supermarket shelves and food prices

[wintermom]

9 minutes ago, madteaparty said:

You don’t know anything about the audience you are lecturing to. I have spent most my life outside the US with the majority of it outside of what you’d call “the west”.  

I guess you don't know your audience, either. Neither do you know what lecturing is. But carry on this argument. It's entertaining. 

[wintermom]

16 minutes ago, Ting Tang said:

I don't know how it works elsewhere, but it is because it is subsidized.  We also have parts of the country where agriculture is very good, so maybe that helps control costs.  

Who is subsidizing this in the US? That just doesn't seem like a concept widely associated with a commercialism-based country like the US. 

[Bootsie]

4 hours ago, HomeAgain said:

.  I'm really missing Texas prices where limes were about $.10 -.15 and there's a wide range of chilis to choose from!

If it makes you feel any better--I am in Texas and recently there were NO limes in the store; the next time I went they were almost $1 each.  And, the only peppers were bell peppers and a few jalepenos.  

[Selkie]

4 minutes ago, wintermom said:

Who is subsidizing this in the US? That just doesn't seem like a concept widely associated with a commercialism-based country like the US. 

The taxpayers. The government spends many billions of dollars every year on incentives for the ag industry.

[Carrie12345]

Subsidizing… and exploiting.
I’m not familiar with how agriculture works in other developed nations. Do they, too, depend on piece rates that put 25% of farm workers under the federal poverty line? Or worse, for undocumented workers?

[vonfirmath]

15 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

Subsidizing… and exploiting.
I’m not familiar with how agriculture works in other developed nations. Do they, too, depend on piece rates that put 25% of farm workers under the federal poverty line? Or worse, for undocumented workers?

I don't know about percentages. But I know that the Honduras farmers I know see very little cash at all. It is one of the things that makes it difficult for them to send their kids to school  -- needing cash to pay for school supplies, uniforms, etc.

 

[Carrie12345]

4 minutes ago, vonfirmath said:

I don't know about percentages. But I know that the Honduras farmers I know see very little cash at all. It is one of the things that makes it difficult for them to send their kids to school  -- needing cash to pay for school supplies, uniforms, etc.

 

Yeah, I don’t know all of the specifics here, either. The internet says anywhere from 50-75% of US farm laborers are undocumented. And it isn’t as if farm owners want to cough up the straight facts on what they’re getting paid!

Edited April 8, 2022 by Carrie12345

[mommyoffive]

Global food prices rise to highest ever levels after Russian invasion (msn.com)

[regentrude]

1 hour ago, wintermom said:

Who is subsidizing this in the US? That just doesn't seem like a concept widely associated with a commercialism-based country like the US. 

The taxpayer. Currently to the tune of around $20 billion per year. 

[HomeAgain]

59 minutes ago, Bootsie said:

If it makes you feel any better--I am in Texas and recently there were NO limes in the store; the next time I went they were almost $1 each.  And, the only peppers were bell peppers and a few jalepenos.  

That just makes me sad for you!  It's one thing to be in the northeast and grumble about not getting southwest ingredients, but if you guys are having it rough, too, I might have to plant rows of peppers this week in my greenhouse!

[wintermom]

1 hour ago, Selkie said:

The taxpayers. The government spends many billions of dollars every year on incentives for the ag industry.

Interesting. Who are getting subsidies and who aren't? Big commercial farms, family owned farms, further up the chain in the ag industry, everyone in an equal and fair approach (just kidding 😅)? 

Edited April 8, 2022 by wintermom

[regentrude]

4 minutes ago, wintermom said:

Interesting. Who are getting subsidies and who aren't? Big commercial farms, family owned farms, further up the chain in the ag industry, everyone in an equal and fair approach (just kidding 😅)? 

most of the subsidies go to the biggest farms.
And certain crops are more heavily subsidized than others. Grain, oilseeds, soy, cotton and sugar receive a lot; veggies and fruit minimal. (Which raises interesting issues about diet... and why non-nutritious foods are so cheap)

Edited April 8, 2022 by regentrude

[wintermom]

1 minute ago, regentrude said:

most of the subsidies go to the biggest farms.
And certain crops are more heavily subsidized than others. Grain, oilseeds, soy, cotton and sugar receive a lot; veggies and fruit minimal.

