Anyone Noticing Falling Grocery Prices?

[Txsteader]

Went to the store last week and it didn't dawn on me until about aisle 3 but there were price reduction tags everywhere! Canned goods to frozen goods, snacks, even health and beauty stuff. So then I'm beginning to wonder if my store (HEB) is planning to close that location . But some of the deals were really incredible; prices down 15-25 cents per item...in some cases even as much as $0.50/item.

So I start doubling up. Instead of buying one, I start putting two of each item in my basket. Up and down each aisle, more price reductions. Then I start thinking, 'what does this mean?'. Is the economy about to collapse?

I just found this in the news:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...=moreheadlines

Supermarket prices are plunging as the global downturn drives down the cost of staples such as wheat, corn and milk and grocers fight for the wallets of penny-pinching consumers.

"The declines have been so broad that even the core-needs kinds of spending have taken hits," said Adam York, an economic analyst with Wachovia. "Consumer budgets are pretty tight right now. You're going to do anything that you can as a retailer to keep consumers in your store."

I know this is a two-edged sword, but from the consumer POV (and on fixed income), it's a blessing. Now might be a good time to do some stocking-up.

[Pelenaka]

Other than milk which is $1.74 a gallon @ Aldis not much has changed here in Western New York.
What I have noticed is that big ticket items like furniture and major appliances are much cheaper than last year. Also to some degree new cars. Ofcourse you can't give away used gas guzzlers like SUVs.

[ladycat]

Yes, I've noticed, I've posted about it a few times

I was reading about it in the trade journals months ago before I started seeing it for myself in the stores.

Lately I've gotten some unbelievable deals. But I'm not counting on it keeping up, I don't see how it can continue for very long. So I'm taking advantage while I can.

[mnn2501]

no price lowering here

[clovis]

I am happy you are seeing price reductions, but I haven't noticed them. Walmart has had some temporary price drops lasting about a week, but nothing more than that.

Of course, I am still stunned by all the high prices that went into effect when gas hit $4. I think both the retailer and manufacturer have taken advantage of us with these high prices.

[Txsteader]

Originally Posted by ladycat

Yes, I've noticed, I've posted about it a few times

I was reading about it in the trade journals months ago before I started seeing it for myself in the stores.

Lately I've gotten some unbelievable deals. But I'm not counting on it keeping up, I don't see how it can continue for very long. So I'm taking advantage while I can.

I don't expect them to last either. I fear that when it turns around, we're going to see some incredibly inflationary prices. That's why I'm stocking up now, while the getting's good.

It's odd that so many aren't seeing it in their areas yet. But that article was printed today, so maybe in the coming weeks everyone will start seeing prices come down. I know with so many people out of work or on limited budgets, it sure would help right now.

Now if only our electric prices would drop.

[unregistered29228]

I've noticed lots of good sales, and also some items discontinued. Gas is down 10 cents recently too. I bought Mueller's spaghetti, elbows and penne for 79 cents/16 oz. yesterday, and bought 30 boxes.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by Mom_of_Four

I've noticed lots of good sales, and also some items discontinued. Gas is down 10 cents recently too. I bought Mueller's spaghetti, elbows and penne for 79 cents/16 oz. yesterday, and bought 30 boxes.

Yeah, it seems to be more that there's fantastic sales than the regular prices dropping, although I've noticed some regular prices have dropped.

[SquashNut]

Yes i have seen prices down on flour oil and rice. Beans are up. cold cereal down. eggs, meat and milk about the same.
Cheese down, butter the same.

[mellba]

I heard on the news that food prices are dropping but when I went to Wal-mart earlier this week, I didn't see it. The Mrs. Freshleys snacks (buddy bars, donuts, brownies) that were $1.00 a couple of weeks ago are now $1.08. The really cheap tea that used to be $1.00 for 100 tea bags (8 oz.) is now $1.30-something. The margarine we use was $1.00 a pound until a few weeks ago and is now $1.12, I think. The cheap corn chips that were $1.00 a few months ago first went up to $1.25 and are now $1.50. We don't have a Kroger but when I go to the larger town I've found some good sales there, but the things that aren't on sale are very high. I wish prices would come down. We buy a lot of our food at the flea market, produce and such.

