Inflation Watch: Thanksgiving Dinner Edition
- Thread starter Tsing Tao
- Start date
This may or may not be related to this thread. As I've indicated to Ricter in the past, I track my COL by category very closely. My food (and energy, of course) is up considerably over the last couple years, but we have also noticed another trend. I'm aware that there are probably many reasons for this trend.
Many items including, but not limited to food don't have as much product in them though the packaging may seem to be the same. We read the contents of our packages. I'm not going to name names, but we noticed a popular dish detergent now has about 1 and half less ounces per bottle (and no doubt the plastic container is thinner and smaller) than it was a few years back. Some flip lids on many products are breaking when we open them because the plastic is so thin now. The dish detergent I mentioned is one, a popular honey brand another. The number of threads for lids on plastic containers are so limited now that the lid practically falls off when opening. The plastic around individual cheese is so thin now that it tears apart when removing. A certain ant bait I use has a squeezable bottle, but now the container plastic is so thin that the plastic doesn't pop back out, making it a one squeeze op. Glad I kept an older container, because I have a lot of ants. CR mentions these types of observations by others in their publication.
I've only touched the tip of the berg regarding items we use. My wife and I have noticed it with almost everything, and have actually discontinued many of the brands we had been purchasing for decades. We don't hesitate to let them know that, and why. (They usually try to win us back with coupons).
I'm not saying this trend in streamlining everything is inflation related, but just making an observation. It may be nothing more than companies trying to increase the corporate bottom line, even at the expense of what, in many cases, used to be good products and packaging.
I don't believe that most people actually check what they are paying for, but we do. A half ounce of chips in a bag adds up to big bucks when selling millions. I don't recall any of these products becoming cheaper for me, and in most instances the (new and improved) package and product gives me less for more, and of course the reverse for the manufacturer.
Many items including, but not limited to food don't have as much product in them though the packaging may seem to be the same. We read the contents of our packages. I'm not going to name names, but we noticed a popular dish detergent now has about 1 and half less ounces per bottle (and no doubt the plastic container is thinner and smaller) than it was a few years back. Some flip lids on many products are breaking when we open them because the plastic is so thin now. The dish detergent I mentioned is one, a popular honey brand another. The number of threads for lids on plastic containers are so limited now that the lid practically falls off when opening. The plastic around individual cheese is so thin now that it tears apart when removing. A certain ant bait I use has a squeezable bottle, but now the container plastic is so thin that the plastic doesn't pop back out, making it a one squeeze op. Glad I kept an older container, because I have a lot of ants. CR mentions these types of observations by others in their publication.
I've only touched the tip of the berg regarding items we use. My wife and I have noticed it with almost everything, and have actually discontinued many of the brands we had been purchasing for decades. We don't hesitate to let them know that, and why. (They usually try to win us back with coupons).
I'm not saying this trend in streamlining everything is inflation related, but just making an observation. It may be nothing more than companies trying to increase the corporate bottom line, even at the expense of what, in many cases, used to be good products and packaging.
I don't believe that most people actually check what they are paying for, but we do. A half ounce of chips in a bag adds up to big bucks when selling millions. I don't recall any of these products becoming cheaper for me, and in most instances the (new and improved) package and product gives me less for more, and of course the reverse for the manufacturer.
Cost of Thanksgiving decreases in 2013
http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/cost-thanksgiving-decreases-2013
It is a week most people spend preparing. Travel plans are being made, shopping lists are being written and homes are neatly tidied for out-of-town friends and family arriving on Thanksgiving day.
This year, at least, turkey day shoppers can take solace in knowing this Thanksgiving meal will cost a little less than last year.
...
Prices of turkeys have fallen, too. Increased turkey production and more frozen turkey storage has lead to a decline in the price for a bird. For a turkey averaging 16 pounds, costs are down from $22.23 to $21.76. All the fixings and sides usually found at dinner went down several cents as well. Milk and dairy prices have gone up several cents in addition to sweet potatoes and prepared relish trays due to demand, however.
I will note that my mother-in-law and wife were complaining that turkeys went up in the price this year (in their opinion) because not many stores were providing the big discounts they did last year. Many of the other items were slightly cheaper (in their opinion).
In other news, I am tired of eating left-over turkey!
http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/cost-thanksgiving-decreases-2013
It is a week most people spend preparing. Travel plans are being made, shopping lists are being written and homes are neatly tidied for out-of-town friends and family arriving on Thanksgiving day.
This year, at least, turkey day shoppers can take solace in knowing this Thanksgiving meal will cost a little less than last year.
...
Prices of turkeys have fallen, too. Increased turkey production and more frozen turkey storage has lead to a decline in the price for a bird. For a turkey averaging 16 pounds, costs are down from $22.23 to $21.76. All the fixings and sides usually found at dinner went down several cents as well. Milk and dairy prices have gone up several cents in addition to sweet potatoes and prepared relish trays due to demand, however.
I will note that my mother-in-law and wife were complaining that turkeys went up in the price this year (in their opinion) because not many stores were providing the big discounts they did last year. Many of the other items were slightly cheaper (in their opinion).
In other news, I am tired of eating left-over turkey!
Sorry, I don't really celebrate Christmas normally and certainly didn't celebrate last year. Again can only give you the calculated average, which should be reasonably accurate, given it was nothing special.