Has anyone notice the inflation? (calculate, buy, sell, companies)

[evilnewbie]

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?

[Dub D]

Yea, I noticed it with toothpaste the other day. Had to buy some from a store I don't usually do any purchases. I kept thinking they were 8 oz but most were 6.4 or 6 oz.

That explains why I thought they were 8 oz.

[John23]

They're sneaky. Buy a bag of m&m's (easter or regular) and look how many m&m's you get, vs the size of the bag. It's crazy. It's like 40% of the bag.

A bunch of crafty marketers. Filling the bag with air and designing it in such a way that you think you're getting more than you are. If you hold a bag of m&m's flat in your hand at the market, it seems like a lot. I think they suck the air out, until you open it. To make it look flatter than it is.

But then open the bag and let the m&m's fall to one side. And look at the air on top of it. Sneaky people.

[Teak]

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.

[HappyTexan]

"New and Improved" packaging now grabs my eye and I look at the weight.

That 1lb coffee can is now only 13oz.

[texdav]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

"New and Improved" packaging now grabs my eye and I look at the weight.

That 1lb coffee can is now only 13oz.

That happened years ago to coffee.

[DSOs]

This is a tricky one for me; I don’t think the ‘shrinking’ of a product should be considered/calculated as inflation. IMO it’s supply & demand that’s the underlying reason (increase in population). I realize this logic is a stretch, especially when the ‘shrinking’ seems to occur just before/during inflationary times.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by DSOs

This is a tricky one for me; I don’t think the ‘shrinking’ of a product should be considered/calculated as inflation. IMO it’s supply & demand that’s the underlying reason (increase in population). I realize this logic is a stretch, especially when the ‘shrinking’ seems to occur just before/during inflationary times.

Has nothing to do with supply and demand and everything to do with reducing the quantity/volume of a product and keeping the same price. That's inflation pure and simple.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

Has nothing to do with supply and demand and everything to do with reducing the quantity/volume of a product and keeping the same price. That's inflation pure and simple.

You are right. I've worked in the industry and price point is definitely a tool they use. They know you will notice you are getting less product but they know you wouldn't pay more for the same amount you got a few years ago.

[Moonwalkr]

Bah, inflation should be about getting bigger, not shrinkage!