We have gov subsidies going to our largest, most wealthy grocery stores so that they can replace their refrigeration units. How is this helping the price of groceries when the billionaires get subsidies? This is an example from Canada, and I'm sure there are a few in other countries as well. It's part of the 'acceptable corruption' in the west. 

[regentrude]

1 minute ago, wintermom said:

We have gov subsidies going to our largest, most wealthy grocery stores so that they can replace their refrigeration units. How is this helping the price of groceries when the billionaires get subsidies? This is an example from Canada, and I'm sure there are a few in other countries as well. It's part of the 'acceptable corruption' in the west. 

I think all developed countries subsidize their agriculture. I remember huge issues in the EU. To some degree it makes sense: farming is essential, people must be fed, yet it is also fraught with weather disasters, and it is right that society helps the individual farmer balance the risk. However, it has gotten way out of hand thanks to lobbying.

From what I read, Canada also pays farm subsidies of several billion. Don't have time to dig deeper, gotta run

[wintermom]

Just now, regentrude said:

I think all developed countries subsidize their agriculture. I remember huge issues in the EU. To some degree it makes sense: farming is essential, people must be fed, yet it is also fraught with weather disasters, and it is right that society helps the individual farmer balance the risk. However, it has gotten way out of hand thanks to lobbying.

From what I read, Canada also pays farm subsidies of several billion. Don't have time to dig deeper, gotta run

Yes, there are subsidies in Canada. I'm not well versed on them, but I do know that commercial farms receive benefits in many different ways that small farms don't, some is throught subsidies and some through regulations. 

For example, in order to sell eggs outside one's own property they must be graded by an official grader. As an official grader there is a cost for grading just your own eggs, and a much higher cost for grading the eggs of your small farm neighbours. Thus it becomes a financial loss to help out your neighbours. 

[Faith-manor]

Compassion is a two-way street. Our health insurance premium is $16,000 per annum or $21,000 and change aud. We pay half, his employer pays half, so $8,000 to us, $10,000 ish aud. We then have a $7500 (another $10,000 aud ish) per annum deductible that must be paid out of pocket before the insurance kicks in, and then it pays at 90% to some providers, 80% to others still leaving us with more out of pocket expenses. My friend pays similar prices plus $1500 per MONTH for her daughter's seizure meds and this is after the insurance discount or it would be worse on an annual household income of $65,000 a year before taxes, so with state, federal, local, property, and sales tax, disposable income of less than $40,000 a year, and housing, home or renters insurance, car, and car insurance hasn't been accounted for from that yet. $40,000 and literally half of her income goes to healthcare expenses.

For two years, we paid 1/3 of our annual take home income for our three sons to be in college at the same time after academic scholarships which were "generous scholarships" at some of the cheapest choices of state universities. At no time did we get a break on healthcare costs. My sister, on the other hand, pays $165 a semester for tuition. She would be dead if she lived here because she would not be able to afford her healthcare and medication. I don't act like an ass to her because I am jealous of any of this. I am freaking grateful that she has that safety net of the country in which she resides.

If I had to ALSO pay your prices for food and fuel, there would have been many times dh and I did not eat. Yet, I don't get on threads and birch and moan at those who live with universal healthcare and bizarrely cheap university and trade school even though Americans RATION healthcare on a regular basis even for very absi, easily treatable conditions and injuries. I don't birch and moan in anger that you have a better social safety net than we do. I am grateful that your home country has a brain and thinks, "Hm. Damn it all. Maybe we should take health care and education needs of our people." I am happy for you. 

