ECON Report food and grocery price increases/shortages here - UPDATE, new runs on the stores

[annieosage]

I also had cataract surgery and decided not to pay the extra money for upgrade. I have already broken three pair of the cheap dollar tree/dollar general China glasses. I finally filled my prescription for new glasses, which are progressives. I can now see and read, even though I am back to wearing glasses. So much easier not to have to search where I left the reading glasses.
And thanks for the reminder..I should buy dried apricots for my son for Christmas.

I have to have cataract surgery on both eyes. Surgeries set for 10-6 and 10-13. My copay for each eye is $150. The Dr. talked about 2 upgrades. One is what he called "pano vision" and I would never need any glasses every again. It has an upcharge of $3k. Uh- no. Left eye no problems other than cataract and should work great with the basic surgery. My right eye cataract is not as bad as the left but I have a bad astigmatism and would still need glasses. I opted for the midgrade up charge of $950 and will only need glasses for reading if everything goes right. I don't really have an extra $950 but I figured it as a prep item. Good eyesight without the need for glasses. Hopefully it works the way it needs to.

 

[Cardinal]

For those who really like their butter, it can be canned. It does not taste the same, more like a ghee kind of thing.

Yeah, it is ghee, you remove the milk solids, but it is shelf stable. And a healthy cooking oil too.

 

[von Koehler]

Got two deliveries today one from Walmart and the other from Jewell.

Both were on time and only one item was out of stock.

Prices continue to rise.

 

[connie]

I have been looking for aspirin. None at CVS, Albertsons, Big lots or Dollar Tree. Saw some low dose. This is SE NM.
I think I checked Costco in July and they were out.

 

[naturallysweet]

Went to two stores today. One a safeway in my yuppy type town. Another a megamart in a town I like to call Mexico.

Mexico was only missing the clearance butter. (Depressing. It was 99cents!). But I was able to pick up (several) 10 pounds of jimmy dean breakfast sausage for $9.99. also found turkey spam, which they don't carry in my town. So I shamelessly hoarded them all. $3.29 for both kinds. That's about $1.50 cheaper than home.

Back in the US , the store looked like covid was just announced with the cleaning products. Still had the apology sign up. Paper products had more not there then there.

I never technically left Oregon.

 

[TXYellowBird]

Found some wonderful half gallon Ball jars today at a local store, bought some, left some for others. Lucky me!

 

[SquonkHunter]

North Austin (TX) Sam's Club: well stocked, plenty of everything, no limits. Also plenty of 25 & 50 lb. sacks of rice & beans. There were cleaned out in April. Pleasant experience overall.

Round Rock (TX) Walmart: nice store in a nice area. Well stocked, plenty of everything. Also a pleasant experience. Very friendly staff.

 

[Dennis Olson]

Just got back from H-E-B. I needed a buttload of stuff, and ended up burning $230 (yikes!)

I found LAWRY’S LOW SODIUM SEASON SALT!!! First time in 3 months! I also got ice cream, and several different cookies. There are triple-berry Newton’s again! Those have been out since March.

I’m so glad I got that freezer. It’s not even ¼ full, but I have at least 5x the amount of stuff that could fit in in the top freezer of the fridge.

 

[hiwall]

I’m so glad I got that freezer. It’s not even ¼ full

You should fill the freezer with something, many use water-filled bottles (you can use anything that is heavy). The mass makes the freezer run much less often and if the power goes out it will remain frozen inside much longer.

 

[vessie]

Just got back from H-E-B. I needed a buttload of stuff, and ended up burning $230 (yikes!)

I found LAWRY’S LOW SODIUM SEASON SALT!!! First time in 3 months! I also got ice cream, and several different cookies. There are triple-berry Newton’s again! Those have been out since March.

I’m so glad I got that freezer. It’s not even ¼ full, but I have at least 5x the amount of stuff that could fit in in the top freezer of the fridge.

Is it called, "Lowry's Less Sodium Salt" or "Low Sodium Salt"?

I'm not finding any of it with the words Low Sodium Salt. V

 

[Dennis Olson]

It’s LAWRY’S , not LOWRY’S

 

[Satanta]

FL took me to Red Lobster for dinner. Late Bday dinner for me.

I remember when RL was, not so much a suit and tie, dress up for dinner affair but you did not wear street clothes in.

Now it is an expensive Long John Silvers.

Remember the big Fake leather menus with pages of choices?

One and 1/4 page. One page is double-sided. Drinks on one side Menu Choices on the other and the 1/4 page was 'Specials".

Printed on plain white paper.

There were maybe four side choices. FL got Coleslaw and it tasted like a mix of mayo and vinegar with a bit of chopped cabbage sprinkled into it.

 

[thompson]

There are triple-berry Newton’s again!

Those things are so good!

 

[thompson]

FL took me to Red Lobster for dinner. Late Bday dinner for me.

I remember when RL was, not so much a suit and tie, dress up for dinner affair but you did not wear street clothes in.

Now it is an expensive Long John Silvers.

Remember the big Fake leather menus with pages of choices?

One and 1/4 page. One page is double-sided. Drinks on one side Menu Choices on the other and the 1/4 page was 'Specials".

