The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

For discussion of liberty, freedom, government and politics.
Post Reply
User avatar
ajax
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 7988
Location: Pf, Texas

The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by ajax »

Is this because of greedy capitalists? Or is there some other nefarious thing going on?

The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/20 ... -your.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Between 2006 and 2016, the price of food has increased by 27.8%, outpacing the 21.9% inflation rate. The prices of some goods and popular consumer items have also surged to a much greater degree.

To determine which items are driving up grocery bills the most, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed changes in the Consumer Price Index from 2006 to 2016 for over 300 goods with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These are the 20 foods driving up your grocery bill the most.

1. Tobacco and smoking products
> Price increase: 90.4%

2. Margarine
> Price increase: 63.6%

3. Uncooked ground beef
> Price increase: 46.3%

4. Shelf stable fish and seafood
> Price increase: 45.0%

5. Prescription drugs
> Price increase: 43.5%

6. Rice, pasta, cornmeal
> Price increase: 40.3%

7. Bread
> Price increase: 38.9%

8. Snacks
> Price increase: 38.4%

9. Miscellaneous poultry including turkey
> Price increase: 37.0%

10. Apples
> Price increase: 36.6%

11. Frankfurters
> Price increase: 35.8%

12. Canned vegetables
> Price increase: 35.3%

13. Salt and other seasonings and spices
> Price increase: 34.0%

14. Miscellaneous fats and oils including peanut butter

> Price increase: 34.0%

15. Miscellaneous processed fruits and vegetables including dried
> Price increase: 33.7%

16. Bacon and related products
> Price increase: 33.2%

17. Fresh whole chicken
> Price increase: 32.5%

18. Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies
> Price increase: 32.1%

19. Flour and prepared flour mixes
> Price increase: 32.1%

20. Canned fruits
> Price increase: 32.0%

User avatar
gclayjr
captain of 1,000
Posts: 2727
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by gclayjr »

Ajax,

While I don't know the specifics of each of these items, I can say historically, agriculture and food, is one of the most cronyized and least capitalized markets in the U.S. We all have empathy for the noble farmer, especially the farmer on the family farm. However, not only is this basically a relic of the past, if you look art the New Deal in the 1930's it first focused of agriculture and food. From killing Hogs to keep the price up to paying to make land Fallow.

I lived in Big Flats, New York in the 1960s. We had a neighbor who became famous. I just checked. He was famous enough to have a WIkipedia page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_T._Smith

We called him Cadillac Smith. He bought a Cadillac with money the government paid him NOT to grow stuff on his farm, and drove it to Washington.

Even today, Sugar and milk are government subsidized, and prices are guaranteed.

So, at best what we have here is not real capitalism, but a blend of socialism and crony capitalism.

Regards,

George Clay

Serragon
captain of 1,000
Posts: 3444

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by Serragon »

gclayjr wrote:Ajax,

While I don't know the specifics of each of these items, I can say historically, agriculture and food, is one of the most cronyized and least capitalized markets in the U.S. We all have empathy for the noble farmer, especially the farmer on the family farm. However, not only is this basically a relic of the past, if you look art the New Deal in the 1930's it first focused of agriculture and food. From killing Hogs to keep the price up to paying to make land Fallow.

I lived in Big Flats, New York in the 1960s. We had a neighbor who became famous. I just checked. He was famous enough to have a WIkipedia page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_T._Smith

We called him Cadillac Smith. He bought a Cadillac with money the government paid him NOT to grow stuff on his farm, and drove it to Washington.

Even today, Sugar and milk are government subsidized, and prices are guaranteed.

So, at best what we have here is not real capitalism, but a blend of socialism and crony capitalism.

Regards,

George Clay
This is true. There is also substantial subsidies on the consumer side. A substantial percentage of the population has their food paid for at least in part by the government.

There really are very few "capitalist" markets left. Most are heavily regulated/subsidized by the government.

User avatar
BeNotDeceived
Agent38
Posts: 8960
Location: Tralfamadore
Contact:

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by BeNotDeceived »

I was happy to come across this article

Donald Trump Eats His Big Macs Sans Buns
http://www.eater.com/2016/8/8/12403762/ ... y-new-logo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully a way will be found to price food based on its total cost of consumption, including health effects. May even be a good way to fund health care i.e. a preventive approach!

Tax one-penny per net-carb applied at the wholesale level, would really shift food healthy. :ymapplause:

Serragon
captain of 1,000
Posts: 3444

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by Serragon »

BeNotDeceived wrote:I was happy to come across this article

Donald Trump Eats His Big Macs Sans Buns
http://www.eater.com/2016/8/8/12403762/ ... y-new-logo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully a way will be found to price food based on its total cost of consumption, including health effects. May even be a good way to fund health care i.e. a preventive approach!

Tax one-penny per net-carb applied at the wholesale level, would really shift food healthy. :ymapplause:
Yep. Nothing feeds the hungry around the world like raising food prices! I'm sure they will be willing to eat less often and consume a smaller caloric content so that your standards of virtue and propriety can be maintained. At least they will get some fiber!

Another solution might be to quit trying to force your values on others via the force of government. Let the market dictate food prices. let people make their own choices.