And I still have compassion for the damn awful, crazy grocery prices you pay, and recognize that it is a hardship for you. The collective you or non Americans on this thread. I don't get on the thread and crap all over you and tell you to stop whining because at least you have universal healthcare. I have compassion for the hardships life throws your way.

I know people who go hungry here, who ration food among the adults of the household in order to buy insulin and epipens for their kids. But hey, apparently they are just whiney, spoiled Americans and should shut up.

[Ting Tang]

1 hour ago, wintermom said:

Who is subsidizing this in the US? That just doesn't seem like a concept widely associated with a commercialism-based country like the US. 

The government via taxpayers I suppose. Many industries are subsidized, though.  I married into an agriculture family, and we are kinda small beans anyway (no pun intended).  But I do believe it is US policy to keep food prices low, relatively speaking, though we are in a period of inflation and shortages.  

 

 

[wintermom]

1 hour ago, Ting Tang said:

The government via taxpayers I suppose. Many industries are subsidized, though.  I married into an agriculture family, and we are kinda small beans anyway (no pun intended).  But I do believe it is US policy to keep food prices low, relatively speaking, though we are in a period of inflation and shortages.  

 

 

Do you face competition from non-US food sources under-pricing their products (often throught their own government subsidies)? I know that there were some rather heated discussions between US and Canada on these issues, especially in relation to the free trade agreement. 

I hope as a family business you have an umbrella org that lobbies for you.

Edited April 8, 2022 by wintermom

[Ting Tang]

4 minutes ago, wintermom said:

Do you face competition from non-US food sources under-pricing their products (often throught their own government subsidies)? I know that there were some rather heated discussions between US and Canada on these issues, especially in relation to the free trade agreement. 

I hope as a family business you have an umbrella org that lobbies for you.

Well, yes and no on the competition aspect--I think.  Brazil has really been doing a lot of farming, but I also know China buys a lot from us.  I think if we ever get into a pickle with China, things would get very interesting.  But this is just my layperson's thoughts. My husband follows everything more closely.  I am still learning a lot and don't understand everything, but the markets do fluctuate.  

[wintermom]

1 minute ago, Ting Tang said:

Well, yes and no on the competition aspect--I think.  Brazil has really been doing a lot of farming, but I also know China buys a lot from us.  I think if we ever get into a pickle with China, things would get very interesting.  But this is just my layperson's thoughts. My husband follows everything more closely.  I am still learning a lot and don't understand everything, but the markets do fluctuate.  

You are right about being concerned with China. Canada recently faced heavy sanctions from China in many exports (including agriculture) in response to an international issue. 

[Ting Tang]

15 minutes ago, wintermom said:

You are right about being concerned with China. Canada recently faced heavy sanctions from China in many exports (including agriculture) in response to an international issue. 

 Yep. It seems like many are growing more and worried about China.  I try to have hope that bad things won't continue to happen internationally. Tensions seem to be so high everywhere.  😞

[mommyoffive]

As food prices hit an all-time high, more Americans have abandoned online grocery shopping and returned to supermarket aisles (msn.com)

[Carrie12345]

I just came back from a zip through Walmart and Aldi.

WM is doing a pretty good job of making things look not very bad.  It is a little worse each week or two I go in, but it’s pretty gradual at this point. The empty and near-empty sections they have have been that way for a while, so no real surprise.

I think Aldi has passed the point of trying to keep up appearances.  The aisle of shame was literally empty on one side, with AOS items moved to take over a side of the odds and ends food specials aisle. Two sections that are smaller than aisles but bigger than end caps were left empty.  Multiple end caps were nearly empty. Multiple freezers were empty. Nuts were super low (for Aldi.) Mostly just peanuts.  Milk was $4.29 a gallon and eggs were $1.77/dozen. I managed to get butter for $2.49/lb and cream cheese for $.82/pk!!!

Oh, WM had a section of Tide detergent and a section of Gain, but the rest of the aisle looked like this:
 

[Carrie12345]

17 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

As food prices hit an all-time high, more Americans have abandoned online grocery shopping and returned to supermarket aisles (msn.com)

It’s so much easier to look around for replacements than to trust someone else’s judgment!

