Coping with soaring prices for the basics

[katty]

more: http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-fi-lazarus27apr27,1,1279954.column

David Lazarus:
Consumer Confidential
Coping with soaring prices for the basics
April 27, 2008


Steven James, 43, works in finance, has multiple cellphones clipped to his belt and projects the air of a hardworking, successful sort of guy. And yet there he was last week, buying day-old bread at the Oroweat thrift store in South Pasadena.

"Food's just so expensive," James said. "It's going up faster than salaries." He said he now seeks bargains like day-old bread wherever he can find them.

It seems as if the cost of everything is outpacing people's pay these days. Gas, the rent, utility bills -- and now food.

According to the Labor Department, the average cost of groceries is climbing at an annual rate of about 5%, the sharpest increase in 18 years. Average weekly earnings are rising at an annual rate of 3.3%.

[CoffeeCat]

1. 5%-----that's a total lie....

The "Labor Department" says that groceries are climbing at an annual rate of "5%".

Ok, that's bullshit. Is this some of Bush's funny accounting?

As pathetic as this may sound, I belong to a coupon club. Couponing is my hobby, and I've been
doing this for about 5 years. I pay very close attention to prices.

I have a notebook, and I have prices for hundreds of items. That way, if I'm at Target, and I
see that paper towels are $8.00 for a 12 pk at $5---I can see whether or not that's a good price,
based on the other prices in my notebook.

Obsessive, I know. However, our grocery bill is usually less than $200 a month for a family of
four plus a cat---and I have a stockpile of food that could last us 6 months. Plus I donate thousands
to the food pantry.

I'm sorry, but 5 percent is totally wrong. I've seen prices of many items DOUBLE. I would say that the
majority of items on grocery-store shelves have risen by 20-35 percent. Also, the price of fruits and
vegetables has gone up significantly as well.

My husband and I were looking through my notebook, and he was astounded at the prices increases.

Items that I buy regularly for my family have increased. Yoplait 6 pk yogurts were $1.99--they're now
$2.60. Eggs were around $1. They're now about $1.67. Hot Pockets were around $1.67. Now, they're
$2.50 on sale. I could always find apples @ 99 cents per lb. They're regularly $1.67 now. The list
goes on and on...

So....you have to wonder---why are they lying to us? How are they formulating these numbers?

What they saying is simply not true.

[katty]

2. I think the author of this piece would like to get your

response--very detailed.

[Booster]

3. I think I'm going to buy stock in the 99cent store. I highly recommend

going to one of these stores for ALL your cleaning needs, but they have lots more than that.