Yes. Given how closely I watch prices, I see prices for specific foods and products rise and fall within the same week or month...as if companies, including the grocery stores, are testing what the market can bear, how high they can go until people just stop buying that product.
Those record profits are absolutely shameful while 58% of families (my birth family included) have struggled to put food on the table. I am simultaneously astounded by these numbers and 0% surprised to find the United States here, treating the human beings who live there like little gnats in the face of glorious, glorious cash.
I never eat out so I really haven't noticed food price increases in restaurants and I shop at Trader Joe's mostly and their prices on many, if not most, of their items simply have not gone up. I did go into a Subway one day several months ago thinking I'd grab a turkey or chicken half sub and I left because prices had gone up so much. Great piece, Joan, and the comments verify your concerns.
Thanks for your comment, sister Renee. Yes, the sticker shock is literally shock at this point.—unfortunately I gasp aloud at the prices. And as one commenter said below, the trend builds wealth inequality, which fuels the trend. At least a few economists and progressive elected officials are calling out the truth behind the facade.
I compliment you for noting that increases in food prices have been galloping along, in large measure, because of the unbounded and immense profits of food corporations.
I think that we should always look at the "bigger picture."
This is the bigger picture and, indeed. the overriding issue re the distributioin of wealth in this country:
In the 1970's, the ratio of the median CEO income to the median assembly line worker's income was 40 to 1.
Today, that very same ratio is 500 to 1.
Almost everything uttered, by stodgy economists of the establishment, is a diversion and distraction from this essential truth: The American economy has been hurtling back in time to the era of the Robber Baron financiers and merchants of the beginning of the 20th century.
Thanks for your comment, David. I am far from an economist, but I can recognize patterns, and as you said, it looks like we're repeating the patterns that led us to the Gilded Age and what came after... It is certainly time to change from the "stodgy' old ways of thinking — thankfully, Robert Reich and a few others are calling out this hideous wealth inequality, but who is listening?
A few years ago, some people were beginning to listen. I think when Bernie Sanders ran for President, in 2016 and 2020, people were beginning to listen.
However, since the election of Biden, too many people seem to think that since a Democrat is at the helm of power, all is well. In the past few years, there have been reports in the media to the effect that wages are rising, unemployment has gone down, and that the covid pandemic eased the plight of th working class as the Federal govt sent out cash benefits to deter a feared economic collapse. Because people suffer the delusion that things are getting better, they are becoming quiescent, malleable and less aot to agitate for economic justice.
(Of course, the apologists for the monied classes over looked the fact that wealthier people often worked from home and were insulated from Covid; poorer people could not withdraw from the public and sustained many more casualties from covid !!!)
I am quite discouraged and I really don't have any answers. But I am quite certain that people need to recognize the economic drama of our time: The increasing pauperization of the working class.
Also, the profits of the grocery stores: "Kroger's [2022] profit also topped $2.2 billion, up 35.6% from 2021, outpacing the 7.5% sales growth for the year." -from the Cincinnati Enquirer
Yes, thanks for adding this statistic, Cathleen. The grocery stores are also making a hefty profit using the cover of inflation, with all of its rationals, as cover. In the next day or so, I'll post additional statistics on NOTES to keep the conversation going...
I’ve been noticing this all year and it’s extremely distressing. I currently live in Tulsa, but I’m moving back to Idaho. And then the Wood River Valley I discovered products are easily $2 more for common items then they are even in Boise. This, of course makes me want to shop outside of the valley, but my guy, a lifelong resident, wants to support the local economy. I understand his argument and had previously supported it but at these prices, it’s hard for me to comply.
On a slightly different note, a friend who traditionally eats out quite a bit and has always been a very good tipper recently told me that over the last six months she has noticed tipping expectations have increased. Whereas 20% used to be the gold standard, and that was on the meal itself not including tax, the Square pay systems are now standardly set to 30%, 25% and 22% and often that is of the total including tax. I am absolutely dumbfounded. Especially when the meal is already at least 25% higher than it was six months ago or a year ago, which would mean the tip would already be higher based on the higher cost of the food. And now restaurants, and/or servers are expecting even higher tips? This feels more like an avalanche than a snowball effect. But how do we stop it?
Yes! As a lifelong service industry worker myself, I have always prided myself on being a good tipper, and I recently ordered a pizza (for PICKUP) and was given the tipping range in their online ordering for 30%, 25%, 20%. I was like, WTF, you expect me to tip you 1/4 of my pizza cost for me to drive to you and come get it myself?! It seemed absolutely absurd to me, and made me so mad that employers are expecting their customers to subsidize their employees wages that directly and blatantly.
The "Tip Option" with suggested percentages comes up with every possible service now...even if you do the work. You make a good point that if you come in for pickup, and they expect a tip, it is a more direct and blatant way for customers to subsidize what the business should be paying.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Jan. The tipping thing, particularly in restaurants has annoyed me for a number of years—the idea of employers getting away with paying servers so little ( I believe tipped employees do not have to receive minimum wage) and then passing the cost of wages onto the consumer. Once again consumers are subsidizing business. I've been looking at restaurant menus in anticipation of a friend coming into town, and entrees (even for pasta) are $30-$40!
Yes! Even someone with minimal cooking skills can turn out a decent pasta dish (with protein and/or lots of veggies) for maybe $3-$5-ish. OK, maybe closer to ten if you really splurge... :-)
Doritos are $6. Enough said. I urge others to make their own Cool Ranch with a 50-cent bag of ranch mix poured into a $2 bag of Santitas. Shake well.
It looks to me like there is no legitimate reason for it- like someone is just dictating random prices.
