Inflation snapshots: December 2009

[zoog]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

I recently lifted up a can of diet soda . It felt light.
Nope, it still has 12 ounces of liquid... but why so light?
The only explanation is that they increased the CO2 content (more bubbles = less soda)...

A couple years ago, Coca Cola started reducing the weight of their aluminum cans. Perhaps Pepsi is doing the same. I suppose a thorough comparison with an older specimen should include weighing the container and the contents separately. Of course, once you open the can, you lose some of the CO2.

Coke has cut the weight of the body of the 330ml can, which is now 0.097mm wide, the equivalent of a human hair.

This is the first time that the body of a can has been lightweighted; previous projects have involved making the base of the can lighter.

http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/environment/coca-cola-reduces-can-weight-by-5/

[metalman]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

The NYT finally notices?

Food Inflation Kept Hidden in Tinier Bags

By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD and CATHERINE RAMPELL

Published: March 28, 2011

Chips are disappearing from bags, candy from boxes and vegetables from cans.

As an expected increase in the cost of raw materials looms for late summer, consumers are beginning to encounter shrinking food packages...

nyt

nytimes was 2 hrs behind itulip since in can remember it... now 3 yrs behind... the original apr 2008 article re inflation as smaller packaging, cheap ingredients, crap service, higher fees, etc... http://www.itulip.com/forums/showthr...s-of-inflation

[tmicou]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

nytimes was 2 hrs behind itulip since in can remember it... now 3 yrs behind... the original apr 2008 article re inflation as smaller packaging, cheap ingredients, crap service, higher fees, etc... http://www.itulip.com/forums/showthr...s-of-inflation

Any chance we could get an updated chart like the one on the first page of that link?

[metalman]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

Any chance we could get an updated chart like the one on the first page of that link?

how's this?

[GRG55]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

One that our Starving Steve will find hits close to home...

B.C. Ferries fares could jump 18 to 37 per cent

March 31, 2011

B.C. Ferries will be allowed to raise fares by 18 per cent on major routes and 37 per cent on minor routes over the next four years, according to a preliminary decision by the B.C. Ferry Commissioner.

Higher rates could affect the Island in everything from grocery and construction costs to tourism visits, say industry officials.

Commissioner Martin Crilly said in a statement that B.C. Ferries will be permitted to raise fares by up to 4.15 per cent a year on its Sunshine Coast route and its three major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

The ferry corporation will be permitted to raise fares by up to 8.23 per cent a year on its 21 other routes.

Combined, the increases — which would take effect between 2012 and 2016 — would drive up fares by 17.7 per cent on major routes and 37.2 per cent on minor routes...

[c1ue]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

More anecdotes:

1) Wishbone goes to a 'less plastic' packaging but is supposed to be the same contents... (one on the right is the old one)

Wishbone 1.jpg

Wishbone 2.jpg


2) diced tomatoes - store brand (Safeway) now the same size as Campbell's soup. They used to be 12 or 14.5 oz.

I noticed this one as I use these primarily to make salsa: 1/2 can corn, 1 can black beans, 1 can diced tomatoes. All 3 cans used to be the same size...

diced tomatoes.jpg

Inflation, she be here.

[jk]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

bloomberg: Nymex May Tighten WTI Rules as Refiners Question Crude Quality

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...e-quality.html

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

The local market runs 2fers before raising prices. When Bryer's was $3&change, they ran a bunch of 2fers to get it over $5. I only bought on sale, now just buying smaller premium portions every so often. They ran 2fers on the veggie products I like so I filled two freezers before they jacked the price on that. Candy prices are going crazy and I like to have some chocolate in the house to satisfy cravings but not enough to induce diabetes.

Yesterday they had a 2fer on M&M's. $9.99 for two 42 oz bags, so I'm expecting the prices to rise soon there.

However, for now...

According to http://hubpages.com/hub/MMs--Chocolate-Candy , "in 1947, a ¼ lb bag of m&m’s was sold for 15 cents", or $1.575 in 1947 $s for my 42oz bag today. According to http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc....947&year2=2011 that one bag should have cost me $15.63 today. But I got it on a 2fer, paying $9.99 for $31.26 worth of M&Ms.

Inflammatory yet anti-inflationary?

[Kadriana]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

I wonder if the quality of those m&m's are the same. I long for the reese cups that I had when I was a kid. The peanut butter center use to be a lot smoother and now it seems almost dry.

I am hearing of a lot of housewives just starting to complain about food price increases. A lot more people are planting gardens this year too.

