Sticker shock

[live love laugh]

Shopping today and the past week in Chicago my impression is people are shocked at prices.

Many seemed like they were dazed. In multiple stores lots of people with half-full carts slowly picked among and put back meats and other products doubled in price.

To make matters worse, lots of items are out of stock. Random empty shelves in different stores—not all out of the same products like when there was a bleach shortage for instance.

Normally stores are fully stocked to sell as much as possible with known higher first-of-the-month demand. Today they weren’t.

As I wrapped up my rounds I went to a local independent store for the Townhouse crackers I couldn’t find. They had the crackers along with a sign for 36 rolls of TP for $29.99 (!!!).

It all made me think about all those who reject voting because they don’t think it matters. Not sure what it’s going to take before they understand it does.

[Demovictory9]

1. Cat food aisle still empty

[live love laugh]

3. The randomness is crazy. nt

[Tree Lady]

23. Yes the kind my moms cat likes

Is always out of stock when I order.

[Demovictory9]

31. I now really stock up when i.see.my cats brand..

There were.4 packs of 12.cans each on the shelf this week..i took..3

[cadoman]

2. I'm getting some pretty crazy grocery bills

Regularly hitting over $200 now. It's not much fun to shop and it feels like nothing is ever on sale like it used to be.

So far winter utilities haven't been too nuts thankfully.

Btw, invest in a bidet. You can dramatically reduce TP usage and your bum will thank you. Don't even bother with a hot water one. $40 and very easy to install.

[live love laugh]

4. Good tip for the bidet.

[2naSalit]

21. Oh, dear...

You must live in a place where the water comes out of the tap at a rather warm temperature. In my area, the water comes out of the tap at barely above freezing, that does nothing for the solids one might acquire on the fleshy parts and is brutally uncomfortable, especially for females, would require soap. Though I despise TP, because it leaves a residue of paper particles on my private parts no matter how high a grade of paper, I would suffer untold ailments if all I had was a cold water bidet.

[cadoman]

30. dunno what to tell ya, I find it refreshing!

I didn't think I would but even in winter it's just fine.

Water pressure matters too. I tried a "soft" bidet a long time ago and it discouraged me from the whole idea. You kinda want a bit of a cannon flow tbh.

[PortTack]

5. Hopefully ppl will be encouraged to use their $$ wisely and not waste as much food

[live love laugh]

8. ✔️+

[captain queeg]

6. The only thing I have noticed out of stock for several weeks now is cream cheese.

I usually get some every week to use on bagels. The spreadable kind, not in the blocks. And I don’t like the whipped version and that’s the only thing available lately. I’m sure there are plenty of other items that I just don’t notice because they are things I don’t buy regularly.

[NJCher]

7. I guess it's just me

I use the grocery ads to make my list before I go.

Aldi is a big help. I only buy at Whole Foods for chicken, fish, etc., because of their more humane practices. Prefer meatless meals but not 100%.

Petsmart has all kinds of cat food. Yes, a bit pricey but at least there is plenty to choose from.

Korean green grocer for very fresh, inexpensive produce.

I’m not going many places due to omicron, so gas prices aren’t a big issue.

In short, inflation is not much of a problem to me.

[live love laugh]

9. ALDI had lots of the shortages. Whole Foods didn't.

I use both stores too.

[PortTack]

10. smart shopping on your part! For those that like Trader Joes, go check out their parent store Aldi

Aldi ..yes a great help. Lots of ppl still see Aldi as the crappy low priced canned foods store. Not anymore

[Skittles]

11. curious what voting has to do with world-wide gloabl supply chain issues

that are caused by the pandemic

thanks

[brush]

12. Yes, as if prices under the former guy, who bungled the pandemic, would be lower.

And IMO, there's some price gouging going on in places in the supply chain.

Packs of tp rolls which use to be in the $15.00 range are now $29.00. Something is definitely up.

[brush]

18. So true about making Biden look bad. Same with FOX and right wing media everywhere...

being anti-mask and anti-vaxx so people die and the pandemic continues...then Biden is blamed for that too. They don't even care if their own voters die from not getting vaxxed.

And Carlson and all of the on-air liars all have to be vaxxed to even get into their headquarters to spew their lies on the air.

[live love laugh]

13. Politicians paid by and beholden to corporations

have zero incentive to intervene on behalf of constituents.

Some of this is just pure unchecked predatory greed.

[2naSalit]

22. +1

[LittleGirl]

14. Isn't there a truck driver shortage?

Isn't that the reason for the delays in products on the shelves?

[Busterscruggs]

20. Inflation was high

In the 70s. It had absolutely nothing to do with who was in office. I guess the bright side of it is that it will eventually come back down.

[JustAnotherGen]

25. There's a lot of price gouging going on

And stores taking advantage of the economic environment.

You know what I've noticed? We order from Omaha Steaks 2, maybe 3 times per year. It's just the two of us and we aren't huge meat eaters . . .


They haven't raised their prices since winter 2020 - and they've made me a customer for life as a result of that.

[live love laugh]

26. That's good but even the honest ones will be forced

to go up due to their own increased costs.

It’s like a tidal wave.

[JustAnotherGen]

27. I feel the worst

For people in food deserts. I work in one - but live in a rural area (55 mile commute). Even in the winter I have access to locally grown produce. I'm close to the shore at work - and buy from a fish market in Newark. The closer you get to the source, the less price gouging - as you are 'their people'. There's a fish market/restaurant combo in a walkable community 15 miles from where I live . . . and they have doubled their prices. Newark fish market is on average 70% less than theirs. I also have already started my seedlings for this spring. . . so I have the advantage of being able to grow my own food. Sucks for those who don't have a footprint to do so - or knowledge of canning and preserving foods.

[inthewind21]

28. Same old

Worn out line. "Forced to to go up because of their own increased costs." Anyone but me see that companies are making record profits and have been all through the pandemic. As for this "supply chain issue" Funny, everyone seemed to get everything they ordered for Christmas. So much so Christmas shopping had a pretty decent INCREASE. Must have been a Christmas/Supply chain miracle huh. I'm not buying any of it. It's greed pure and simple. And the masses, well they fall for the BS excuses every time. By the way, I've not had any issue at the grocery store. Of course i'm only concerned with keeping myself and my pets fed, not if their favorite pet food is in stock.

[live love laugh]

29. Agree that availability was fine now it's deteriorating.

Also agree about people accepting lame, pie in the sky made up excuses.

[Jose Garcia]

32. What is specific about the current economic environment makes

price gouging more advantageous now?