Gee, I wonder why? Hmmmmm......
Posted on 04/14/2008 2:50:45 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
U.S. Food Inflation Worst in 17 Years
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Steve Tarpin can bake a graham cracker crust in his sleep, but explaining why the price for his Key lime pies went from $20 to $25 required mastering a thornier topic: global economics.
He recently wrote a letter to his customers and posted it near the cash register listing the factors -- dairy prices driven higher by conglomerates buying up milk supplies, heat waves in Europe and California, demand from emerging markets and the weak dollar.
The owner of Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies in Brooklyn said he didn't want customers thinking he was "jacking up prices because I have a unique product."
"I have to justify it," he said.
The U.S. is wrestling with the worst food inflation in 17 years, and analysts expect new data due on Wednesday to show it's getting worse. That's putting the squeeze on poor families and forcing bakeries, bagel shops and delis to explain price increases to their customers.
U.S. food prices rose 4% in 2007, compared with an average 2.5% annual rise for the last 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the agency says 2008 could be worse, with a rise of as much as 4.5%.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxbusiness.com ...
Then, in it's increased wisdom, the government diverts taxpayers' money towards subsidizing the diversion of vital agricultural resources from food production to expensive ethanol production. So as if it weren't bad enough that transportation costs were rising, the reduction of potential food supply is also having the predictable effect.
Grow your own, people, grow your own. It's not going to get any better until about 90% of the democRATS and 50% of the Republicans are run out of office.
Concur. 4% is way low—20% is more like it.
"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
I'm happy to say that I'm ahead of the game. ;)
Realistically, I've noticed prices have increased on a number of items. Not just prepared items but raw foods as well. I went into sticker shock pricing red peppers yesterday. They rival the price of a new Toyota! (well, OK, not quite, but they're way up from a few months ago).
That would work well for those with a 30x30 foot plot of dirt, but those hurting the most are probably among the 60 million or so that live in crammed apartments, with zip space for gardens.
I just purchase a medium size hot house tomato for $1.47. Was going to buy several but figure I can do without tomatoes until summer when my family in the country will have plenty.
Whey protein, something we paid $50 a month for last year ("cheap" protein source, consumed in considerable quantities for fitness-related purposes) on the other hand has increased in price by 48% between those periods (and 68% between April 14 2008 and February 8, 2007). That hit invoked a lifestyle change!
Gee, I wonder why? Hmmmmm......
It takes an incredible amount of oil and natural gas to grow food.
Food prices are up because the price of oil and natural gas is up. And those prices are set by those that control most of the oil, like OPEC. They now are realizing just how much more control they have over the rest of world. They control how much food is grown. They can ask for higher prices and starve more and more of the world.
From http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/100303_eating_oil.html:
"In the United States, 400 gallons of oil equivalents are expended annually to feed each American (as of data provided in 1994).7
Agricultural energy consumption is broken down as follows:
· 31% for the manufacture of inorganic fertilizer
· 19% for the operation of field machinery
· 16% for transportation
· 13% for irrigation
· 08% for raising livestock (not including livestock feed)
· 05% for crop drying
· 05% for pesticide production
· 08% miscellaneous
Energy costs for packaging, refrigeration, transportation to retail outlets, and household cooking are not considered in these figures.
To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.9 According to The Fertilizer Institute (http://www.tfi.org), in the year from June 30 2001 until June 30 2002 the United States used 12,009,300 short tons of nitrogen fertilizer.10 Using the low figure of 1.4 liters diesel equivalent per kilogram of nitrogen, this equates to the energy content of 15.3 billion liters of diesel fuel, or 96.2 million barrels.
Since Gorebal warming hasn’t worked, I have noticed the new focus is Global hunger.
Try, try again.
Probably because jobs were just starting to be outsourced and gas wasn't up like it is now, and easy loans were available.
It's the big one 'Lizabeth -- I'm agreeing with Toddster!!!!
Them pulick skools probably aren't the best supporters of capitalism - free enterprise.
The staffs and employees don't really like the concepts of 'risk and competition'. Too messy for them. And speaking as a former teacher, I found they really aren't inclined to learn anything outside of what their pinko - liberal perfessers told them.
And shockingly, some of the folks in private enterprise don't really care for 'risk and competition'.
Ever wonder why we regulate and require licenses for hairdressers and undertakers?
No.
Key Lime Pies are People!!!
Well... It is curious that this rise started when the Democrats got control of the House and Senate in 2007. What did they do to spur on the price increases in food and energy and the loss of confidence in the housing market? Their “spin” on the “bad” economy appears to be becoming reality... If they keep talking they may yet get us into a recession.
I remember when I was a kid,you could only get stuff like tomatoes and watermelon when they were in season. Now, everything is stored for weeks, months until you buy them. That storage cost $$.
Obama’s WORLD POVERTY ACT to the tune of 845 billion to feed the poor of the world has made news...OH did you not know about it.
HERE IS INFO:
YES WE CAN, AND by the way US TAXPAYERS will be paying for it...
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