Inflation Or Price Gouging?

[No Nonsense]

Almost instantly when the pandemic hit, grocery store prices ballooned. Not by a little, but on meat, 100%. I was just in Walmart and was looking at the price of baby back ribs. They were over $20 plus per rib. I do a lot of BBQing and the price of baby backs at Walmart usually run between $8-$10.
 

Is the demand THAT high or are retailers like Walmart are taking advantage of a situation? 

[PleaseBlitz]

[Die Hard]

Costs have gone up….. but consumers don’t know how much. So you Jack it up even higher and no one knows the difference.

 

But when so many companies are reporting record profits….. it’s pretty telling.

 

Apparently it hasn’t reached a threshold where it’s affected most peoples consuming habits. So…..

[Spaceman Spiff]

I want to know more about your meat purchasing at Wal-Mart.

 

What else do you like to gamble on?

[PeterMP]

I will add with meat especially I'm not sure how much of it is grocery stores fault.  The meat packing industry is pretty monopolistic in nature.

 

https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2022/02/14/more-than-money-monopoly-and-meat-processing

 

I'd wonder if you'd get better prices talking to a small beef farm/butcher.

[CousinsCowgirl84]

27 minutes ago, No Nonsense said:

Almost instantly when the pandemic hit, grocery store prices ballooned. Not by a little, but on meat, 100%. I was just in Walmart and was looking at the price of baby back ribs. They were over $20 plus per rib. I do a lot of BBQing and the price of baby backs at Walmart usually run between $8-$10.
 

Is the demand THAT high or are retailers like Walmart are taking advantage of a situation? 

Don’t buy ribs. Might be a good time to go vegan.

Edited April 14, 2022 by CousinsCowgirl84

[Die Hard]

I can’t speak to the US, but in western Canadian provinces that raise the cattle, there was a huge drought/famine last summer/fall

 that made it impossible to feed all the cattle. It decimated the industry. I’m not saying that’s the only reason…but at least one of them.

[Spaceman Spiff]

1 minute ago, CousinsCowgirl84 said:

Don’t buy ribs. Might be a good time to go vegan.

 

[Captain Wiggles]

Tyson, JBS, and Hormel account for almost 70% of the world's meat production. JBS now apparently owns the Colorado town/county I usta live in. 😒

[Destino]

If companies are making record profits, than the increased prices aren’t just because costs have gone up.

[Captain Wiggles]

4 minutes ago, CousinsCowgirl84 said:

Don’t buy ribs. Might be a good time to go vegan.

 

Beyond meat chicken tenders are pretty much the awful. No amount of Frank's Red Hot sauce can save them. 

[CousinsCowgirl84]

10 minutes ago, Spaceman Spiff said:

I want to know more about your meat purchasing at Wal-Mart.

 

What else do you like to gamble on?

Walmart has decent meat.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Just now, CousinsCowgirl84 said:

Walmart has decent meat.

 

I don't even know where to start with this.  There are so many jokes here I can't pick just one.

[No Nonsense]

2 minutes ago, CousinsCowgirl84 said:

Walmart has decent meat.

 

1 minute ago, Spaceman Spiff said:

 

I don't even know where to start with this.  There are so many jokes here I can't pick just one.

OK…What have you heard because I’ve bought meat from Walmart for many years with absolutely no issues. 

[Spaceman Spiff]

1 minute ago, No Nonsense said:

 

OK…What have you heard because I’ve bought meat from Walmart for many years with absolutely no issues. 

 

 I've heard that the quality isn't the best.  Especially when it comes to beef.  I can't say anything about the ribs, but if you're having good luck with the ribs, more power to you.

 

  

[CousinsCowgirl84]

Sometimes the beef can be a little veiny…

[Captain Wiggles]

Haven't bought a lot of food from Walmart the past twelve ish years so things might have changed. Their beef tenderloins n ground Buffalo usta be as good as what yad find in a Safeway or King Soopers. Price was certainly better. Granted this was in a town known for slaughterhouses. 

 

 

[Jabbyrwock]

9 minutes ago, Captain Wiggles said:

Beyond meat chicken tenders are pretty much the awful. No amount of Frank's Red Hot sauce can save them. 

 

Try the Quorn.  Mycoprotiens!  In my move to vegetarian this was my chicken go-to and I've made everything from vegetarian pulled chicken to vegetarian chicken fajitas with it.  As long as you're not allergic and don't overcook it, fermented shrooms for the win.

[No Nonsense]

Unless you’re buying form a high end meat market or a Whole Foods type of store, I can’t imagine ribs being any better than what you get at Walmart. Some Walmart’s even sell USDA Prime steak. I’ve gotten them and they’re good. I’ve gotten meat from meat markets and it wasn’t THAT much of a difference. 

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

Got 10 lbs of Great Value frozen chicken breast for $24.  Was $20 a few weeks ago.

[No Nonsense]

1 minute ago, d0ublestr0ker0ll said:

Got 10 lbs of Great Value frozen chicken breast for $24.  Was $20 a few weeks ago.

I can understand a few dollars more, but a 100% or more jump in price is a little suspicious. 

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

4 minutes ago, No Nonsense said:

I can understand a few dollars more, but a 100% or more jump in price is a little suspicious. 

 

Interested, why do you understand a 4 dollar increase?

 

Everything I bought today was significantly higher priced.  Is the bar set at x2 the amount, to be suspicious?

 

Reckon you're talking about companies being greedy here.  Sorry, not much time to read thru the thread.

 

My hunch is inflation due to whatever the ****.

Edited April 14, 2022 by d0ublestr0ker0ll

[Die Hard]

32 minutes ago, Spaceman Spiff said:

 

I don't even know where to start with this.  There are so many jokes here I can't pick just one.

Somebody help Spiff. He’s stuck in an infinite loop.

[LadySkinsFan]

Greed, it's mostly greed. Some supply chain issues etc.

 

When you have about $200/month in your food budget, you notice food prices. All meat prices are up a good amount. I can't afford beef at all, not even hamburger. And I cook everything, I don't eat out, maybe an In-n-Out single cheeseburger once a month that's less than $4. I started going to local food pantries once a month for staples. And with diabetes I'm not supposed to eat filler type foods like rice, pasta, and potatoes but those are fast becoming half of my food consumed.

 

 

Edited April 14, 2022 by LadySkinsFan

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

Just now, LadySkinsFan said:

Greed, it's mostly greed. Some supply chain issues etc.

 

My rent is going up $120/month starting right now.  My bills are creeping up slowly...gas...

 

Everything is more expensive besides Bazooka Joe single pieces.