Everyone's talking about the rising costs of food. But for most Americans, the reality isn't so dire.
Comment: Bill Higgins, co-owner of Real Restaurants, says he's cutting costs by "reducing worker's hours adn keeping the lights off until a few minutes before opening." I suggest that restaurant owners reduce the size of the portions to customers. Most meals arrive at the diner's table with more than a reasonable amount of food for one meal.
Comment: Well, I must say the author either lives in land of create my own reality or is a cheerleader for the,??? don't admit we are in a recession??? team. Last year a case of 5 dozen eggs was selling for between 3.88 to 4.25 depending on the store where purchased. I saw the price go to 9.52. Down to 8.25 this week because no one is buying them! I will not pay this price either. I found a local seller FRESH eggs I am paying 1.00 a dozen. About the sizes and weight, needtoknow is on track. Supermarkets and distributors are hoping that consumers are not paying close enough attention to smaller containers less product and higher prices. The largest percentage of what you pay for a product is the corporations cost for advertisement. My solution???.if I don???t absolutely need it don???t buy it or I find an affordable alternative. In order to enlist the changes wanted the profit margin of the supermarkets, distributors and corporations have to be adversely affected. I have no problem telling the local grocer that I will not pay a price for a product, and I prefer to do it when there is a sizable audience. I???m not rude, I use my manners. In one situation while living in a rural town in Nevada, the grocer was rude and belittling when I inquired as to the reason that a head of lettuce was priced at 3.89 at that time I did replace the produce and announced so as other patrons in the produce area could hear ???that it would sit in the bin a rot before I paid that price???. I must of made an impression because no one bought lettuce and he was forced to amend his prices. We need more affirmative action and less placid acceptance.
Comment: I'm just wondering if the author(s) took into account the fact that as prices for groceries are rising, sizes are much smaller. Boxes of cereal and bags of chips have shrunk to 1/2 to 2/3 of their previous size. Even things like jars of mayonnaise have dropped about 2 ounces and look at the size of candy bars! They're minute compared to their previous size. I'm sure that prices have increased more if you look at that factor as well.
Comment: Newsweek says that the state of our economy is not so bad in their article Crying Over Spilt Milk . Because "the typical American spends more on personal-care products than on dairy and bakery products combined, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics", we must not have a problem. The article's conclusion is that businesses are absorbing a lot of the increased cost. Why would business owners do this? Because of the love for their customers? "Given recent price increases, it should be $32.50, but I'm not taking my usual markup," a cheese producer says. "I can't do that to my customers." The truth is that if these price spikes were passed along as quickly as they are being received by our producers, we would stop buying their products, we would stop eating out and be more thrifty. By absorbing the costs, they are cutting back on employee hours and eventually employees. If the costs are continuing to be absorbed, these businesses will not be in business anymore. When it costs more to make something than what you are actually selling it for, you do not make a profit. If you do not make a profit, you do not stay in business. So what this article is actually saying is that if no solution is reached soon to lower food costs on the commodity exchanges, then it will hit us soon enough and the prices we are already seeing rise are not the extend of it. We can expect our food to continue to get more expensive in the next few months if not over the next few years. The article also makes mention that many other things go into the price of our food not just the commodities themselves. By the rising gas prices, these auxillary costs will increase as well. Our truckers and our airlines also need to make a profit and this is how most of our food and goods get to us. We should also be asking ourselves why our news magazines are trying so hard to downplay the state of our economy. Is this really free press? So, shop the local markets and read between the lines.
Comment: I have not read Newsweek in a long time but thought I should see what was going on in the rest of the world with the economy and to get a broader view of what is going on here in US. The picture they are painting is not reality. For an accurate picture of reality I will continue to consult my husbands paycheck and the prices I pay for bread and milk and gas. They are not matching up. Is this supposed to be free press? Is there still such a thing?
Comment: This is hogwash, FTW?!?!. We are being protected from 32$ cheese? Not I. Because I don't shop there. I knew the shAt would be hitting the fan when last year the $1 rubber gloves I buy to wash the dishes were now priced 1.25 ...at the dollar store! We are totally screwed no matter what these freakin delerious Newsweek writers think.the percentages that food, gas and many other things are rising aren't in pace with any cost of living raises anyone I know is getting. It doesn't take a genius to know that if farmers can get more for corn by selling it for fuel , my cornflakes , cornchips, and feed for the meat yeilding animals will drive up all those items. We are in a sinking ship! Trust me, my grocer isn't sheilding me from higher prices!
Comment: oops correction:
"gross believes food costs are NOT high"
jeez, i'm so hurting, that I can't even afford the word "not" in below email.
Comment: What are Newsweek columnists smoking?
Atler is telling me every time I put gas in my car I'm aiding terrorist.
Naughton writes that gas should be $6 a gallon.
Gross believes food costs are high.
What is going on at Newsweek? Are they so in the East Coast elite cocoon that don't realize the pain on Main Street?
Well whatever they are smoking, I'm sure they'll soon realize the costs of gas and food when they have to finally go buy some groceries to satisfy those munchies!!
And Oakie 3, I hear you. The 99cent store is my favorite!!
Comment: Does Daniel Gross buy groceries? Does he make less that $25,000 a year, probably not. I can assure you it will limit your selection process. Are you people aware that there are some people who consider a bar of soap their only personal care product? We also don't buy bread, milk, steak, cereal or anything else that cost over a dollar.
Comment: I'm more concerned about people who have the most serious problems in the current economy, such as those who have lost their jobs or are losing their houses. (If I have to pay a little extra for things, I do not view that as a crisis.)
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