US food prices increasing sharply

[Miss Philicia]

Good to read this so I know I'm not imagining things.  I feel like every time I go to the grocery store that I'm paying $20 more for the normal amount I buy per trip.  When you're on a fixed income like I am you REALLY feel this.

complete article

Surging costs of groceries hit home; Bread, eggs, milk prices up sharply

Globe Staff / March 9, 2008
American families, already pinched by soaring energy costs, are taking another big hit to household budgets as food prices increase at the fastest rate since 1990.

After nearly two decades of low food inflation, prices for staples such as bread, milk, eggs, and flour are rising sharply, surging in the past year at double-digit rates, according to the Labor Department. Milk prices, for example, increased 26 percent over the year. Egg prices jumped 40 percent.

Escalating food costs could present a greater problem than soaring oil prices for the national economy because the average household spends three times as much for food as for gasoline. Food accounts for about 13 percent of household spending compared with about 4 percent for gas.

Rising food prices can be particularly corrosive to consumer confidence because people are so frequently exposed to the cost increases. "It's the biggest risk we face economically, and it might be the thing that does us in," said Rich Yamarone, director of economic research at Argus Research Corp. in New York. "There's nothing really worse than having a job, making money, and forking most of it over just so you can have the same amount of food. You're running in place, and it really weighs on you."

As with energy, higher food costs cut into discretionary income that buys everything from cars to computers to movie tickets and drives the consumer-based US economy. Falling home values and a faltering stock market have battered consumer confidence, spurring a retrenchment in spending that is contributing to recent job losses and pulling the economy toward recession.

[aztecan]

OK, so its not just me imagining things.

I have just about stopped buying luxury items such as red meat and cheese.

I guess it will help me stick with my low-cholesterol diet.

HUGS,

Mark

[dgr20002]

It's just going to get worse. As the price of oil goes up so will the cost of food. Just about everything is moved on trucks and diesel is so much more expensive than gasoline. Watch for sales and use coupons to stock up on some things.  Usually the Sunday paper has lots of coupons that make the cost of the paper worth the $1.50. Try to shop at places that give double and triple coupon values too. There is plenty you can do to save on food but it takes a little work.

David

[pozguy75]

Beans and rice...a girls best friend...

[ademas]

I'm definitely feeling the pinch...and most of my shopping involves sales and coupons already.

Gas at the local budget station was $3.43/gal yesterday--just under $35 to fill my sub-compact.

Rent increases are due May 1st.  That's going to be another $100 per month.  They blame the mortgage crisis for the increase in demand for rentals.

Thank goodness for our Dear Leader.  It was such a relief to hear that our economy is in good shape, and that we're just having a slow month...

[Miss Philicia]

Thank goodness I don't own a car... hence no gas purchases.  It's all about urban living.  Plus I get some good exercise lugging my increasingly expensive bags of groceries home back 5 blocks and up 4 flights of stairs.  I own one of those carts like old ladies use, but I never use it except for laundry day.

[dgr20002]

I want one of these...



[attachment deleted by admin]

[thunter34]

I hates clippin' dem coupons, but don'tcha know I been doin' it.  And even the coupons have been suckin' lately.

"Save 50 cents when you buy 5" and that BS.  Whoop de doo.

Heh...yeah.  Our fearless leader.  Loved that bit about, "I wasn't aware about the gas prices going up so much."

Here's a little challenge:  Name one area - just ONE - that has improved under dipshit's leadership.

[Miss Philicia]

Here's a little challenge:  Name one area - just ONE - that has improved under dipshit's leadership.

Condi has much better taste in clothing than Madelaine Albright.

[jammerz]

Here's a little challenge:  Name one area - just ONE - that has improved under dipshit's leadership.

How about the fact that there has not been another 9/11 like attack on the United States? How does that sound for success?

Or maybe another 3000+ people dead would make you happy?

[ademas]

[jammerz]

Oh yeah, its live bait because I am happy the US has not had another terrorist attack. Yeah, thats so inflammatory. 
Maybe I really care about the security and safety of the citizens of my countries. Maybe I am not a traitor who wants to sell intelligence secrets to the terrorists. Maybe you don't understand.

[dgr20002]

WOW. So I guess we can buy some bait and catch our own food with it. Very clever.

David

[thunter34]

Or maybe another 3000+ people dead would make you happy?

No, it wouldn't.  Or should I say - it hasn't.  Since we've lost those thousands since in Iraq.  

But, hey...I'm with ya.  Let's give Georgie his due.  Dinosaurs HAVE NOT reclaimed domination of the earth...so let's give W the credit for that.  Mount St. Helens has NOT erupted during his tenure, so of course we have W to thank for that as well.  An asteroid has NOT crashed into the earth killing millions, so again W.  You're right.  What was I thinking?

[jammerz]

those are natural disasters, not man made events. I fail to see the connection.

[thunter34]

those are natural disasters, not man made events. I fail to see the connection.

i'm sure it's not the only connection you fail to make.  the point is that you are giving credit for non-events, things that haven't happened.  that's just plain stupid.  you have no way of knowing how many such things absolutely would have happened absent W's watch.  but i understand that it's about all that you can possibly cling to given that everything else is in such rampant disarray. 

now if you'll excuse me, i'm off to eat one hell of an expensive cheeseburger (to return to topic here).  i intend to enjoy it without being annoyed by trivial minds.

[jammerz]

He PREVENTED IT. No there is no way to tell the future, but he is tough on terror. Liberals want us to hug the terrorists and take away our guns. Terrorists do not communicate effectively which is why they have to result to terror to get their points across. I bet if there was another attack you would be blaming it on Bush. Stop getting your information from Marxist news sources and read something a little less biased.

