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Prices for key foods are rising sharply
McClatchy Online ^ | 14 August 2007 | Kevin G. Hall

Posted on 08/15/2007 7:08:15 PM PDT by shrinkermd

MIDLAND, Va. — The Labor Department's most recent inflation data showed that U.S. food prices rose by 4.2 percent for the 12 months ending in July, but a deeper look at the numbers reveals that the price of milk, eggs and other essentials in the American diet are actually rising by double digits.

Already stung by a two-year rise in gasoline prices, American consumers now face sharply higher prices for foods they can't do without. This little-known fact may go a long way to explaining why, despite healthy job statistics, Americans remain glum about the economy.

Meeting with economic writers last week, President Bush dismissed several polls that show Americans are down on the economy. He expressed surprise that inflation is one of the stated concerns.

"They cite inflation?" Bush asked, adding that, "I happen to believe the war has clouded a lot of people's sense of optimism."

But the inflation numbers reveal the extent to which lower- and middle-income Americans are being pinched.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its July inflation report that egg prices are 33.7 percent higher than they were in July 2006. Over the same period, according to the department's consumer price index, whole milk was up 21.1 percent; fresh chicken 8.4 percent; navel oranges 13.6 percent; apples 8.7 percent. Dried beans were up 11.5 percent, and white bread just missed double-digit growth, rising by 8.8 percent.

(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: energy; ethanol; food; foodsupply; gasprices; inflation
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To: ken21
which would i get better prices at?

Capitalization-R-Us has a sale going on.

Grammar Mart has coupons at triple value.

61 posted on 08/15/2007 7:42:05 PM PDT by humblegunner (Word up!)
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To: TheSpottedOwl

I don’t know where you shop but here in Wisconsin most foods are still fairly cheap, I can still get a pint of strawberries for $3.00 and get bulk potatoes for $1-2 FOR A 5lb bag. OJ still is around $4.00 per gallon for the good stuff.


62 posted on 08/15/2007 7:42:09 PM PDT by LukeL
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To: shrinkermd

What do you suppose food will cost in 50 years, after we add another 100 or so million people through immigration?


63 posted on 08/15/2007 7:42:13 PM PDT by brianr10
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To: finnman69
Well, they just pumped (printed) a whole lot of money into the markets, so who knows. IMO, the Feds leave the rate unchanged because they have lost control, not that they ever had it to begin with, and don't know what to do.
64 posted on 08/15/2007 7:43:16 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * U.Va. Engineering '09 * Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Democrat * Fred in 2008)
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To: shrinkermd
Half the nation's families earn below the median family income.

The liberals will have to improve this statistic. Expect an emergency session to fix this situation.

65 posted on 08/15/2007 7:43:45 PM PDT by NautiNurse (Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.)
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To: shrinkermd
"They cite inflation?" Bush asked, adding that, "I happen to believe the war has clouded a lot of people's sense of optimism."

Well gee, Mr. President. I'd like to be euphorically optimistic about your fattening wallet, but mine keeps getting skinnier.

66 posted on 08/15/2007 7:44:18 PM PDT by BykrBayb (In memory of my Friend T'wit. ~ Þ)
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To: shrinkermd

Prices seem to be relative to the cost of fuel (Shipping) in some cases and as far as the citrus prices, that would be due to the freeze of last year. We are still trying to recover here in Citrus growing S. Calif.


67 posted on 08/15/2007 7:44:50 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...call 'em what you will...They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: shrinkermd
President Bush dismissed several polls that show Americans are down on the economy. He expressed surprise that inflation is one of the stated concerns.

Geez, is Bush out of touch with the reality of the working man. Food, gasoline, tobacco and home heating fuel have doubled in price in the past few years while blue collar jobs have taken a big hit in terms of both employment rates and wages. Fines, court costs and government fees have escalated dramatically. E.g., 8 years ago a septic tank installation permit was $50. Now its $500.00.

It seems the only people buoyed by the economy are stock brokers and government bureaucrats.

