years ago. Before the crisis, and before I lost my job. And I'm having to be a lot more frugal now than I was then. And I know this because my bank's charts about what I am spending where and how hasn't changed; just how much I am spending. Pie charts don't lie!
Now the learning curve of bubble gum is also something i know of, but that has to do with Energy Conservation Engineering, which is completely OT. Except if you consider cow farts ;)
EDIT: I mean no offense to your offspring or you
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re: cosmogrrl
Caroline1
Mar 16, 2011 08:14 AM
LOL! I took no offense at anything you wrote. I know when my daughter does dumb things. I only wish she did!
Well, I wish she knew sooner rather than later. Now that gas prices are climbing again, I haven't asked her how she likes her new SUV. That would be rubbing salt in the wound. Not that I'm entirely above that sort of thing. '-)
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re: Caroline1
goodhealthgourmet
Mar 16, 2011 01:47 PM
Now that gas prices are climbing again, I haven't asked her how she likes her new SUV. That would be rubbing salt in the wound. Not that I'm entirely above that sort of thing. '-)
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ha! my sister is in the market for a new SUV, and if she doesn't get a hybrid i may have a rather difficult time keeping my mouth shut :)
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re: DiningDiva
amyzan
Jan 20, 2011 01:29 PM
Sure, but that's not what you said above: "Many, if not most (and probably almost all) truckers and warehousemen are also union employees with union wages and attractive benefit plans."
Generally good idea to check statistics against one's first impressions and personal experiences, especially when one is drawing conclusions about correlations between food prices and insurance costs. That's why I went to the BLS after reading your post. It struck me odd, but I wasn't sure my impressions were indicative of industry trends. So, I double checked before posting.
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re: DiningDiva
Produce prices at national grocery chains are through the roof. I shop at an independently owned alternative chain that locates only in the "hood" neighborhoods, and I assume their employees are nonunion. Most of the produce isn't organic, piled in attractive pyramids, and I can't find baby sized squashes (although in season I can get squash blossoms) and I have to bag my own. However it is of amazingly good quality and low prices:
In the last two weeks I've paid
Cukes $1 for 8 pc
Tomatoes $1 for 2 or 3#
Small avocados $1 for 5 pc
Cabbage $1 for 8#
Apples $1 for 2-3#
Lemons $1 for 7pc
Tomatillos $1 for 2#
Winter squash (kabocha and butternut) $1 for 3#
Zucchini $1 for 2#
Oniions $1 for 6#
Serrano peppers $1 for 2#They also make the best tortilla chips around.
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I've noticed prices going up more at Walmart than at grocery store-only chains. I wonder if that's just a mistake on my end, or if it's because of the lower margins and tight supply chain control that Wal-mart uses in their business practices. Right now, a lot of the stuff I used to buy at Wal-Mart is now cheaper at places like Kroger, Publix, or Trader Joe's/Aldi.
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I live in Wisconsin and I've been b!tching about it for months! I don't mind paying more at the farmers' markets, higher end stores but I've noticed a huge jump at the nearest mid-range grocery chain, which I visit for in-between market runs.
At my last trip to the mid-range grocery store I paid: $5.50 for a quart of heavy cream, non-organic; grapeseed oil, $20 for about 16 ounces; LouAnna peanut oil referenced in another post, $19.99 a gallon; blood oranges, $1 each; limes, 40 cents each, last year they were only 10 cents each; $1.40 for a packet of Ramen (don't judge, I didn't use the flavor packet, I needed the noodles for an ATK recipe).
Oddly enough, the small businesses (fruit market, fish market, butcher) have not raised prices, I'm assuming because they can't afford too, unlike the larger chains.
I still can't get over the $5.50 for a quart of heavy cream, though. The organic is $2 for a cup. I live in the dairy state for cryin' out loud and I have to pay what amounts to $22 a gallon for non-organic cream or $32 a gallon for organic. Wow, just doing the math there made me really sad but I refuse to give up my heavy cream.
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re: Querencia
DiningDiva
Jan 21, 2011 05:13 PM
Or not...I just purchased a 25# bag of A.P Flour (Gold Metal was not on the bag) for $7.02 for our bake shop at work
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re: NicoleFriedman
c oliver
Jan 21, 2011 12:16 PM
It's not really that simple an equation. You may find this article educational:
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Uncle Bob
Jan 15, 2011 12:11 PM
Wanna go back to the "good ole days"?? (When things were cheap) ~~~ This (Now) IS the "good ole days" ~~~ Don't think so??? ~~~ Meet me here in 2 years ~~
Have Fun!!!
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re: Uncle Bob
I have thought about that and it scares me. When I was a child circa 1940 I was sent to the store for "a dime's worth of lunchmeat"; the same dime bought a large coffee cake at the bakery. When I went to keeping house in the 1950's I paid 69 cents for a gallon of milk. In the1960's round steak was 29 cents a pound. Fast-forward to the present when milk is $3.50 a gallon and the round steak goes on sale for $2.99 and the rest of the time is $4.59. If that price differential speaks for 40-50 years, what will people be paying in 2050, 2060?
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Corn and soybean prices are now re-testing the multi-year highs that we saw in spring 2008. Bad weather has affected crops and inventories. Oil prices are pushing $100/barrel again. All this feeds into food costs. Corn and soybeans feed cows --> milk is more expensive --> cheese is more expensive. Higher fuel costs = higher transport costs for every link in the farm-to-table chain.
