If you go to the supermarket every week, you're probably wondering what all this "inflation still low" talk is. I don't pay that much attention to the price of individual items, but I generally buy the same things, so it's easy to notice that my total bill has been creeping ever upward for about a year now. And there is even hidden inflation (or at least something that has the same effect):
Does it seem like some products don't last as long as they used to? From toothpaste to tuna fish, hot dogs to hand soap, companies have been shaving ounces and inches from packages for years. ConsumerReports' latest investigation, featured in the February issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReports.org, found that more and more products are getting downsized.
[. . .]
Manufactures make subtle changes to the packages but generally keep the price the same because when prices rise, buyers often seek cheaper alternatives. And the bottom line is that consumers are more attuned to changes in price than packaging.
Consumer Reports found packages reduced in size by as much as 20 percent in its study.
The report lists 10 items that have been downsized, but I've encountered others.
And here is a nice little roundup of studies about caffeine. It's good for you! It's bad! It will improve your life! It's killing you!
I can't figure it out. Though maybe I should have a cup of coffee because it's been shown that caffeine enhances cognition. Except when it doesn't.
Comments
Corn is now at $6.57 a bushel, Soybeans at $14.12 up from $4.73 corn and $11.45 beans in September. China has increased purchases, Brazil as thought to have had a great growing season, but it turns out is terrible. Russia had the fires that burned up most of their grain and they stopped exports to Europe who do not grow much.
This year I have seen a huge increase in Potash, fertilizer and I am betting a good increase in seed prices. Now add in the fuel price where it takes about 4 gallons per acre each time you go in the field and the prices are going to be higher next summer. I suggest buying canned (frozen if you have space) vegetables, noodles, flour and even cereal now.
I have been consuming my stash of noodles when it was 3 lbs for a $1.00 and now it is 1 lb for $1.38. I got sticker shock.
Leo:
They've even downsized TP...!
Seriously, the "roll" is larger in diameter than it used to be.
Dawn detergent?
Went from 12.3 oz to 10 oz - same price (sale 99 cents)
Cereal?
Smaller box...bigger price.
Milk?
Went from $1.99 /gal up to $2.25/gal
(be nice to be able to run a car on THAT, though...lol)
No escaping it now...it's all over the place.
Best we can do is clip those coupons and look for specials.
Happy shopping.