68 posted on 08/15/2007 7:45:43 PM PDT by Rudder
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To: NautiNurse
The liberals will have to improve this statistic. Expect an emergency session to fix this situation.

The liberals are the problem.

Any other "solution" is like using a Band-Aid on a punctured artery spewing blood into the air.

69 posted on 08/15/2007 7:46:21 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * U.Va. Engineering '09 * Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Democrat * Fred in 2008)
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To: microgood

And it is just going to get worse whith the minimum wage increase.


70 posted on 08/15/2007 7:48:04 PM PDT by tiki
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To: rabscuttle385; leda; patton
Yes, living in Northern Virginia tends to alter my entire perspective on things just a wee bit. ;)

I was in Northern Virginia this past weekend and about croaked at some of the prices. I rail about prices of some things here on the Eastern Shore, but now I understand so much better why NoVA Freeper friends who were here 2 weeks ago had no problems with prices on things like fresh produce that I would not have paid.

71 posted on 08/15/2007 7:49:13 PM PDT by Gabz (Don't tell my mom I'm a lobbyist, she thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse)
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To: ken21

I agree that the ethanol thing is idiotic but the corn only displaced soybeans and cotton for the most part.


72 posted on 08/15/2007 7:50:17 PM PDT by tiki
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To: shrinkermd
I seem to remember that Bernanke downplayed the importance of food and gasoline in calculating inflation. If I understood and remember correctly, then he's an ass completely out of touch with reality.

Not good.

73 posted on 08/15/2007 7:52:50 PM PDT by liberallarry
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To: rabscuttle385

>Well, they just pumped (printed) a whole lot of money into the markets, so who knows.<

The Canadian exchange rate, at this point, is almost even with the dollar. I’m wondering just how much the dollar has been devalued with this new influx of freshly printed greenbacks.


74 posted on 08/15/2007 7:54:26 PM PDT by Darnright
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To: ken21
Your retired-union neighbors believe in the equality of misery.

I tend to wonder about the pension that their union "provided"

75 posted on 08/15/2007 7:55:23 PM PDT by oyez (Justa' another high minded lowlife.)
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To: raybbr

You have to remember the frost on the orange crop last winter has a lot to do with the price of orange juice.


76 posted on 08/15/2007 7:56:59 PM PDT by tiki
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To: LukeL
I can still get a pint of strawberries for $3.00

That is NOT cheap. $3 a quart is reasonable, $3 a pint is outrageous. when they're in season spend an hour or 2 with a friend or family member and pick your own. I put 30 quarts of them in my freezer for a total of 2 hours work, an hour with my daughter and an hour with my husband, and a cost of $30.......a buck a quart.

77 posted on 08/15/2007 8:00:04 PM PDT by Gabz (Don't tell my mom I'm a lobbyist, she thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse)
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To: gidget7
It is definitely the price of fuel and as I said wait till the minimum wage kicks in. The only thing which will keep processed food from going up too high is competition on foreign markets.

IOW, tainted food from China, a lot of people don't care if it is possibly tainted or canned in a substandard plant as long as it is cheap.

78 posted on 08/15/2007 8:01:16 PM PDT by tiki
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To: shrinkermd
Prices for key foods are rising sharply

Hmmmm, it seems they don't have a lock on the prices...

For me, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Squash, Beans, Potatoes, cucumbers, Eggplant 4 herbs are free for six months or more of each year. Gardens Rock!

79 posted on 08/15/2007 8:02:38 PM PDT by Syncro
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To: raybbr
Oranges and orange juice are out of season. You are surely seeing the result of last winter's freezes, now.

Instead of going to the store with a list, take the ads and buy what is on sale. You will save money and get more variety in your diet. Either that or get a chicken coop. I will say I bought a chicken at Walmart last week for $4.00. They have been $5 for a long time. This one had such big breasts, it could have been taken for Dolly Parton. I split them into four pieces.

80 posted on 08/15/2007 8:03:11 PM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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