Consumer pushback on grocery prices?

[LVSteve]

Went to my local Smith's (Kroger for those E of Denver) a week or two back with orange juice on my list. Then I saw the prices, $8.50/gallon for Kroger's own and $10/gallon for any name brand stuff. Big price increase from a short time ago. No thanks.

Went back this week to find the OJ cabinet stuffed with unsold product. The Kroger brand was marked down to $6.38 (??) with a "best before" date of 19 March. Well, my fridge is functioning well so I doubt a week or so later will cause any issues.

Anybody else seeing stuff sitting on the shelves unsold because of the prices?

 

[Narragansett]

Went to my local Smith's (Kroger for those E of Denver) a week or two back with orange juice on my list. Then I saw the prices, $8.50/gallon for Kroger's own and $10/gallon for any name brand stuff. Big price increase from a short time ago. No thanks.

Went back this week to find the OJ cabinet stuffed with unsold product. The Kroger brand was marked down to $6.38 (??) with a "best before" date of 19 March. Well, my fridge is functioning well so I doubt a week or so later will cause any issues.

Anybody else seeing stuff sitting on the shelves unsold because of the prices?

Lots of bakery stuff on last day sale. I have noticed that you can walk up to the deli and not wait, and that the deli cases have less selection. No 16.00/lb Boars *** roast beef for me

What I have noticed is that food is a lot more expensive in GA than RI. I will not pay 8 dollars a pound for hamburger or baloney.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

About 4-6 weeks ago, I saw that McDonald's home office told franchisees to cut prices/give coupons, have specials, due to consumer push back. I only go when on my way to church and noticed that all the prices went up. It is located next to the freeway, so they have a captive audience!

Wendy's and White Castle are right next door and sell breakfast too! Maybe time to switch!

Ivan

 

[StrawHat]

…

What I have noticed is that food is a lot more expensive in GA than RI. I will not pay 8 dollars a pound for hamburger or baloney.

Might be time to come out of retirement and start smuggling baloney again!

Kevin

 

[ladder13]

I volunteer at a food bank. The lines keep getting longer.

 

[URIT]

Beef prices at $8 per pound can move higher because the La-Nina driven drought since 2020 has deteriorated pasture lands driving up beef and dairy prices. Inflation has been rising at the same time making business loans troublesome, and cattle stock inventory has fallen because farmers can't buy grain and supplies at business sensible prices.

It appears that the only people making money on beef are the packers who can buy cattle at low prices and sell to groceries at a profit.

Bird-flu has driven egg prices higher. Chocolate prices are up because of weather conditions. Coffee production is down too. Sugary sweets aren't going to be coming down in price this year if industry pundits are correct.

I don't believe for a second that Washington politicians or hand-wringing media sources can impact these issues this year.

As a consumer, I've made some home menu changes for my wife and me to keep our food budget in line as grocery prices rise. I may have to look for more Asian recipes this year.

 

[Bekeart]

I volunteer at a food bank. The lines keep getting longer.

Same at our Soup Kitchen.

I am donating more to the food pantry.

We serve the needy, and some selfish greedy. - Judge Not ...

Bekeart

 

[StrawHat]

We are getting more requests for pet food. Folks will eat less to keep their pets fed. We try to help.

Kevin

 

[03hemi]

Imagine your company having to survive on a 1.5% profit margin after taxes?
Once transportation costs come down significantly so will groceries.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I don't buy jacked up prices on any thing !!

There are other foods that can take their place,
and if not, I have leared to use a Wok, that is high in Vegies and low on meats.

$6.99 spare ribs or $2.99 pork cops? Let me see now, this is a tuffy.

 

[Narragansett]

About 4-6 weeks ago, I saw that McDonald's home office told franchisees to cut prices/give coupons, have specials, due to consumer push back. I only go when on my way to church and noticed that all the prices went up. It is located next to the freeway, so they have a captive audience!

Wendy's and White Castle are right next door and sell breakfast too! Maybe time to switch!

Ivan

Another way to look at it is maybe it is time to give it up?

 

[Narragansett]

There is tremendous power within the grasp of the American consumer. The problem is, that there is no form of organization, so everyone that wants change or lower prices has to be conscious as a consumer and make choices that benefit you and your neighbor that is in the same boat as you. That is where the power will come from.

Socrates said , that a person who fights for the rights of others must do so as a private citizen. I embrace that concept and apply it every time I go to the store, or at least I try to.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Our saving grace is that both Boys are out of College and out of the house with good jobs........ cut our food costs by 60-70%

 

[LVSteve]

I don't buy jacked up prices on any thing !!

There are other foods that can take their place,
and if not, I have leared to use a Wok, that is high in Vegies and low on meats.

$6.99 spare ribs or $2.99 pork cops? Let me see now, this is a tuffy.

You have just reminded me of another joke the grocery stores have been trying to pull, $11/12-pack of soda. Not doing that, and neither was anyone else judging buy the packed shelves week after week. So then they do the "Buy 2, get 2 free" game. That's still $5.50/12-pack, which is too much. I stocked up late last year/early this at $3.50 and $4/12-pack.

 

[LVSteve]

Our saving grace is that both Boys are out of College and out of the house with good jobs........ cut our food costs by 60-70%

A coworker had a similar story. His lads were into soccer and cycling, so you couldn't shovel food into them fast enough. Mind you, he found the savings only really started after retraining his wife to cook less food at mealtimes.

 

[zeke]

While there are things i appreciate in our large local supermarket, they are definitely tourpest oriented and will charge as much as well off tourpests are willing to pay for convivence. Will buy some meats from them and frequent their deli for breakfast/lunch.

50 mile roundtrip to Walmart / Aldi's. and Walmart has been using pricing /brand switching for some time now. Corned beef and root veggis were cheaper this year, but gas has stayed up since election.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I know of a couple of stores where there are always a few people hanging around in the parking lots and ready to accompany you into the store, put $100 in whatever you want on their EBT cards in exchange for $50 cash.

Most of us have seen people checking out loaded grocery carts using EBT cards, then loading up their high-dollar new cars with their purchases. Lots of pre-packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, soda pop, and pricey meats.

I know of several people receiving commodities, then selling the cheese, flour, rice, beans, etc at low prices for cash.

I've seen lines of new and late model cars picking up free groceries at a local church parking lot while diddling on their smart phones. One volunteer quit after recipients became abusive to the staff over what was being handed out for free.

A local chain supermarket shut down a few years ago, leaving a large residential area without any grocery stores. The problems were reported to include shoplifting, robberies, assaults, shootings, knife fights, drug dealing, gangbangers congregating in the parking lot, making the premises unsafe for staff and customers. Now delegations of residents are demanding that the city government get another store there.

Local police no longer respond to shoplifting calls. Store management has warned employees not to try stopping thieves or be terminated.

 

[LVSteve]

While there are things i appreciate in our large local supermarket, they are definitely tourpest oriented and will charge as much as well off tourpests are willing to pay for convivence. Will buy some meats from them and frequent their deli for breakfast/lunch.

50 mile roundtrip to Walmart / Aldi's. and Walmart has been using pricing /brand switching for some time now. Corned beef and root veggis were cheaper this year, but gas has stayed up since election.

Do you save going to Walmart and Aldi's after taking into account the cost of the gas used making the trip.

 

[Ματθιας]

I love eggs. Walmart has them for ~$9.20 for 18 my last trip about a week ago. I don't like paying that high of a price, the alternative is Costco. I get in and out at Walmart. Costco is a trip across town and waiting in line - at least an hour round trip.

1st world problems.

 

[Chuck24]

Good thing I love PB&J!