[prairiewindmomma]

4 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

It’s so much easier to look around for replacements than to trust someone else’s judgment!

Also, I need to know how much products have moved in price week to week and what is scarce/missing—shopping online may give you a sense of shift for the products you are looking at, but you can miss overall trends. 

[Arcadia]

48 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

As food prices hit an all-time high, more Americans have abandoned online grocery shopping and returned to supermarket aisles (msn.com)

Supermarkets clearance items are not online and if the person is doing curbside pickup, going in and checking out the mark down items might be cheaper. If it is grocery delivery, then tipping the drivers may cost more if the grocers are on the office to home route. We usually get over 30mpg on our Corolla so even with gas prices near $6/gallon, it is still cheaper to drive to a few ethnic grocers for grocery shopping. 

[Corraleno]

I was at both Costco and Trader Joe's this week; they both seemed fully stocked and I haven't seen a lot of price increases on the things I normally buy. However, I don't buy meat or dairy, so I can't comment on the prices for those, and Trader Joe's does not have sales, so their everyday prices are probably a little higher than someone would pay if they normally shop sale prices and loss leaders at regular grocery stores. I also don't buy bread or grains weekly (I buy oats/quinoa/brown rice in bulk, and I still have at least a year's worth of various types of wheat that I bought at the beginning of the pandemic), so my weekly shop is generally just produce plus replacing a few pantry staples that I'm out of. 

The only produce item I buy every week that I've noticed has gone up is a pack of 3 organic red/orange/yellow bell peppers, which is up 50 cents since January. But there are other things I buy regularly that haven't changed in price for at least a year (and in some cases several years), like organic canned beans are still 99 cents, organic sprouted tofu is 1.99/lb, a bag of 6 small avocados is 3.99, organic bananas are 25 cents each (19 for nonorganic). This week I bought a bag of 8 large seedless lemons for 2.99, or ~38 cents each. I also got a bag of 22 limes (the round, thin-skinned kind) at Costco for 7.99, or ~36 cents each. I also picked up a case of organic vanilla soy milk (1.29 per 32 oz carton) plus a 3 lb bag of chia seeds for 8.69 (which will last 3-4 months). I think the price of organic raw cashews has gone up at Costco (currently ~7.50/lb), but I haven't bought them there in a while so I don't remember the previous price.

[Melissa Louise]

Costs are due to go up again here because of a recent change to the way pickers are paid. They must all receive the guaranteed minimum wage, with pay per amount picked on top of that. 

I think that's good, but I'm not looking forward to the duopoly here hiking prices again. 

 

[Melissa in Australia]

10 hours ago, Carrie12345 said:

Subsidizing… and exploiting.
I’m not familiar with how agriculture works in other developed nations. Do they, too, depend on piece rates that put 25% of farm workers under the federal poverty line? Or worse, for undocumented workers?

Nope

Here pickers we're getting piece rates, but are moving this month to a minimum wage of $24 hour. Fast pickers can chose to still get bonus piece picking rates as they were getting way more than that. 

 

Also some countries have import tarrufs on USA agricultural products to make it fairer to the local farmers who are not subsidised like the USA farmers. Especially on corn products

Edited April 9, 2022 by Melissa in Australia

[Melissa in Australia]

9 hours ago, Faith-manor said:

Compassion is a two-way street. Our health insurance premium is $16,000 per annum or $21,000 and change aud. We pay half, his employer pays half, so $8,000 to us, $10,000 ish aud. We then have a $7500 (another $10,000 aud ish) per annum deductible that must be paid out of pocket before the insurance kicks in, and then it pays at 90% to some providers, 80% to others still leaving us with more out of pocket expenses. My friend pays similar prices plus $1500 per MONTH for her daughter's seizure meds and this is after the insurance discount or it would be worse on an annual household income of $65,000 a year before taxes, so with state, federal, local, property, and sales tax, disposable income of less than $40,000 a year, and housing, home or renters insurance, car, and car insurance hasn't been accounted for from that yet. $40,000 and literally half of her income goes to healthcare expenses.