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Caroline1
Jan 14, 2011 01:10 PM
To be a bit more specific than "food," has anyone noticed the absurd price of peanut oil today? I've been buying it in bulk for years. Well, gallon jugs anyway. For one person living alone, that's "bulk." I ran out yesterday. It is currently $28.00 a gallon for LuAnne peanut oil at Walmart!! That's $7.00 a quart. And if you want organic from Amazon, it's $8.00 a pint plus shipping! I can buy ghee for $6.00 a pint and not have to clarify butter myself. "Insanity" is the new name for instant inflation! What's that you say, Tiny Tim. "God bless us one and all?" You better hope!
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re: Caroline1
Uncle Bob
Jan 15, 2011 09:00 AM
Do you mean LouAna Pure Peanut Oil?? I buy a lot of it....a couple of gallons (or the 3 gallon container) at a time from Wally World....I don't pay that much attention to it's price but I'm thinking $12.99,,,$13.99....Certainly no where close to $28.00.....
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re: Uncle Bob
Caroline1
Jan 16, 2011 05:02 AM
hanks to both you and smartie for the reassuring words and meantime I will pray that there was an error in the price at my Walmart at SZpringcreek and Central Expressway in Plano, Texas, but... on January 14th LouAna Pure Peanut Oil was $28.00 a gallon! I tried to find it in other Walmart stores by changing my zip code on the website, and could get no prices anywhere else... "Out of stock" or "Enter a different zip code" was the response. Scared the blazes out of me! We'll see if it all shakes out to your prices or not... I sure hope it doesn't shake out to my local prices! It's scary.
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re: Caroline1
Caroline1
Jan 16, 2011 12:13 PM
Oh, and just for the record, I called my local Walmart and asked for today's price on a gallon of peanut oil... It's STILL $28.00 a gallon! I asked the manager if he knew why. He said they just mark the price of their incoming goods with what they're told to mark them by the head office. If I lived somewhere where it's still $15.00 a gallon, I'd stock up! Or maybe I'll move. This is ridiculous!
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re: Caroline1
Uncle Bob
Jan 17, 2011 11:00 AM
Caroline ~~ Just went by a Wally World...LouAna Peanut Oil $9.99 Gallon ~~$28.34 for the 3 (Three) Gallon container!!. ~~ It would seem your local Wally World has their shelf tags (price tags) crossed up...Take a gallon to the front end, and have it price checked....HTH!
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re: Uncle Bob
Caroline1
Jan 17, 2011 03:48 PM
Above and beyond. Bless you! I did call and talk to the grocery dept manager the other day and he said, yep, $28.00. Checked on line and couldn't get a price. So after your post I called another Walmart in the area... $10.00 a gallon! So I called my usual Walmart... $28.00! I explained to the store manager (for what it's worth) that they have the 3 gallon price on the one gallon product! He said he'd look into it. I may be changing Walmart Stores. Apparently they've had that price at that store for a while now because my housekeeper told me that's what they paid when they needed some for a deep fryer for her husband's birthday party. I will be pursuing this farther, and thank you for your help!
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re: Uncle Bob
Caroline1
Jan 18, 2011 01:02 PM
Sweet victory. Well, close anyway. Had a chat with the store manager this morning, explained the problem to him, when I said their current shelf price is for the 3 gallon size but they only have single gallons in stock and that's what they're charging at the register, he said he would take care of it. About an hour later, I bought a gallon for $10.86, which is not quite $9.99, but hey, it beats $28.00 a gallon by a country mile! Thanks again for the help, Uncle Bob, and to everyone else.
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re: neel2004
neel, arrghhh! with Publix but not on the oil...I've noticed at least one item they've jacked the price up...instant light charcoal..used to be $2.99 for 4 pounds...NOW it's $2.99 for 3.3 pounds...I've brought it to their attention, yet another item I'll be buying at Target or Walmart. I buy less and less at Publix, same with many co-workers.
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Here's an article about the global food chain stretched to the limit and food prices soaring due to tightened supplies as a result of bad weather and rising global demand:
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re: janniecooks
All grain futures are going through the roof. Causes range from Russia not exporting this year due to poor crops, fires, etc. The Asian demand for meat is exploding; to raise animals you need grain such as corn, look at the historical price of a bushel of corn over the last 18 months. Not a food item, but cotton futures are also skyrocketing, the U.S.A. is the world's largest producer of cotton. Look for cotton and cotton blended garments to go up an average of $2.00 retail starting in Fall 2011
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alanbarnes
Jan 14, 2011 12:42 PM
I haven't bought oatmeal lately, but cheese, meat, produce, etc. haven't increased appreciably in price in Northern California. Maybe it's a regional thing?
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re: alanbarnes
goodhealthgourmet
Jan 17, 2011 04:05 PM
cheese, meat, produce, etc. haven't increased appreciably in price in Northern California.
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really? produce hasn't? because it certainly has in Southern California!-
re: goodhealthgourmet
alanbarnes
Jan 17, 2011 04:10 PM
Onions have been high because of a bad harvest last year, but aside from that I haven't noticed any significant increases.
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re: alanbarnes
goodhealthgourmet
Jan 17, 2011 04:24 PM
broccoli & green beans have increased down here. i know it has a lot to do with the torrential rains we had last month, and the produce guy at one of the stores where i do a lot of my shopping said they're having a heck of a time getting a decent supply of root vegetables at this point because of it as well, since the ground was too saturated and waterlogged a lot of the crops. he warned me that beets, carrots, fennel, turnips, parsnips, radishes, etc may be hard to come by in the next few weeks.
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