[beaglebiz]

milk and dairy are cheap here right now, even in PA where price is regulated. Pork loin (whole boneless) at Sams is 1.38 lb...thats insane.
Raisins, sugar and tomatoes are thru the roof

[txcajunla]

I was in Walmart yesterday and noticed that several items had fallen significantly, yet other items were still being marked up.

The problems we have to worry about now is the weakening dollar. The end of the fiscal year is Sept 30 for the US government and new regs worldwide are going to change the playing field significantly. When dollar deflation begins, we can expect to see inflation go through the roof. Speculators will do wild things in the markets, and the consumer will pay the price.

.....It can't last long though! If there isn't some form of serious intervention, the entire country will be fighting to plant a garden and go hunting for meat!

The next six weeks or so aren't a time when one would want to be stretched too thin!


~

[ronbre]

fox new is talking all the time about lowered dairy prices..and how it is hurting the farmers..

that is why i'm thinking of starting to make yogurt again and yogurt cheese..even though i don't have a cow or goat..i can make it from organic milk..which would be better than what i'm buying now for me..

[jen74145]

Here (I'm in Oklahoma now) the prices vary wildly. While I can get cheap salmon and fruit, sweet potatoes, winter squash, dried beans and rice are high. Canned tomatoes are inexpensive, eggs and meat are high, considering what they were last year.

Well, phooey on all of it. I'm eyeing a garden spot out back and sketching out plans for a small coop. I am crying uncle and ordering a new seed stash.

[Melissa]

Dairy products are very cheap, the dairy farmers are taking quite a hit. I know a dairy farming family and the wife told me last week they are losing money every month so far this year. I wish the farmers could make a decent living while we enjoyed moderate prices. We don't need more family farms going out of business...

[Txsteader]

Originally Posted by Melissa

Dairy products are very cheap, the dairy farmers are taking quite a hit. I know a dairy farming family and the wife told me last week they are losing money every month so far this year. I wish the farmers could make a decent living while we enjoyed moderate prices. We don't need more family farms going out of business...

So true. Dairy prices are kinda goofy here....milk prices dropping but cheese prices rising. Yogurt has remained steady, but I make my own and the lower milk prices have helped alot there.

Hannity's been doing programs about the plight of the produce farmers out in CA and the water fight going on. Again, farmers who've worked for generations are giving up....can't farm without water. It's a terrible situation for our nation's farmers, as if we're watching the end of an era. We just might have to have a March on Washington For Farmers.

[unregistered29228]

Originally Posted by ronbre

that is why i'm thinking of starting to make yogurt again and yogurt cheese..even though i don't have a cow or goat..i can make it from organic milk..which would be better than what i'm buying now for me..

I set out to make cheese this year, and ran up against a wall because you need *unpasteurized* milk. There are no dairies in the county where I live, thanks to over regulation, and pasteurized milk I can buy at the store doesn't allow the curd to form. I can used powdered milk, but it's not nearly as good.

I'm planning to get a goat this coming spring, and make my own cheese that way.

[stef]

Not here. Matter of fact I just posted on another forum the increase in grocery prices here compared to last year.

5# bags of white sugar (the Walmart store brand) are $2.74. Walmart brand 2# bags of brown sugar are $1.74. Walmart brand butter is $2.12.

So, no price reductions here.

stef

[Michele of MI]

Prices in my area are going up. Not sure why, but at the grocery store today, about half of the items on my list were up quite a bit. One item (ear drops for earache), which I buy only once a year, had doubled! Oh well, I guess next year's garden will be bigger again.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by Michele of MI

One item (ear drops for earache), which I buy only once a year, had doubled!

I get that kind of stuff free at CVS.