Let's talk grocery store and the price up things going up

Watch enough news and you'll see that the price of groceries going up. I get that effects the average American. Luckily, I am able to buy things I need and go above the basics. However, at times, I think about what I would buy  if I was on a super strict budget. 

For example, a meal such as chicken, rice and a vegetable (which I sometimes eat myself) is pretty cheap. 

My question or discussion topic is, when Americans complain about the price of groceries going up, do they never "downgrade" to cheaper items, or do they continue to buy name brand items, such as chips? Don't know if anyone has done work in the space but I would like to hear ideas or thoughts. 

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I don’t really look at the prices of things, but have noticed my credit card bill is a bit higher month to month than last year. One thing I did notice was I bought cinnamon raisin bread at Whole Foods and it was $8.99 - seems a bit high.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Watch enough news and you'll see that the price of groceries going up. I get that effects the average American. Luckily, I am able to buy things I need and go above the basics. However, at times, I think about what I would buy  if I was on a super strict budget. 

This isn't actually true anymore, though?  The price of groceries did go up, but inflation has cooled to the point where it's not far above the Fed's target.

And yes, people buy cheaper brands or buy in bulk.  Lots of studies on it, they were being referenced left and right in the news over the last 18 months

 

“I get that effects the average American.”

It’s actually affects.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Are grocery price increases actually material?
 

Guessing people’s total grocery bill each year is probably a few thousand bucks. 

I’ve noticed larger increases in the prices of restaurants when dining out

 
hatsand

Are grocery price increases actually material?
 

Guessing people’s total grocery bill each year is probably a few thousand bucks. 

I’ve noticed larger increases in the prices of restaurants when dining out

A few thousand dollars on groceries per year is only $58 per week. Seems very low. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

That's basically 240/month or nearly 2,900/year... aver/age income in the US is $60K, so almost 5% take home lost to basic necessities jumping up.

Not insignificant by any means. 

...
 
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personally I never looked at the price of groceries because I like to it to keep it simple and healthy, so I stick to grains, vegetables, etc., even if prices fluctuate/change for me a healthy body and mind has no price so it won't impact my eating habits.

but on your question, the prices are felt in the sense that "shoot, bananas were last week $1.3 the kg, now they're $1.6", eggs were $4 now they're $5.3, and when this happens to more basic products you'll see the total cost being 10-20% higher than the costs you remember having almost for the same basket a month ago/a year ago/etc. That's how your fellow citizens notice those changes in prices without requiring to track a budget or bookkeeping their expenses at the end of the month.

Obviously those same fellows forget that their salaries also increased by 3-5% due to inflation adjustments, so grocery prices aren't really material imo unless you live in absolute poverty

incentives trumph ethics
 

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