Posted on 08/24/2021 1:43:04 PM PDT by blam
The prices of a lot of things are up these days, which fits the common definition of “inflation.”
Meanwhile, an increasing number of products are appearing at the same price but in smaller packages.This is inflation’s slippery first cousin “shrinkflation.” Here’s a sampling from a recent study:
• Bounty paper towels: The triple back has shrunk from 165 sheets to just 147.
• Costco’s toilet paper: A large pack was 425 sheets last year, but now is just 380.
• Dial Body Wash: Reduced from 21 ounces to 16 ounces, a 25 percent reduction.
• Ziploc freezer bags: 54 bags last year, but just 50 bags this year.
• Quaker Instant Oatmeal: 10 packs last year, but just 8 this year for some varieties.
Empty Shelves
But what about when the thing you want just isn’t there? Where does the complete absence of something fit on the inflation spectrum? This question is no longer academic, as empty shelves appear in stores across the US. (One nearby example: The Sequim, Washington Costco is – shades of 2020 — currently out of toilet paper.)
From yesterday’s Wall Street Journal:
“ Why You Can’t Find Everything You Want at Grocery Stores
Labor shortages, raw materials’ scarcity make supermarket supplies unpredictable; some executives say problems are worse than spring 2020’s dearth.
Grocery-store chains are still battling supply challenges that some executives said are as bad as what they saw in spring 2020, when hoarding left holes in stocks of some staples.
Industry executives say new problems are arising weekly, driven by shortages of labor and raw materials. Groceries including frozen waffles and beverages remain scarce as some food companies anticipate disruptions lasting into 2022. A wider range of products is running short and logistical challenges are compounding for many retailers.
Donny Rouse, chief executive of Louisiana-based Rouses Markets, said he is struggling to fill shelves as his company runs low on everything from pet food to canned goods. The chain of more than 60 supermarkets is sometimes receiving as little as 40% of what it orders, prompting Mr. Rouse and his staff to try to secure products earlier and more often. Before the pandemic, Rouses received well over 90% of its orders.
“It is difficult for customers to get everything they want to get,” said Mr. Rouse, grandson of the chain’s founder.
Remind you of anything? Like maybe Venezuela’s ongoing hyperinflation, which looks like this:
As for whether empty shelves equal inflation, that’s complicated. For now let’s just say that 1) shortages are both a cause and an effect of rising inflation, and 2) it’s getting harder to view Third World financial crises as something that can’t happen here.
I would like to be on any ping list you might create for that!
It would be redgolum, not me.
Oh crap! Clicked the wrong comment. Thanks.
Please ping me if you do .
See 42
The great wall of buttwipe in Hillsboro Oregon is gone. They are out.
Walmart here in Hernando, MS. has been out of stock on stuff for weeks. Customers joke as they pass each other in the isle about how they seem to be out of so much.
Time to go back to Kroger.
Aldi’s large eggs usually average 55g. That’s almost jumbo (56g).
Our Costco was so full there were pallets on the floor because there was no room on the shelves.
North Carolina calls them Alcoholic Beverage Control ie the ABC store.
#30 I noticed my last package of 18 large eggs that some defiantly were smaller. I wonder if they are mixing in some.
I am receiving some groceries today by delivery so will check to make sure the large eggs are large.
Ice cream used to be $2.49 or on sale $1.99 / half gallon.
It’s now $5.49 or $6.49 for 1.5 quarts.
Is there an Aldi’s in your area?
thx, ABC in FL is a liquor store but not state run, it’s a chain
Yes.
They’re good on fruit & vegetables, very good on bratwurst, pork, hamburger (including grass fed) and chicken, great on canned goods.
Don’t trust their dairy products except cheese though.
How manufacturers do the “shrinking package” scam: if the old size and the new size were stocked at the same time, then people would notice.
So you stop delivering the old size until there are no more on the shelves or in people’s pantries. Then start delivering the new size.
Eggs delivered and I would say the size is medium.
In it’s simplist form, inflation can be defined with three clauses:
1 - Too much money...
2 - ...chasing...
3 - ...too few goods.
Google M2. Clause 1, check.
Google velocity of M2, Clause 2 - not yet (but watch out!)
Anecdotal evidence of clause three is all over the place. Check.
So probably inflation has started heating up. Once it gets hot, spending will accelerate as people trade paper assets for hard assets. This could be very ugly.
Here they are. The warehouse in RDU can’t get employees to load the trucks because of the “free $$$” and “unemployment $$$” bull shit !!!
In Texas this would never happen. The store owners would go do it or send employees to load the trucks !!! There are 2 distributors that split the liquor products (because they are both owned by retired old school politicians and the families) and the beer is the same.
There are some floating around.
But good idea.
I have been telling people to get their Christmas presents (and anything else) now. At least on order.
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