USDA Predicts Surging Food Prices in Coming Year

The Blaze ^ | October 30, 2011 | Christopher Santarelli

[JDW11235]

I noticed the TP size change first when I was at a friend’s and the TP had a good 2 inches of clearance on the roll holder. I thought it was just their brand at first.

You’re right about the veggies, I remember just last year there were several 3/$1 sales, but the best I have seen this year was $0.50. And the fruit cocktail is even worse, it was $0.69 about 2 years ago, and now I have to find it on sale for $1.19. (I eat more canned fruit than veggies, since I have a veggie garden). I have notices that the annual sales are down. I have not bought tuna since the incident in the gulf, but I did stock up right around that time. But I have definitely noticed that the quarterly sales (here they call them “Case Lot” sales), are almost non existent.

You are absolutely right about the holiday sales. I remember until about 2008-2009 that you could buy say $100 and get a free turkey, or if you bought a turkey, you could get all of the fixings. Then they switched to vouchers (coupons), of if you bought $25, you got a $0.50 coupon towards a turkey. Now it seems like it’s for every 50 dollars you get a $0.50 coupon. Sure it’s better than a slap in the face, but it sure seems like it’s not a good deal anymore. I have noticed the rise in celery and in eggs. Interestingly, a friend of mine was reading today about how to keep your garden good into the winter by using straw around it (he had a book about old pioneering skills and such). That may be the way to go next year. Eggs are really high too, and I seldom see them on sale, like you mentioned.

“I usually buy two of the largest birds and have plenty of stock and chopped meat for the freezer.”

I like that idea. I don’t love turkey, but I love saving money. I like to buy two, use one. And thanks for getting back on the cheese. : D

[JDW11235]

Wow, that must be a common practice. I know, I know, the old bait and switch, but I have certainly notice how they are always out of the sale item, like they only had 5 to start with, lol. Luckily there is a store here that does offer rainchecks, they are a pretty good store, but lately they have been doing things like having cheese on sale, and then after the 2nd or third day (they run sales from wed. to tue.), they put up an ad retraction. That made me really mad after about the second time, because I have to drive about 10 miles to get to that store, which ads up if I have to go to another store because the sale isn’t as good as they advertised.

I too have noticed the decline in produce quality, not so much with things that can be grown locally, but with things like avocados, citrus, cilantro, etc (I live up north). I try and buy the best of the produce, but sometimes it’s all shabby, it seems.

[RedMDer]

[exDemMom]

I just moved, and I haven’t found my bread machine yet (I still have a lot of unpacking to do).

It’s not just Walmart. There is a grocery store a lot closer, and its prices are rather high, as well. I’m going to have to make more of an effort to shop at the military stores now. I haven’t worried about food prices so much in years.

[Mrs. B.S. Roberts]

rice and lentils ping

[sfimom]

BTT

[Grampa Dave]

We just got our monthly 2 hour delivery from Costco.

24 items ordered and every item was in stock. About half had price increases since our order a month ago.

During a good part of last year, they would have been out of stock on 20-30% of items.

So in spite of the stories of nothing being on the shelf, that isn’t happening out here in California.

Once a week, I shop at a smaller size chain store. They were short only on two types of sliced sandwich cheese. I got discounts on 8 items out of 24 totaling 35$’s in savings.

We are big on fresh produce for our meals and snacks. Most of that was at least 20% higher than the week before due supposedly freezes in Mexico to Texas.

The increases in diesel and gas prices are impacting basically everything. Here in Californicator land, only conservatives discuss/bring up that reality.

I heard 2 food delivery guys complain how the gas pumps at their local stations are limiting them to limits of how many gallons we can purchase. Here it seems to be a maximum of 12-16 gallons at the gas station.

My wife has reminded me of how our Mothers bought non perishable items with a good price and stored the items.

Or if the prices are supposed to go up, and you use them. Buy some and store them. Paper products are an example. Costco had 20-25% on Paper towels and TP. They don’t spoil.
So we bought extras today.

We have gone from Chicken breasts to chicken thighs. They cost less than breasts, use less energy to cook and taste great.