Eggs Cost What Now?
If your weekly grocery bill is starting to look like the cost of a plane ticket, same. Food prices are up about 30% in the last six years. Is this thanks to the pandemic? The war in Ukraine? Severe weather? Tariff uncertainty? Some price gouging here and there? (Checks notes) Yes.
And now, due to a really bad bird flu, eggs are the Birkin of the dairy aisle. Every time the virus shows up on a farm, the entire flock has to go. This trend is driving up margins for producers, who pass on the costs to your grocery store.
The average US price of a dozen eggs just hit $4.95 — a 45-year high. Big-name supermarkets can ride out price hikes better than your local grocer, but you’ll usually end up absorbing the cost one way or another.
So, how do you keep your grocery bill in check? Assuming you’re not staging an egg heist, we texted our favorite savvy shoppers for tips …
“Expensive” stores may have good deals. Skimm office manager Julia used to work as a personal assistant, and leaned into loyalty programs to source pantry staples in unexpected places. Her go-to? CVS.
Combine takeout with home cooking. Financial counselor Heidi Clemons flags that “takeout” isn’t always code for “more expensive.” “We had friends visiting, so we ordered two pizzas from Costco but paired them with a salad kit, cut-up fruit, and drinks from home. We fed seven adults for just over $30,” she said.
Use your grocery bill to subsidize gas costs. Budgeting blogger Andrea Woroch notes that many grocery stores (like Kroger’s) have fuel-savings programs — and you can often use the points at participating gas stations, not just the ones at the store.
Check the floor plan. Skimm operations associate Mary uses the Publix app to know exactly where on the shelves to find the things on her list. “It helps with not picking up random items,” she said.
– Yours in extreme couponing, Anna Davies, writer, New York City
PS: If you’re rethinking grocery spending, why not rethink your rent too? Our upcoming Skimm+ event breaks down how to own — no trust fund required. Spots are filling up fast. Sign up here.
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Not English:
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday in testimony before the House Financial Services Committee that the Fed “has made great progress” on inflation “but we’re not quite there yet.”
“Today’s inflation print … says the same thing,” he added. As a result, the Fed wants to keep rates “restrictive for now,” he said. At its current level, the Fed’s key rate is restricting borrowing and spending by consumers and businesses, Powell has said.
Source: PBS News
Now in English…
“Inflation print” = insider term for the quarterly inflation report.
Overall, the economy is in a good spot. But prices are ticking up again, mostly thanks to groceries and gas.
That means the Fed isn’t going to lower interest rates just yet.
Higher rates make borrowing money harder. Since loans cost more, people and businesses will spend less, which helps keep prices from rising too fast.
Are you building an emergency fund? Saving for a down payment? Paying off student loans?
Use the letters below to identify the word or phrase. Then, click to reveal the answer.
Clue: The name for the displays at the end of the aisle that tempt you to add higher-dollar impulse items to your cart. Hello, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. We meet again.
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