For two years, we paid 1/3 of our annual take home income for our three sons to be in college at the same time after academic scholarships which were "generous scholarships" at some of the cheapest choices of state universities. At no time did we get a break on healthcare costs. My sister, on the other hand, pays $165 a semester for tuition. She would be dead if she lived here because she would not be able to afford her healthcare and medication. I don't act like an ass to her because I am jealous of any of this. I am freaking grateful that she has that safety net of the country in which she resides.

If I had to ALSO pay your prices for food and fuel, there would have been many times dh and I did not eat. Yet, I don't get on threads and birch and moan at those who live with universal healthcare and bizarrely cheap university and trade school even though Americans RATION healthcare on a regular basis even for very absi, easily treatable conditions and injuries. I don't birch and moan in anger that you have a better social safety net than we do. I am grateful that your home country has a brain and thinks, "Hm. Damn it all. Maybe we should take health care and education needs of our people." I am happy for you. 

And I still have compassion for the damn awful, crazy grocery prices you pay, and recognize that it is a hardship for you. The collective you or non Americans on this thread. I don't get on the thread and crap all over you and tell you to stop whining because at least you have universal healthcare. I have compassion for the hardships life throws your way.

I know people who go hungry here, who ration food among the adults of the household in order to buy insulin and epipens for their kids. But hey, apparently they are just whiney, spoiled Americans and should shut up.

It isn't us Aussies complaining about you guys

 

I am very  very greatful that  by luck of birth I live in a country like Australia. Further away from the conflicts and more stable that countries like say Sri Lanka. It would be absolutly awful to be living in a country that is imploding like they are atm. 

[Melissa in Australia]

Am doing a big shop atm. Aldi had no toilet paper at all. They haven't for the last 2 weeks. Everything else seemed ok

[Ausmumof3]

11 hours ago, Carrie12345 said:

Subsidizing… and exploiting.
I’m not familiar with how agriculture works in other developed nations. Do they, too, depend on piece rates that put 25% of farm workers under the federal poverty line? Or worse, for undocumented workers?

We pretty much rely on labour from south East Asian countries and those arrangements sometimes verge in exploitive. Although last year DS was able to get picking work due to the shortage of overseas labour and it actually pays pretty well for a teenage kid.  Much better than fast food etc. That is who used to do that kind of work before farmers figured out overseas labour is cheaper and more reliable.

[Ausmumof3]

1 hour ago, Melissa in Australia said:

It isn't us Aussies complaining about you guys

 

I am very  very greatful that  by luck of birth I live in a country like Australia. Further away from the conflicts and more stable that countries like say Sri Lanka. It would be absolutly awful to be living in a country that is imploding like they are atm. 

what’s happening in Sri Lanka? Apparently I’ve totally missed that. Most news seems to be focused on local politics or Ukraine right now.

[Melissa in Australia]

2 hours ago, Ausmumof3 said:

what’s happening in Sri Lanka? Apparently I’ve totally missed that. Most news seems to be focused on local politics or Ukraine right now.

Inflation is over 50% the government cannot afford fuel to keep electricity generators going. They are having rolling power outages of 13 hours off per day No electricity means  no factories working. Maybe when people in rich countries cannot buy clothes they might notice. Clothes manufacturering is their seco d biggest export. Because of the hyper inflation people can no longer afford to buy food. If they can get food they cannot cook it because no fuel at all.  protests with army arresting people and tear grass etc. The whole government except President resigned last week. It is getti g worse daily. They are saying that it is the biggest food shortage and   social upheaval that they have had since 1948. 

