Groceries coming down (how much, unemployment, purchase)

[Stephan_K]

Anyone else notice how much some groceries have come down lately ? It caught my eye today, a box of cereal was $2.83, a month ago same box $4.15 ! Then I started paying attention and noticed many things got cheaper... Anybody else been paying attention ?

[rangerider]

Yup, pretty much everything has seen a bit of a drop, right along with the cost of diesel fuel. Fuel surcharges have been a significant factor in price increases this year.

I think a fair amount of the population is unaware of the massive supply chain involved in getting our consumer products positioned to where we can purchase them. Just sit along the interstate sometime and count how many trucks go by in an hour. I was aware of several independent operators who just parked their rigs until the diesel costs came down. They had been in business long enough to where they had that option, though.

BTW, good catch on the price thing. I was in the grocery store last weekend and overheard several people yip about how expensive things were. I too had noticed the drop over the past two months and the fact that all of a sudden some decent produce showed up in town.

[Timberwolf232]

It's been kind of a relief! Things are not quite where they should be, but it's been great to pay less than $2.00 for gas at the pump.

I noticed the other day that the tomatoes at the store were the best I'd seen in a year or so, and my wallet didn't hurt as much after a trip to the store.

I think the hard part for a lot of people is going to be finding work to get them through. I heard somewhere that they expect unemployment in the next 2 years to reach 15%. (Not sure how valid that is, but that's what I heard.)

[grannymontanny]

Nice to know people will get some relief at least at the grocery store with Thanksgiving coming.And also to help the food banks if ya can

[Stephan_K]

Over the last six months as things were accelerating through the roof everywhere (except everyones wages), I was trying to figure out how and the hell many people were going to survive. Something had to give somewhere. Can't say I like how things have equalized to this point but it is what it is.

It's great that we have relief for the holidays of sort but how long does everyone think before we see our groceries and gas back to month ago levels if ever? I'm thinking between the 2nd and 3rd qt of next year everything will have creped its way back up... except wages of course !

[jimj]

I highly suggest you look at the contents of the "cheaper" stuff. On some/most you'll find they've shrunk the size of the containers. Take Ice Cream for one, not a half gallon anymore

[rangerider]

Originally Posted by jimj

I highly suggest you look at the contents of the "cheaper" stuff. On some/most you'll find they've shrunk the size of the containers. Take Ice Cream for one, not a half gallon anymore

Go for the big one - five quart Wilcoxson's. The good stuff doesn't lose it's goody for a long time if kept right. And you get the bucket to make use of after it's done.

And I sure agree with grannymontanny - throw a little or a lot to the food banks this year. There are going to be a lot of folks doing without. As skinny as things are going to get on the homefront, I still plan to try and spread what I can so people can stay fed and kids can have at least some kind of Christmas.

And jimj, I happen to have, for whatever long forgotten reason, a Snicker's bar wrapper from the late 70s when I was in high school/college. The weight on it is almost what the king size one is now. Don't know how much it would cost in today's dollars, but I bet it was probably a quarter then.

[Stephan_K]

Originally Posted by rangerider

And jimj, I happen to have, for whatever long forgotten reason, a Snicker's bar wrapper from the late 70s when I was in high school/college. The weight on it is almost what the king size one is now. Don't know how much it would cost in today's dollars, but I bet it was probably a quarter then.

Are you going to eat that thing ????? Nothing like 30+ year old peanuts and chocolate.

[Mt-7]

I have noticed that over the years the price of cereal climbed and fell in accordance with the price of milk. Sure am glad I do not have any little ones with the price of everything. The only thing I do not see coming down is paper products. Of course I am 200 miles away from the nearest big box store so my spectrum is a little narrow.

[rangerider]

Originally Posted by rangerider

...And jimj, I happen to have, for whatever long forgotten reason, a Snicker's bar wrapper from the late 70s when I was in high school/college. The weight on it is almost what the king size one is now. Don't know how much it would cost in today's dollars, but I bet it was probably a quarter then.

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

Are you going to eat that thing ????? Nothing like 30+ year old peanuts and chocolate.

Just the wrapper, but an original. An actual bar might be a little...uh...tough.