Printed on plain white paper.

There were maybe four side choices. FL got Coleslaw and it tasted like a mix of mayo and vinegar with a bit of chopped cabbage sprinkled into it.

We always celebrate the Marine Corps birthday with a group of like-minded Jarheads and their spouses or girlfriends and have dinner somewhere. Last year everyone voted for Red Lobster and it will be the last time. Food was subpar and pricey and the service was non-existent. They weren't busy and had plenty of help. RL has been going downhill for a while. Very disappointing,

 

[Marseydoats]

Remember that what is plentiful during the growing season locally - is not around Nov - April.

All the local CSA's have greenhouses. They do sometimes take off 6 weeks for the holidays, Thanksgiving to New Year's. Otherwise they're year round.

 

[Dennis Olson]

I haven’t eaten at “Dead Lobster” for years.

 

[Keric4]

You should fill the freezer with something, many use water-filled bottles (you can use anything that is heavy). The mass makes the freezer run much less often and if the power goes out it will remain frozen inside much longer.

We do this especially during hurricane season. I try not to keep alot of food in there during this time. (I can alot also), so less spoilage if the power goes out. We also use those shoebox size Sterilite containers. Makes awesome block ice!.

 

[Dennis Olson]

I put two, 1 gallon jugs of water in it.

 

[ginnie6]

sat down for a bit and watched, didnt see what I would call, preppers carts, everyone had a good variaty, most looked like what youd buy for a couple of weeks,

I always try and make sure my cart never looks like a "prepper" cart....even if that means buying the same thing at multiple stores or sending ds thru another checkout line and meeting him at the truck, which I always check to make sure no one is watching lol.

 

[EYW]

We always celebrate the Marine Corps birthday with a group of like-minded Jarheads and their spouses or girlfriends and have dinner somewhere. Last year everyone voted for Red Lobster and it will be the last time. Food was subpar and pricey and the service was non-existent. They weren't busy and had plenty of help. RL has been going downhill for a while. Very disappointing,

They also tend to attract a vibrant and diverse group.

 

[coloradohermit]

I went to our local Kroger this morning and got everything on my fairly short list. All aisles seemed well stocked, not just front lined. Most aisles were full of large carts of boxes of goods to be stocked. Canned vegs have gone up in price from 69 cents to 85 cents. The meat section had everything but was more spaced out than usual when normally well stocked.

 

[thompson]

They also tend to attract a vibrant and diverse group.

It's very "white bread" at the one here, but I get what you're saying.

 

[coloradohermit]

I made another quick run to the local small health/natural food store for Sambucus elderberry syrup and I found something new and wonderful. I can't wait to try purple sweet potato! I've never heard of such a thing, but I do love sweet potato.

 

[Red Baron]

Woodman's grocery in SE WI still doesn't have sanitizing wipes or Lysol disinfecting spray. They have been out since Day One of the China Virus.

The alcohol hand sanitizer is some very generic Chinese crap that is only 60%. It really needs to be over 70% strength to be truly effective.

My local store is famous for people who just suddenly stop and leave their cart on one side of the aisle while they stand on the other side of the aisle. Completely blocking the aisle and oblivious to those around them.

One piece of advice not being followed is the admonition for only -one- family member to go inside of the store. Way too many times people will have two, three, or four kids with them. Plus the kids are yelling, screaming, crying, and running around the store like recess at a grade school.

 

[summerthyme]

Woodman's grocery in SE WI still doesn't have sanitizing wipes or Lysol disinfecting spray. They have been out since Day One of the China Virus.

The alcohol hand sanitizer is some very generic Chinese crap that is only 60%. It really needs to be over 70% strength to be truly effective.

My local store is famous for people who just suddenly stop and leave their cart on one side of the aisle while they stand on the other side of the aisle. Completely blocking the aisle and oblivious to those around them.

One piece of advice not being followed is the admonition for only -one- family member to go inside of the store. Way too many times people will have two, three, or four kids with them. Plus the kids are yelling, screaming, crying, and running around the store like recess at a grade school.

It's really difficult for some folks to shop without the kids. And you sure as hell can't leave them in the car while you shop! You'll have a gaggle of Karens calling CPS before you get into the store.

That said, kids *can* be trained how to act in a store, and it bugs me greatly when they aren't. We always got compliments on the behavior of our kids when shopping or at farm meetings. They were far from little zombies, but they understood appropriate public behavior. And they knew we'd have no issue leaving them home if they couldn't behave.

Summerthyme

 

[Red Baron]

It's really difficult for some folks to shop without the kids. And you sure as hell can't leave them in the car while you shop! You'll have a gaggle of Karens calling CPS before you get into the store.

That said, kids *can* be trained how to act in a store, and it bugs me greatly when they aren't. We always got compliments on the behavior of our kids when shopping or at farm meetings. They were far from little zombies, but they understood appropriate public behavior. And they knew we'd have no issue leaving them home if they couldn't behave.

Summerthyme

Good point, especially for a single parent.

