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Good observations. Food companies realize that people have price points in mind, not size. Thus, they downsize to keep the price within the range people expect. Or they move the price up slowly while moving the size down.
Here in Asia, I notice that Kraft is producing very small chocolate bars that are affordable in this lower-income environment. It gets their product into people's hands (and mouths) and builds their brand. If they tried to sell USA-sized bars, no one would buy. On the other hand, Starbucks is a big FLOP here because they sell the same size coffee for a huge price differential over what people normally pay for pulled tea or the local coffee. Thus, Starbucks is always empty when I walk by.
I was shocked that Starbucks is ~$4.xx for a grande latte in Taiwan, considering the local wages are roughly half of US wages. Basically makes that latte the equivalent of $10 US. Holy cow!
The fact that prices never came crashing down on anything, save for housing in a few select markets (but not on a national level) already indicates inflation given that we've just experienced the greatest economic contraction in many decades.
The CPI, like the unemployment number, is largely meaningless.
They just aren't doing it with prices... they are trying to be slick about it... Things are about half the size for the same price... anyone else notice this?
In the past two months I have compared numerous items. Size has shrunk and price the same, which is effectively inflation. I guess the companies think we are all stupid.
Cheez-its
coffee
cereal
potato chips
peanut butter
many others
and almost everything else that comes pre packaged.
I have noticed that the "shrinkage" is not as accute where I shop at the value/discount chains that sell only generics. Also, the shrinking sizes, just makes me want to stay away from the pre-prepared stuff as that is the thing that is most likely to "shrink". Cookies, chips, etc.
Thing that torks me off is the darn soap though, the bars are now concave at the bottom instead of flat like they should be, and we go through a lot more bars. Is nothing sacred???!!!
I have noticed that the "shrinkage" is not as accute where I shop at the value/discount chains that sell only generics. Also, the shrinking sizes, just makes me want to stay away from the pre-prepared stuff as that is the thing that is most likely to "shrink". Cookies, chips, etc.
Thing that torks me off is the darn soap though, the bars are now concave at the bottom instead of flat like they should be, and we go through a lot more bars. Is nothing sacred???!!!
When they start skimping on the toilet paper rolls there will be an uprising !
I used to bring these cheap frozen burritos to work for lunches. Then about a year ago I noticed that they were suddenly smaller - they had decreased by about 80 calories and cooking time went from about 1 min/side to 45 seconds. (And they changed the flavor, too. I would have kept buying them except for that).
I haven't noticed much else like that in what I normally buy. Which probably means I'm one of those suckers the food companies are betting on won't notice the switch in sizes ...
They just aren't doing it with prices... they are trying to be slick about it... Things are about half the size for the same price... anyone else notice this?
Yeah, Breyers ice cream - tiny containers. Toilet paper - less sheets on a roll. Deodorant - the clear gel kind you roll from the bottom, roll platform doesn't start at the bottom plus the "container" is smaller.
With 0% interest rates, 10%+ unemployment, stagnate wages, falling RE prices etc., Its tough to see inflation gaining any foothold in this environment
personally I would like some inflation, might get my CD rates up a little bit.
CD? Unless you have 10k into a CD, you aren't making much if you are getting ripped off on every product purchase.
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