So how much have prices gone up?

[gimmethesimplelife]

What's your take? How much has the inflation rate been since covid? Rob

[iris lilies]

I am vague about any price increases. A year ago it seemed like grocery prices were higher, but then our new grocery store went in and they are lower. So I don’t know.


The one I really noticed was my dog’s eye medicine. Our dog who died four years ago needed the same medication and his was half the price as it is now.

[Rogar]

Recent news says that the purchasing power of the average person is about the same as pre covid due to wage increases. My barber railed on high grocery prices without noting the 20% increase in her charges. My small fixed non-cola pension hasn't heard the news, but my retirement investments have.

Coffee is a staple that seems to be expensive. Some groceries seem to have gone down a bit or have better sales..

[gimmethesimplelife]

I was at Home Depot yesterday and a pomegranate tree that would have been 19.99 pre covid was priced at 44.99. Crazy!!! Rob

[Rogar]

I paid $11.00 for a big locally grown watermelon recently. That seemed like a lot. Also, those cheap business man type lunch deals at restaurants seems to have mostly gone away.

[iris lilies]

I was at Home Depot yesterday and a pomegranate tree that would have been 19.99 pre covid was priced at 44.99. Crazy!!! Rob
I don’t know that horticultural items are a good indicator, tho. Crop failures, unseasonal effects on growth, etc…ya never know what effects there are.

I know that a couple years ago the weather was crappy for PNW growers of iris. They did not raise prices but they sent apologies with the orders about size of the rhizomes. That was funny to me because even their “undersized” plants were big compared to what I can grow.

[iris lilies]

Yes, that’s what I am reading, that wages have risen along with prices. I have no reason to argue with that.

[littlebittybobby]

okay----an anecdote about how prices have increased. so anyway---the Windy's Hamburger place had a sign that said: Forsty's 99 cents, so I thought okay; a Frosty for littlebittymee. Anyhow---I got in line in the driveup behind a cheap old compact car(like what I drive) and the driver ordered something that took awhile for "fast food". Well, I saw on the order board what his order was---and it was for two wendy-booger combo meals(or whatever--drink, burger, fries etc.), and guess what? The total price was a few cents shy of $24!!!!! My Frosty was in a 4 ounce paper cup!!! Yup. But yeah---the late owners sonny boy tried to run for Zurra Guvnor as a demmacrat, but nobody bought into it. Fxxk him. Greedy jxxk. But yeah---that's how much things've gone up. Hope that helps you some. Thankk mee.

[pinkytoe]

Random grocery and sundry items are noticeably higher - cat litter, pet food, deodorant, bleach, junk food. At least 25% more than a few years back. Deodorant used to be around $4-5 and it has doubled.

[Tybee]

We went to the coast yesterday to look at a house over there and the diner we looked at had the egg breakfast special at $15. A stack of pancakes was $15. Their diner prices were about two dollars an item higher than ours in Western Maine.
Luckily, I made sandwiches and brought them with us.

[happystuff]

Yes, that’s what I am reading, that wages have risen along with prices. I have no reason to argue with that.

Well, I haven't gotten a raise, so I'll argue with it. The union contract (I'm not a member, but have to abide by the contract decisions/rules) that was due to go into effect July 1st is still awaiting signatures and member voting. I have no clue if it will include a raise for me or not.

Don't know if I mentioned it before or not, but I realized how little I was making when I found out that I was only making .50/hour more than the teenagers hired for the summer.

So, again, I will say that not all wages have risen along with prices.

[frugal-one]

Random grocery and sundry items are noticeably higher - cat litter, pet food, deodorant, bleach, junk food. At least 25% more than a few years back. Deodorant used to be around $4-5 and it has doubled.

Wow… what brand of deodorant do you use?

[KayLR]

Don't you suppose it has to do with the price of fuel? Everything has to be transported, unless you buy your deodorant locally.

[frugal-one]

Bought deodorant today. The usual brand and it $2.49!

[ToomuchStuff]

Don't you suppose it has to do with the price of fuel? Everything has to be transported, unless you buy your deodorant locally.

A lot has to do with the price of fuel. Also policy changes and a few other things. We're trying to get our spices and had to change companies. The old company wanted us to now buy two years worth (wouldn't keep) at a higher price, would have cost $18K.
Rounds are up about 10 cents each since 2019.
We now have a "bargin" grocery store (dollar general market), which I have seen some stuff more expensive then a regular grocery store. Saw a video the other day that shown muffins more at dollar tree then walmart, by a large amount.

[pinkytoe]

deodorant
I like to use deodorant without aluminum so they are more expensive to start with.

[CompulsiveGardener]

Recent news says that the purchasing power of the average person is about the same as pre covid due to wage increases.

My position is on a union contract. Very poor negotiating was completed for the last round and I calculated, using the reported inflation numbers and what we had received for wage increases, how spending power had changed compared to 2019: it was down by 5% even after the new raises. Union leaders and apparently most of the membership cannot do math. I sent them a letter and canceled my membership. I like my job and the health insurance is good, so I've stayed there thus far.