What bugs me is the mob that rolls in on the EBT days. Always easy to determine by the -two- carts overflowing with flavored water, white bread, and junk food. Two, three or four adults in the posse along with a chattering gaggle of little kids.

 

[annieosage]

Good point, especially for a single parent.

What bugs me is the mob that rolls in on the EBT days. Always easy to determine by the -two- carts overflowing with flavored water, white bread, and junk food. Two, three or four adults in the posse along with a chattering gaggle of little kids.

So flavored water, white bread, and junk food means you're on EBT? Asking for a friend...

 

[lonestar09]

Got a weird one for you.

Diet tonic water.

Since caffeine free Coke Zero is now seemingly unavailable anywhere in the DMV (and we've looked) I've started drinking sugar free juices (Ocean Spray sugar free red grapefruit juice-yummm!) mixed with diet tonic water.
WalMart has been a regular and steady source for their brand diet tonic water-but recently supplies seem to have dried up. It's usually in the drink mixer aisle, and drink mixers seem to be plentiful. So does regular tonic water (it's as bad as drinking a regular coke, sugar wise). But the diet stuff is just not there in local stores. Possibly a shipping or distribution issue, don't know. The missus did find some other brand at Shoppers this week-and bought 2 cases of it (everything they had).

Tonic water is best when mixed with gin and lime

 

[lonestar09]

If you struggle with kidney stones tonic water is good for you!

When you add gin

 

[lonestar09]

Went to 4 different Walmart this week in different towns. Checked out all the clearance sections and all had many #10 cans of vegetables for either a $1 or $1.50. Left them all there for others to buy.

 

[Meemur]

You can add a shot of gin to the juiced veggies in tonic water.

 

[Meemur]

Went to 4 different Walmart this week in different towns. Checked out all the clearance sections and all had many #10 cans of vegetables for either a $1 or $1.50. Left them all there for others to buy.

Great prices! I've been buying fresh, blanching them, sealing them in freezer bags, and freezing them for later this winter. There's significantly less salt when I process them that way.

 

[packyderms_wife]

When you add gin

IIRC Gin contains citrus which means I cannot drink it.

Just got back from running my birthday errands in Des Moines and Ankeny with OC! Went to Harbor Freight which was very well stocked, and to the Woodsmith Store which was also very well stocked. Didn't notice much of an increase in exotic wood prices, or some of the nicer domestic wood prices. Spalted Maple was 9.99 a board foot and that's pretty typical for that type of wood.

Went to the Aldi in West Des Moines/Urbandale and the shelves were very well stocked, found beets and bought a case. What I noticed was my store here locally compared to the one there is that there were no limits. I bought two cans of Pink Salmon which we were shocked to find, my store has been out since March.

Went to the Sam's Club in Ankeny and there were no holes there either other than they didn't have any Nasocort in stock, and with it being harvest season I'm not surprised. Bought a 5 can tube of salmon filets, no holes there, so between what I bought today and what I have on hand I now have a one years supply, for me, of canned salmon. I like to have a chefs salad at least once a month and put the canned salmon filet on it, and use the pink salmon for salmon patties or salmon noodle casserole.

Stopped at my local Fareway on my way home to pick up some pork steaks and a head of cabbage, we're doing my big birthday dinner tomorrow with baked pork steaks, finish them off with bbq sauce, coleslaw, broccoli salad, and homemade applesauce! There were no holes at my local Fareway other than they don't have the beef tamales... I need to mail Barry's box tomorrow.

Everywhere we went everything was stocked very well and at least four deep on the shelves which is pretty typical for my location covid or not... we have a lot of students here so groceries fly off of the shelves and quickly.

What I did notice was in shortage was there are no real pumpkins at most of the places we typically buy them from. I bought the last lone sugar pumpkin at Aldis and a small bag of mixed gourds. And there was no canned pumpkin on the shelves at Aldis, but there was canned pumpkin at Fareway. I bought a large can of yams instead, and when I told him what I was going ot do with it he said and then pour it into a pie crust to bake? So now I need to get a second can cause there's not enough yams in that can, after I drain it, to make a pie.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Great prices! I've been buying fresh, blanching them, sealing them in freezer bags, and freezing them for later this winter. There's significantly less salt when I process them that way.

Fareway had green beans for 99 a pound today, didn't buy any because I'm already full up on fresh veggies for the week.

 

[Dennis Olson]

I just got back from Wally’s. I needed fire any killer and bug spray. I got there not a moment too soon. They’re in the process of changing their shelves from summer to winter products.

 

[1eagle]

I just got back from Wally’s. I needed fire any killer and bug spray. I got there not a moment too soon. They’re in the process of changing their shelves from summer to winter products.

which tomorrow, on the clearance shelf, could be 1/2 off??

 

[Dennis Olson]

Walmart doesn’t do “clearance shelves.”

 

[MissionBend]

The wallie world over in Pryor Ok has one shelf that has discounted items. It has everything imaginable all mixed up. It is also in a not easy found section either.

 

[Millwright]

Walmart doesn’t do “clearance shelves.”

Ours has a 30' aisle, sometimes both sides.

They do move it around the store from time to time.

 

[Dennis Olson]

Mine has an endcap here and there. That's it.