Why Are Grocery Prices So Expensive? New Study Exposes The Real Cause... - Thom Hartmann

[Rhiannon12866]

Have you noticed the mysterious surge in grocery bills lately? From produce to pantry staples, prices seem to be scaling new heights. What's behind this unprecedented climb? Thom Hartmann has the answers. - Aired on 12/08/2023.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. All true and additionally

Food retailers in my town raised prices in lockstep with Walmart. Aldi a few cents less on most items but still rose a lot. Target and Euro-owned company no exception and remain the highest prices in town on most items, but do have discounts on closeouts and lots of sales.

When covid hit the shelves were empty as anyone can recall. Then came double SNAP benefits. Retailers looked to soak up that money and could charge what they wanted and they did. Now that largess has dried up so prices are not rising as much or have stopped rising. That covid relief and PPP loans were aimed higher on the income scale and to business. The poorest really got screwed as prices rose, STIM was minimal for them, and there were no loans.

The Inflation Reduction Act has done a really good job. Joe Biden has the smartest economists because he has so much relevant experience with government.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I've certainly noticed the rise in grocery prices, since the pandemic I only go once a week and to the same store

I remember when the pandemic first started, paper products really went up. At the very beginning I tried to pick up a 12 pack of toilet paper like I usually get, but the shelf was bare. So I went to the same chain in a second location and got the last package on the shelf, little did I know what we were in for. And, back then, it was $6.99. These days the same thing is $12.99, but it was on special this week for $8.99 so I got a pack whether I needed it or not.

Food prices have gone up, too, but that's what I noticed this week. Later at night I turn on old TV shows and they buy things in the grocery stores for less than a dollar which is sure a reminder. But I also agree that the president has done a great job - if anyone says otherwise, I remind them that with 36 years in the Senate and 8 years in the Executive branch, he's the most experienced president in our history, exactly what we need right now - these are tough times and he's had such a mess to clean up.

[True Dough]

3. Even at double the price of toilet paper,

if you only use 1/2 as much then you're essentially still paying the same price. Wipe carefully!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. LOL! I still don't know why, of all things, there would be a shortage and why it would double in price!

And the other thing, they've eliminated plastic bags in stores here in New York, most people now bring their own reusable bags. But how does that help if everything else is packaged in plastic - including every paper product!

[True Dough]

6. These are good questions

Society has a plastic problem. I don't know how we avoid it. Reduce its use, sure. How much of a dent is that really making? I'm not sure it's all that significant.

Hopefully there will be more advances in reusing plastic because it's not going away.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. There was a cartoon posted here awhile back about a shopper being refused a bag since they're eliminating plastic

But everything else in the store is encased in plastic - and that's how it is here - paper products, fruits and vegetables come in plastic bags or boxes, baked goods come in plastic boxes, even salads from the deli come in plastic containers. But if you request a bag, it's paper.

[Martin Eden]

5. TAX the HELL out of these Price Gougers!

Of course, Rethuglicans would block any such legislation.

Instead, they blame it on Joe Biden.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. They blame everything on Joe Biden - when he has done an amazing job at cleaning up the mess he was left with