Yes. Given how closely I watch prices, I see prices for specific foods and products rise and fall within the same week or month...as if companies, including the grocery stores, are testing what the market can bear, how high they can go until people just stop buying that product.
Those record profits are absolutely shameful while 58% of families (my birth family included) have struggled to put food on the table. I am simultaneously astounded by these numbers and 0% surprised to find the United States here, treating the human beings who live there like little gnats in the face of glorious, glorious cash.
it seems that it is all about wealth distribution and who has the power...which seem to go together.
Ain't that the truth :(
I never eat out so I really haven't noticed food price increases in restaurants and I shop at Trader Joe's mostly and their prices on many, if not most, of their items simply have not gone up. I did go into a Subway one day several months ago thinking I'd grab a turkey or chicken half sub and I left because prices had gone up so much. Great piece, Joan, and the comments verify your concerns.
Thanks for your comment, sister Renee. Yes, the sticker shock is literally shock at this point.—unfortunately I gasp aloud at the prices. And as one commenter said below, the trend builds wealth inequality, which fuels the trend. At least a few economists and progressive elected officials are calling out the truth behind the facade.
I compliment you for noting that increases in food prices have been galloping along, in large measure, because of the unbounded and immense profits of food corporations.
I think that we should always look at the "bigger picture."
This is the bigger picture and, indeed. the overriding issue re the distributioin of wealth in this country:
In the 1970's, the ratio of the median CEO income to the median assembly line worker's income was 40 to 1.
Today, that very same ratio is 500 to 1.
Almost everything uttered, by stodgy economists of the establishment, is a diversion and distraction from this essential truth: The American economy has been hurtling back in time to the era of the Robber Baron financiers and merchants of the beginning of the 20th century.
Thanks for your comment, David. I am far from an economist, but I can recognize patterns, and as you said, it looks like we're repeating the patterns that led us to the Gilded Age and what came after... It is certainly time to change from the "stodgy' old ways of thinking — thankfully, Robert Reich and a few others are calling out this hideous wealth inequality, but who is listening?
You make an excellent point: Who is listening ?
A few years ago, some people were beginning to listen. I think when Bernie Sanders ran for President, in 2016 and 2020, people were beginning to listen.
However, since the election of Biden, too many people seem to think that since a Democrat is at the helm of power, all is well. In the past few years, there have been reports in the media to the effect that wages are rising, unemployment has gone down, and that the covid pandemic eased the plight of th working class as the Federal govt sent out cash benefits to deter a feared economic collapse. Because people suffer the delusion that things are getting better, they are becoming quiescent, malleable and less aot to agitate for economic justice.
(Of course, the apologists for the monied classes over looked the fact that wealthier people often worked from home and were insulated from Covid; poorer people could not withdraw from the public and sustained many more casualties from covid !!!)
I am quite discouraged and I really don't have any answers. But I am quite certain that people need to recognize the economic drama of our time: The increasing pauperization of the working class.
It is the "economic drama of our time".
Also, the profits of the grocery stores: "Kroger's [2022] profit also topped $2.2 billion, up 35.6% from 2021, outpacing the 7.5% sales growth for the year." -from the Cincinnati Enquirer
Yes, thanks for adding this statistic, Cathleen. The grocery stores are also making a hefty profit using the cover of inflation, with all of its rationals, as cover. In the next day or so, I'll post additional statistics on NOTES to keep the conversation going...
Btw, I am sharing this article with both my guy and my friend
Thanks for sharing, Jan!
I’ve been noticing this all year and it’s extremely distressing. I currently live in Tulsa, but I’m moving back to Idaho. And then the Wood River Valley I discovered products are easily $2 more for common items then they are even in Boise. This, of course makes me want to shop outside of the valley, but my guy, a lifelong resident, wants to support the local economy. I understand his argument and had previously supported it but at these prices, it’s hard for me to comply.
On a slightly different note, a friend who traditionally eats out quite a bit and has always been a very good tipper recently told me that over the last six months she has noticed tipping expectations have increased. Whereas 20% used to be the gold standard, and that was on the meal itself not including tax, the Square pay systems are now standardly set to 30%, 25% and 22% and often that is of the total including tax. I am absolutely dumbfounded. Especially when the meal is already at least 25% higher than it was six months ago or a year ago, which would mean the tip would already be higher based on the higher cost of the food. And now restaurants, and/or servers are expecting even higher tips? This feels more like an avalanche than a snowball effect. But how do we stop it?
Yes! As a lifelong service industry worker myself, I have always prided myself on being a good tipper, and I recently ordered a pizza (for PICKUP) and was given the tipping range in their online ordering for 30%, 25%, 20%. I was like, WTF, you expect me to tip you 1/4 of my pizza cost for me to drive to you and come get it myself?! It seemed absolutely absurd to me, and made me so mad that employers are expecting their customers to subsidize their employees wages that directly and blatantly.
The "Tip Option" with suggested percentages comes up with every possible service now...even if you do the work. You make a good point that if you come in for pickup, and they expect a tip, it is a more direct and blatant way for customers to subsidize what the business should be paying.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Jan. The tipping thing, particularly in restaurants has annoyed me for a number of years—the idea of employers getting away with paying servers so little ( I believe tipped employees do not have to receive minimum wage) and then passing the cost of wages onto the consumer. Once again consumers are subsidizing business. I've been looking at restaurant menus in anticipation of a friend coming into town, and entrees (even for pasta) are $30-$40!
Yes, this is so annoying! Pasta dishes that were $16 last year are now $26 - that's CRAZY!!!
Yes! Even someone with minimal cooking skills can turn out a decent pasta dish (with protein and/or lots of veggies) for maybe $3-$5-ish. OK, maybe closer to ten if you really splurge... :-)