User avatar
ajax
Level 34 Illuminated
Posts: 7988
Location: Pf, Texas

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by ajax »

Serragon wrote:
gclayjr wrote:Ajax,

While I don't know the specifics of each of these items, I can say historically, agriculture and food, is one of the most cronyized and least capitalized markets in the U.S. We all have empathy for the noble farmer, especially the farmer on the family farm. However, not only is this basically a relic of the past, if you look art the New Deal in the 1930's it first focused of agriculture and food. From killing Hogs to keep the price up to paying to make land Fallow.

I lived in Big Flats, New York in the 1960s. We had a neighbor who became famous. I just checked. He was famous enough to have a WIkipedia page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_T._Smith

We called him Cadillac Smith. He bought a Cadillac with money the government paid him NOT to grow stuff on his farm, and drove it to Washington.

Even today, Sugar and milk are government subsidized, and prices are guaranteed.

So, at best what we have here is not real capitalism, but a blend of socialism and crony capitalism.

Regards,

George Clay
This is true. There is also substantial subsidies on the consumer side. A substantial percentage of the population has their food paid for at least in part by the government.

There really are very few "capitalist" markets left. Most are heavily regulated/subsidized by the government.
I would also suggest these rising prices are a function of devaluing the currency. At the end of 2006, M2 money supply stood at $7.0 trillion. It increased to $13.2 trillion by the end of 2016. A truly free market will tend to see the price level decrease due to increased productivity.

User avatar
BeNotDeceived
Agent38
Posts: 8960
Location: Tralfamadore
Contact:

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by BeNotDeceived »

Serragon wrote:
BeNotDeceived wrote:I was happy to come across this article

Donald Trump Eats His Big Macs Sans Buns
http://www.eater.com/2016/8/8/12403762/ ... y-new-logo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully a way will be found to price food based on its total cost of consumption, including health effects. May even be a good way to fund health care i.e. a preventive approach!

Tax one-penny per net-carb applied at the wholesale level, would really shift food healthy. :ymapplause:
Yep. Nothing feeds the hungry around the world like raising food prices! I'm sure they will be willing to eat less often and consume a smaller caloric content so that your standards of virtue and propriety can be maintained. At least they will get some fiber!

Another solution might be to quit trying to force your values on others via the force of government. Let the market dictate food prices. let people make their own choices.
Few countries in the world are FAT like Americans. Mexico is seeing a favorable impact from their tax on sugar laden soda. Boulder and other communities have taxed bad-food to pay for pre-school programs.

Good observation about fiber that doesn't count towards net-carbs.

Sugar alcohols also subtract per a package of Atkins Carmel Clusters.

Imagine a world where cauliflower costs less than carb-loaded potatoes.

There must be something better than our Current Cheapest Crap that Kills. :-\

.

Serragon
captain of 1,000
Posts: 3444

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by Serragon »

BeNotDeceived wrote:
Serragon wrote:
BeNotDeceived wrote:I was happy to come across this article

Donald Trump Eats His Big Macs Sans Buns
http://www.eater.com/2016/8/8/12403762/ ... y-new-logo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully a way will be found to price food based on its total cost of consumption, including health effects. May even be a good way to fund health care i.e. a preventive approach!

Tax one-penny per net-carb applied at the wholesale level, would really shift food healthy. :ymapplause:
Yep. Nothing feeds the hungry around the world like raising food prices! I'm sure they will be willing to eat less often and consume a smaller caloric content so that your standards of virtue and propriety can be maintained. At least they will get some fiber!

Another solution might be to quit trying to force your values on others via the force of government. Let the market dictate food prices. let people make their own choices.
Few countries in the world are FAT like Americans. Mexico is seeing a favorable impact from their tax on sugar laden soda. Boulder and other communities have taxed bad-food to pay for pre-school programs.

Good observation about fiber that doesn't count towards net-carbs.

Sugar alcohols also subtract per a package of Atkins Carmel Clusters.

Imagine a world where cauliflower costs less than carb-loaded potatoes.

There must be something better than our Current Cheapest Crap that Kills. :-\

.
I wasn't doubting that you felt like you had valid reasons for controlling other peoples lives. All tyrants do.

User avatar
gclayjr
captain of 1,000
Posts: 2727
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by gclayjr »

Ajax,
I would also suggest these rising prices are a function of devaluing the currency. At the end of 2006, M2 money supply stood at $7.0 trillion. It increased to $13.2 trillion by the end of 2016. A truly free market will tend to see the price level decrease due to increased productivity.
That may be true, but devaluating currency tends to effect prices in general, not specific items.

Regards,

George Clay

Spider
captain of 100
Posts: 242

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by Spider »

BeNotDeceived wrote:I was happy to come across this article

Donald Trump Eats His Big Macs Sans Buns
http://www.eater.com/2016/8/8/12403762/ ... y-new-logo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully a way will be found to price food based on its total cost of consumption, including health effects. May even be a good way to fund health care i.e. a preventive approach!

Tax one-penny per net-carb applied at the wholesale level, would really shift food healthy. :ymapplause:
Good grief, that's all we need, more taxes.

Spider
captain of 100
Posts: 242

Re: The 20 Grocery Items Driving Up Your Bill the Most

Post by Spider »

California regulates the dairy industry. You are pretty much forced to buy 2 gallons of milk because the price of one gallon is so high.

Post Reply