[thunter34]

Stop getting your information from Marxist news sources and read something a little less biased.

Boy....you're one tough Customer, aren't ya?

[Assurbanipal]

How about the fact that there has not been another 9/11 like attack on the United States? How does that sound for success?

Or maybe another 3000+ people dead would make you happy?

Excuse me, but 9/11 happened while George Bush was President.  That an attack took place on his watch and was not prevented like the Y2K LA airport bombing hardly constitutes a signal measure of success.  ***

Haven't you noticed that the most anti-Bush part of the country is where 9/11 happened?

Assurbanipal

[BT65]

Boy....you're one tough Customer, aren't ya?

I was just going to say, this all sounds very familiar.......

*waiting for the links to come out*

[Miss Philicia]

My thread has been destroyed.

*sigh*

[BT65]

Well, back to the subject, I know I've been hitting more food banks lately.  Now I plan my grocery list around what I get from them (food banks).

[shadowfluid]

Beans and rice...a girls best friend...

thank you...shoot

[thunter34]

thank you...shoot

once i've had a mess of beans, i'm nobody's friend.   

[dgr20002]

I know this is a bit early but on cow appreciation day you can go into a Chick Fil-A and get a free meal if you dress as a cow. Here is the info. so you can get busy with your costume.

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/downloads/CFA_CAD_1pgr.pdf

David

[thunter34]

I once dressed as a cow for Halloween.  Had my udders filled with Pina Colada mix so people could milk me.

[Dachshund]

I once dressed as a cow for Halloween.  Had my udders filled with Pina Colada mix so people could milk me.

god, you make it too easy...

[Miss Philicia]

I'm going to start eating more chicken.  I eat too much red meat as it is, splurging weekly on expensive large rib eye steaks.  I just can't help it.  My monthly grocery bills are fairly horrendous.  I easily spend $50/month just on coffee when I indulge my current fetish for organic fair trade whole beans.

[dgr20002]

Thunter I would be udderly disapointed then if you don't go take advantage of that offer 

David

[BT65]

I once dressed as a cow for Halloween.  Had my udders filled with Pina Colada mix so people could milk me.

You're nothing but a tease and you know it.

[Dachshund]

I'm going to start eating more chicken.  I eat too much red meat as it is, splurging weekly on expensive large rib eye steaks.  I just can't help it.  My monthly grocery bills are fairly horrendous.  I easily spend $50/month just on coffee when I indulge my current fetish for organic fair trade whole beans.

god, coffee is so expensive and I'm so addicted that I've resorted to "borrowing" my beans from work. Luckily they purchase high quality for our customers. I can't drink anything but freshly ground.

[thunter34]

god, you make it too easy...

it should be noted that i wore an angry expression on my face (i was supposed to be "mad cow").  as the evening wore on and i got increasingly buzzed, that part of the get up fell by the wayside.  then i was just plain "cow".

[Dachshund]

it should be noted that i wore an angry expression on my face (i was supposed to be "mad cow").  as the evening wore on and i got increasingly buzzed, that part of the get up fell by the wayside.  then i was just plain "cow".

by the end of the evening and your pants were down around your ankles, it was

"How now brown cow?"

[thunter34]

by the end of the evening and your pants were down around your ankles, it was

"How now brown cow?"

of course it was.  my long-standing slutty reputation was at steak.

[Miss Philicia]

I can't drink anything but freshly ground.

elitist

[Dachshund]

elitist

without a doubt

[jammerz]

of course it was.  my long-standing slutty reputation was at steak.

stake, turncoathunter34

[thunter34]

stake, turncoathunter34

um...."cow"...."steak".  get it?

(she's a quick one, that jammerz)

[Snowangel]

Geez...even I got the "steak" comment 

I totally agree with you, philly!

I could easily go through 2 gallons of milk a day and it is nothing for us to use a loaf of bread a day(which is over $10 bucks).  I always buy ground turkey instead of ground beef.  I hate when the coupons are .50 off when you buy 3, what a deal.

Snow

[dgr20002]

I know we are a thrifty lot but just in case you have not seen this try coupons.com  you can put in your zip code to get some coupons tailored to your area.

[thunter34]

you can put in your zip code to get some coupons tailored to your area.

which will probably leave me wth nifty deals on fertilizer, bait and chicken feed.

[dgr20002]

Aren't you in Georgia?  Peanuts man. PEANUTS.

[dgr20002]

Here is another free offer. This one from Arby's for a medium curly fry, tomorrow March 10th only at participating Arbys.

http://www.arbys.com/admin_upload/press_rlse/MMMediaAlert%20ks(2).pdf

[Miss Philicia]

Don't eat at Arby's if you're on Kaletra.

[dgr20002]

I am not on Kaletra but I am interested in knowing why Arby's would adversly affect those on Kaletra.

David

[Miss Philicia]

Those Beef 'N' Cheddar combos are a guaranteed Explosive D Experience® that can even break through a 10mg imodium barrier, IMHO.

[RapidRod]

What about "White Castles?" You don't have to be taking any medication.

[Miss Philicia]

Oh girl... White Castle is dear to my heart.  I used to live 3 blocks from one in Brooklyn, and sometimes I'd still go for the #2 combo even during a Diarrhea Day.  I swear those fluffy burgers go through your body in about 10 minutes.

Plus I adore a fast food place that has bullet proof windows and a little hole where you order your food at the counter.

[dgr20002]

I start with the beef and cheddar then I have a bacon beef and cheddar and then a super roast beef sammich and a reuben to go. No THATS living.

[RapidRod]

I just go to the Chinese Buffet and eat all I want.