I filled my tank up the other day, and it cost more than $55, about $10 more than normal. Yet, I wasn’t too shocked because gas prices have been creeping up for years.
But, I must say, I had to do a double-take when I realized that the fresh-squeezed juice
I typically buy each week cost almost $5 for a half-gallon. (It was $4.89 to be exact.) Other basics are on the rise: milk, eggs, bread.
On Friday, the Department of Labor said soaring grocery prices stabilized in February — but are up 4 percent compared to a year ago in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Food “away” from home, typically prices at restaurants, are also up 2.5 percent for the year, the government said.
That trend is playing out at such places like Irvine-based In-N-Out Burger, Starbucks and Mimi’s Cafe. In February, Tustin-based Mimi’s Cafe said average menu prices for the month increased 2.1 percent. At In-N-Out, cheeseburgers went up 5 cents and Double Doubles 10 cents — adjustments made in November to accommodate a 50-cent bump in employee wages, said executive Carl Van Fleet. (Note to teens looking for a summer gig: In-N-Out now pays $10 an hour.)
Inflation is even hurting cheap pizza .
Wayne LaVigne, owner of Huntington Beach-based Whata Lotta Pizza, said rising dairy and wheat costs have forced the chain to raise the price of its standard large pizza from $5.99 to $6.99 over the last year.
While most of these increases are relatively small, every penny adds up.
I don’t think I’m in the minority when I ask: Where else can I cut back?
As a result of the sticker shock, restaurant consulting firm Technomic recently said that more than half of consumers polled in a survey said they are now looking for ways to reduce restaurant spending.
How are you coping with higher food prices? Write in and let us know.
POLL:
Can anyone say the D word? I think the recession is in full swing.
This is what happens when the stupids in Congress take our wheat and corn to subsidize ethanol! Unbelievable.
The Fed is trying to fight the recession by cutting interest rates, but the unintended consequence is that inflation is on the rise. Demand for oil and food continues to grow oversees, and prices keep rising. We are in a world of hurt…inflation and stagnation…Stagflation.
Nancy,
From you comment about 44.89 orange juice, did you just run out and make a mad dash to your nearest market, or was this part of your weekly shopping trip?
I’ll be happy to show you the evreryday low prices at Costco and Sam’s. $6.00 for a whole gallon of orange juice, and not much more for NakedJuice (now a Pepsi Cola product).
If the warehouse stores are not for you, are you scanning the weekly ads from the likes of Albertson’s, Food4Less, Pavilions/Vons, Ralphs, Stater Bros and the ethnic markets such as Northgate and Superior?
More often than not, one of chains has orange juice on sale. I know, for one item it may not pay, but in the long run being informed of the deals will save you $$$.
It was $4.89, not 44.89..but hopefully that was a typo. I actually just bought some private label fresh squeezed juice from Fresh & Easy and it was still about the same price. (I’m sorry..but I don’t have time to fight the lines at Costco for a huge jug of fresh OJ.. but thanks for the tip.) Plus, there’s not one near my house.
I think the point of the article is to show that food prices are escalating. One gallon (not half gallon) of naked OJ at Costco is 6.69. It has been going up for a long time. It was 3.59 about 2 or 3 years ago. One should really shop around for groceries. I don’t usually shop at Albertsons but went in for ice cream last week. A 1.75 container of Dryers was 5.99. I usually shop at Food 4 Less where the same product is 3.99 and on sale often for 3.00. My advice: try Food 4 Less, Henrys and Costco.
With food prices going up I am grateful that I found a prescription discount card to keep my meds’ prices down. It’s at http://www.rxdrugcard.com. The membership fee is only $4.50 a month. Drug prices are shown on that website to check before you enroll. You can save up to 80%. Generics and brand-name drugs are both covered.
food is really going up. At walmart in Chino(supercenter) basics such as lunchmeat and bread are slowly creeping up,yet they’re much cheaper than the chain stores like ralps,albertsons and vons for sure. I agree that people should check the sales ads everyweek and clip coupons.