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People are spending more on groceries. But they’re buying less
Channel 3000 News/CNN ^ | June 6, 2023 | CNN Staff

Posted on 06/06/2023 6:15:02 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

The past few months of robust grocery store sales would suggest that shoppers aren’t stretched for cash. But that’s not the full story.

Food manufacturers like Kellogg (K), PepsiCo (PEP) and Nestlé all reported sales growth in the first quarter of the year.

But even though sales are up, people are buying less. Growth has been fueled by higher prices, which offset declining volumes.

“If you look at the top-line dollar sales, it is obviously very positive,” said Alastair Steel, executive, client engagement for market research firm Circana, where he works on strategy and consults for clients. “But it really is driven by price increases.”

This year through May 21, compared to the same period in 2022, sales of fresh eggs by volume fell 4.7%, milk dropped 3.9%, packaged bread fell 3.8%, and fresh root vegetables slid 3.5%, according to Circana, which tracks US retail sales. In that time, dollar sales of eggs rose by 41.2%, milk rose by 0.9%, bread jumped 8.5% and fresh root vegetables rose 10.7%.

Prices of each of these items rose during that period. Fresh eggs shot up 48.2%, milk rose 5%, bread rose 12.7% and fresh root vegetables went up 14.7.

Steel noted that early in the pandemic, when people stopped eating at restaurants and stocked up on pantry staples, unit sales soared. Since then, they’ve been coming down. Some of that can be attributed to an “unwinding” of that 2020 boom, he noted. At that time, people could also use Covid stimulus payments to cover costs. Those who were working from home didn’t have to spend money commuting.

(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Conspiracy; Food
KEYWORDS: brandon; economy; food; inflation; masteroftheobvious
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By volume, grocery sales are still generally up compared to 2019, he noted. But that increase isn’t so much a sign of extra cash — it’s a sign that people are trading down from restaurants to preparing food at home.

“I do think budget constraints and financial constraints are making people be more careful in managing their consumption,” Steel said.

1 posted on 06/06/2023 6:15:02 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: All
In that time, dollar sales of eggs rose by 41.2%, milk rose by 0.9%, bread jumped 8.5% and fresh root vegetables rose 10.7%.
2 posted on 06/06/2023 6:16:08 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

maybe inflation can solve the obesity problem!


3 posted on 06/06/2023 6:18:12 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Inflation will do that to you. Pay more for less.


4 posted on 06/06/2023 6:18:37 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Costs more, buys less.

They are just now figuring this out?


5 posted on 06/06/2023 6:19:32 AM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
But even though sales are up, people are buying less.

And when possible, they are packaging less and making smaller packages, reducing weight, volume etc.

6 posted on 06/06/2023 6:20:00 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: TexasFreeper2009

Economic inflation causes personal deflation?


7 posted on 06/06/2023 6:25:31 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Anyone who is buying groceries is spending more on less.


8 posted on 06/06/2023 6:26:56 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Paging Captain Obvious.


9 posted on 06/06/2023 6:28:14 AM PDT by The Louiswu (PEDO JOE MUST GO!!!)
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To: TexasFreeper2009
maybe inflation can solve the obesity problem!

Historically, low income families have struggled with obesity by consuming more carbohydrates, which are less expensive than proteins.

10 posted on 06/06/2023 6:30:29 AM PDT by NautiNurse (Don't be obtuse)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

it’s a sign that people are trading down from restaurants to preparing food at home.

I don’t eat out much.

Most of my favorite restaurants that I ate at a decade ago are closed.

Although I was never a smoker, the stricter no smoking laws killed a lot of local restaurants and bars which had some good food.

Some locals are trying to stay alive with video gaming machines.

It may help the cash flow but it is not helping their food business.

Even if the food is decent, it’s so depressing to watch a lonely person interact with a computer in a public venue.

Then the scamdemic closed a lot of local restaurants.

The restaurants that survived are over priced chains that can’t find good help to staff them and got used to serving take out during Covid which lower their standards of food quality and service.

At least one of the local pizza places has kept its quality and service up.

Other than them there is not much around me worth patronizing.


11 posted on 06/06/2023 6:38:49 AM PDT by Biblebelter
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To: TexasFreeper2009

Here’s hoping!


12 posted on 06/06/2023 6:44:23 AM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Wait a minute. How could someone be spending more, but getting less.
It just doesn’t make sense.

Oh, wait. Never mind.

As a side note, I wonder how many Biden voters realize that insane Democrat policies have caused this mess? Probably none.

13 posted on 06/06/2023 6:44:25 AM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
People are spending more on groceries. But they’re buying less

What a mystery. Whatever could that mean?;-)

14 posted on 06/06/2023 6:46:11 AM PDT by RoosterRedux ( )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I was just over the border in New Jersey yesterday, and a 12 pack of cans of either Coke, or Pepsi are now $9.99.


15 posted on 06/06/2023 6:47:28 AM PDT by EvilCapitalist (81 million votes my ass.)
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To: Biblebelter

When we go out to eat it is for lunch.

The places we go used to be packed with patrons.

Now we just walk in and get a table right away.

Plus where we used to eat lunch out 5 days a week, we have cut it back to 2 days a week.


16 posted on 06/06/2023 6:48:25 AM PDT by Texas resident (We are living through Barak's fundamental transformation)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

You just about have to strain a can of vegetables to find anything but liquid in it.


17 posted on 06/06/2023 6:48:36 AM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Procrastination is just a form of defiance.)
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To: Leaning Right

But the Biden voters will say it was worth it to get rid of the Bad Orange Man.


18 posted on 06/06/2023 6:48:48 AM PDT by EvilCapitalist (81 million votes my ass.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Extra cash? We know not of this phenomenon. Where does one find such magical items? Wasn’t that long ago you could fill you trunk with a hundred bucks. Now? A bag or two. Thanks branDUHn.


19 posted on 06/06/2023 7:06:32 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉)
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To: EvilCapitalist

well, at least there’s no more mean tweets... so there is that. /S


20 posted on 06/06/2023 7:07:16 AM PDT by strange1 ("Show the enemy harm so he shall not advance" Sun Tzu The Art of War)
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