[c1ue]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

The local market runs 2fers before raising prices.

I have anecdotally observed that before new packaging is brought in (i.e. smaller portions), sales are made to clean out the old inventory.

This makes sense since having 2 products with different sizes side by side would potentially alert even most Americans that something funny is going on.

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

I wonder if the quality of those m&m's are the same. I long for the reese cups that I had when I was a kid. The peanut butter center use to be a lot smoother and now it seems almost dry.

I am hearing of a lot of housewives just starting to complain about food price increases. A lot more people are planting gardens this year too.

When I notice product quality deteriorate, I stop buying. M&M's taste the same to me, thus far, but then, I don't eat that many. These bags will last a long time as I haven't finished the 2fer bags of chocolate kisses I bought the other month. My family & friends with more mouths to feed (I'm single) definitely notice food inflation more than I do. As I've posted elsewhere, I used to throw out food because it would go bad before I could eat it, so the current smaller packaging does not yet effect greatly how much I pay per pound of food consumed.

In relocating to a lower cost area, I bought an intown acre in part for growing food (also to plant my stir fryable bamboo collection). So far I've planted two orange trees (extending harvest from Sept-March), a grapefruit, an avocado and two apples. Some more fruit trees to come, a nut tree or two (pecan and something else) and then the veggie garden goes in. What I do not consume I'll give to neighbors or set up a help yourself table out front for area starving students.

I have anecdotally observed that before new packaging is brought in (i.e. smaller portions), sales are made to clean out the old inventory.

This makes sense since having 2 products with different sizes side by side would potentially alert even most Americans that something funny is going on.

Interesting and I can see them doing that. This was definitely during price changes though, not sizing. I thought I noticed what they were doing but then I watched it for a few months on different products to confirm my suspicion. They do it on cereal too (though those might be sizing, I don't usually buy them much to know). So now I bought alphabets last month on a 2fer. Hadn't had them in years. Pretty good, actually. And the other week I bought Frosted Flakes. They're Great (on sale)! But for their upgraded prices or smaller sizes, I'm pretty sure when off sale, I'll just stick to my usual steel cut oats.

[WildspitzE]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/McDona...&asset=&ccode=

McDonald's warns of higher food inflation

"LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp (NYSE:MCD - News) forecast higher prices for beef, dairy and other items and said it would cautiously raise prices to keep attracting diners, who are grappling with higher grocery and gas bills.

Shares fell 1.5 percent after the world's biggest hamburger chain said it planned to offset some, but not all, of its higher food costs, with small price increases throughout the year.

McDonald's results landed a day after rival Yum Brands Inc (NYSE:YUM - News) reported strong China results that masked rising food and labor costs. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG - News), which has nearly all of its 1,100 restaurants in the United States, saw higher food costs eat into margins.

McDonald's and other restaurant operators are getting squeezed by accelerating food costs and must figure out how to raise prices without scaring away already skittish diners.

"It's very hard to pass through price increase right now," said Stifel Nicolaus analyst Steve West. ...."

re: bold...menger?

[cjppjc]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

Coffee. Lately the cans are 20% air on top of the 13 or so ounces in the same size can. This one is ingenious.






The new package contains 4 ounces, 114 grams, The old was 8.4, 239. I don't care that the new container is not metal anymore. What is amazing is that they are almost the same size. To the naked eye you can't see that the new package is smaller. You have to hold them up bottom to bottom to see the slight difference. I opened it up, and it is filled to the top. Since there isn't a false bottom, this is the most well done inflation creep I've seen.

[Milton Kuo]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

I've recently noticed that bags of Doritos have less content in them and the prices have not fallen. Just a few short years ago, bags of Doritos contained 14 ounces of tortilla chips for $2.99; now, you only get 11 ounces of tortilla chips for the same $2.99.

Bags of Doritos contained 14 ounces of chips for perhaps a decade or more. Prior to that, bags contained 16 ounces of chips and were still at the $2.99 price.

[metalman]

Re: Inflation snapshots: December 2009

I've recently noticed that bags of Doritos have less content in them and the prices have not fallen. Just a few short years ago, bags of Doritos contained 14 ounces of tortilla chips for $2.99; now, you only get 11 ounces of tortilla chips for the same $2.99.

Bags of Doritos contained 14 ounces of chips for perhaps a decade or more. Prior to that, bags contained 16 ounces of chips and were still at the $2.99 price.

ah, yes... original fire sale warning christmas 2008...

love this guy... even more christmas spirit 2011 than 4 yrs ago...