Edited April 9, 2022 by Melissa in Australia

[Melissa in Australia]

Finished my shopping trip. Wollies had toilet paper but limits 2 per person. I didn't get any. They were pretty well stocked.  Prices overall were at least $1 more than 2 weeks ago. Some things had signs sayi g on sale,arked down but it was really the price thi g's were 2 weeks ago. With new tag under marked down tag with new increased price. 

Went to local shop on way home to get cream, they had no toilet paper, tissues or rice. I overheard one shopper saying to another that she had better check the news to see what is going on in the world. 

[Ausmumof3]

15 minutes ago, Melissa in Australia said:

Inflation is over 50% the government cannot afford fuel to keep electricity generators going. They are having rolling power outages of 13 hours off per day No electricity means  no factories working. Maybe when people in rich countries cannot buy clothes they might notice. Clothes manufacturering is their seco d biggest export. Because of the hyper inflation people can no longer afford to buy food. If they can get food they cannot cook it because no fuel at all.  protests with army arresting people and tear grass etc. The whole government except President resigned last week. It is getti g worse daily. They are saying that it is the biggest food shortage and   social upheaval that they have had since 1948. 

Is it caused by global fuel price issues? Shipping costs? Lockdowns? That’s terrible. 

[Ausmumof3]

Everything is well stocked here but fruit and veg prices were well up. $12kg for capsicum (peppers) and broccoli. There are cheaper options like kale and cauliflower still. Pumpkin is only $4kg but typically this time of year that would be $1.20 or so.

Cold lunch meat was the other thing. At almost $40kg the kids can have peanut butter or eat leftovers. I don’t buy it often anyway but have been getting it on days I’m working and not home to food prep for them.

[Melissa in Australia]

31 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said:

Is it caused by global fuel price issues? Shipping costs? Lockdowns? That’s terrible. 

All of those plus their currancy falling and I would guess corruption as well.

It is also their dry season so their hydro isn't working atm. 

I could not imagine 50 % inflation. 

[Shoeless]

9 minutes ago, Melissa in Australia said:

All of those plus their currancy falling and I would guess corruption as well.

It is also their dry season so their hydro isn't working atm. 

I could not imagine 50 % inflation. 

I read an article that said the government abruptly banned fertilizer imports, because they wanted all farming to be organic. Which is a nice idea, but should have been a gradual process, because the farms are now not producing at previous levels, (probably not enough experience with organic farming methods and/or soil needing improvement). So that can't be helping matters, either. 

[Ausmumof3]

33 minutes ago, MissLemon said:

I read an article that said the government abruptly banned fertilizer imports, because they wanted all farming to be organic. Which is a nice idea, but should have been a gradual process, because the farms are now not producing at previous levels, (probably not enough experience with organic farming methods and/or soil needing improvement). So that can't be helping matters, either. 

Eek! Even in western nations we haven’t figured out how to grow enough food with organic methods.

[Melissa in Australia]

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/7/infographic-sri-lankas-economic-crisis-and-political-turmoil

 

Essentials, even locally produced ones, have become unaffordable for many. The price of white rice, a common Sri Lankan staple, increased by 93 percent since 2019. Chicken and lentils have gone up by at least 55 and 117 percent, respectively, since 2019.

[Melissa in Australia]

[Melissa in Australia]

1 hour ago, MissLemon said:

I read an article that said the government abruptly banned fertilizer imports, because they wanted all farming to be organic. Which is a nice idea, but should have been a gradual process, because the farms are now not producing at previous levels, (probably not enough experience with organic farming methods and/or soil needing improvement). So that can't be helping matters, either. 

I doubt they can afford fertilizer. many places are going to have major fertilizer problems , which will mean way less yields and more food shortages worldwide

 

[Ali in OR]

I see prices going up, I see specific family favorites missing for months, and I see some creative stocking at the grocery store, but mostly I can get what's needed at prices we can afford. It helps that I'm just feeding three at the moment with two in college (but paying for their way more expensive food plans too). Here are a few prices from my most recent Winco receipt of staples we buy weekly/often:

1 gallon fat-free milk $3.29
1 dozen eggs $1.71
1 small avocado $0.98
package of 3 Romaine hearts $4.98
Fuji apples $0.88 per pound (that's a really good price--they're often over a dollar)
Bananas $.57 per pound
100% whole wheat bread from bakery section $2.78
16 oz box of Barilla spaghetti $1.58 (I miss the pre-pandemic sales at Freddie's of 10 for $10)

 

[prairiewindmomma]

Comparing receipts from the same value priced store, 3/31 and 4/9….10 days apart, looking at produce only:

roma tomatoes are up .10/lb.

zucchini is up .10/lb

cucumbers are up .10/lb.

Carrots, cilantro, and apples remained the same.
 

The rest of the veg don’t match up neatly on receipts. Last trip they had berries and pears and romaine, this week they didn’t. This week they had mushrooms, grapes, pineapple, and limes.

 

[Melissa in Australia]

This news article helps explain what the reasons are  for the imploding of Sri Lanka https://www.bbc.com/news/world-61028138

[Bootsie]

The latest BLS numbers for inflation for March were released today.  Consumer Price Index Summary - 2022 M03 Results (bls.gov)  Food-at-home prices have increased 10% over the past year.  This is the largest 12-month increase since March 1981.  The one-month increase was 1.5%--so if prices continue to increase at this rate over the next year, the annual rate will be almost 20%.

 

[Brittany1116]

On 4/9/2022 at 10:13 AM, Ali in OR said:

I see prices going up, I see specific family favorites missing for months, and I see some creative stocking at the grocery store, but mostly I can get what's needed at prices we can afford. It helps that I'm just feeding three at the moment with two in college (but paying for their way more expensive food plans too). Here are a few prices from my most recent Winco receipt of staples we buy weekly/often:

1 gallon fat-free milk $3.29
1 dozen eggs $1.71
1 small avocado $0.98
package of 3 Romaine hearts $4.98
Fuji apples $0.88 per pound (that's a really good price--they're often over a dollar)
Bananas $.57 per pound
100% whole wheat bread from bakery section $2.78
16 oz box of Barilla spaghetti $1.58

 

(I miss the pre-pandemic sales at Freddie's of 10 for $10)

 

I am in Florida and bought nearly all the same items this week. Here are our prices:

 

1 gallon milk $3.99
1 dozen eggs $1.89 
1 small avocado $1.50
package of 3 Romaine hearts $3.99
 apples $1.99 per pound (all apples are 1.99+)
Bananas $.64 per pound
100% whole wheat bread from bakery section $... guessing $3+
16 oz box of spaghetti $1.69

[mommyoffive]

2 hours ago, Bootsie said:

The latest BLS numbers for inflation for March were released today.  Consumer Price Index Summary - 2022 M03 Results (bls.gov)  Food-at-home prices have increased 10% over the past year.  This is the largest 12-month increase since March 1981.  The one-month increase was 1.5%--so if prices continue to increase at this rate over the next year, the annual rate will be almost 20%.

 

Gahhh is all I can think to say.  This sucks.

[KidsHappen]

I have only been able to shop two or three times in the last year and my husband is not able to shop frugally. We only eat one meal a day and since my hubby is doing all of the things around the house that I used to do he  doesn't feel like cooking as much as he used to do so we order out for our meal most days (generally from mid-price level places). To tell you the truth since it is just the two of us, I really don't think it is much more than it would be to cook the same level of food at home. We do still have to buy staples and from the delivery we got today many things were not available, most importantly milk and TP. 

Two of my girls are ordering from some of the meal delivery (like Home Chef) places. They always get all the items that they need for the meal and they aren't finding the prices terrible. My oldest dd frequently eats what is left at the end of the day at her restaurant. They youngest two prepare their own meals at home and eat slightly better than college students with snack supplements from mom and dad. I think when student loans kick back in we will be eating like college students ourselves. Darn, now I want some ramen noodles.