Kinda everywhere.
Hard to tell when they spread the remaining inventory out to cover the shelf.
I didn't look at shelf tags to see what was missing.
FOOD Report food & grocery shortages / price increases here: 2023 Edition
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Kinda everywhere.
Hard to tell when they spread the remaining inventory out to cover the shelf.
I didn't look at shelf tags to see what was missing.
Plus, many of the "super deals" are loss leaders... the store is actually losing money on every one they sell. It works out for them if it brings people into the store, who then buy a bunch of other stuff (often at full price). For the FEW who stock up (like I've always done on butter during the holiday sales), it can make sense to go back several times during the sale to buy the limit. But most people won't bother.
My kids swore I was the reason two local supermarkets went bankrupt! Because I ONLY bought loss leaders or excellent sale items. It apparently was noticeable enough that several cashiers told me they didn't make their own grocery list until they saw what I bought! LOL! But I was feeding 4 teens on a tiny budget... I wasn't worried about OPSEC, although it let me prep as well.
Summerthyme
Yes there is I have a Lindt bar in my hand.. manufactured in Straham, NH....it contains skim milk and artificial flavor...
My favorite Lidl bar has sugar, cocoa butter, milk, hazelnuts, chocolate liquor, butterfat, sunflower lecithin.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
You know it's bad when the loaves of bread are spread out...and are placed sideways. I don't know why they even attempt to fool us.
I wonder what the shelf stockers think of management, when they get such orders.
Reasonable Rascal
Veteran Member
They were probably rich enough to have huge kitchens with commercial ovens for parties.
Great Northwet
Veteran Member
I was at a major grocery yesterday and they had lots of gravy both mixes and jarred for turkey, chicken, au jus, taco, etc. But no Hollandaise or Bearnaise at all. Hollandaise is easy to make from scratch but Bearnaise is more difficult. It may not be a real shortage, but those things come in handy when I need them.
Just saw Food Lion's weekly ad: Whole turkeys $0.29/ lb! This seems like an early sale. Past years, the turkey specials would not be for another 10 days or so. The ad did not say that a minimum purchase was necessary...prior years $35 had to be spent on other things to get the "good price." This may be a year when the birds are cheap...keep your eyes peeled if you want one.
Marseydoats
Veteran Member
The lady in front of me at the Dollar Tree this morning wanted candy canes and the cashier told her that she was sorry, they sold out in 2 days, and she didn't think they were going to get anymore. WM didn't have any either. I usually only go to the DT 3 or 4 times a year for specific things. They have always had the entire back wall stocked with every type of cleaning product that you could want. Now they have almost 4 full aisles of greeting cards and wrapping paper, and less than half an aisle of cleaning stuff. WM has been out of scrub pads for 2 weeks and that's one of the things I was looking for. They did have those, but they didn't have any of the Christmas cookies that I always get there.
WM only had half an aisle of Christmas candy, there was an aisle and a half empty.
They didn't have any vitamin A, again. No Special Kitty cat litter. I wanted some kitchen tongs and they didn't have those. No bagel chips of any kind. Lots of empty shelves thru the store.
They did have appliances and big gift type containers of food staged in the middle of the store that were still wrapped in plastic ,and had signs on them that they couldn't be sold until tomorrow morning at 8 AM...
WM only had half an aisle of Christmas candy, there was an aisle and a half empty.
They didn't have any vitamin A, again. No Special Kitty cat litter. I wanted some kitchen tongs and they didn't have those. No bagel chips of any kind. Lots of empty shelves thru the store.
They did have appliances and big gift type containers of food staged in the middle of the store that were still wrapped in plastic ,and had signs on them that they couldn't be sold until tomorrow morning at 8 AM...
I did my monthly shopping trip today. Lots and lots of empty spaces. Aldi had zero loaves of bread. Walmart had sugar but not very much.
I was able to buy celery for 98 cents a bunch at Walmart so bought enough for a year. Ditto cranberries. I found everything on my list but needed to stop at three stores to do so. Walmart was out of turkey breasts. The meat department lady told me that yesterday one lady bought out the entire bunker of turkey breasts.
Prices are up again. At Aldi frozen OJ concentrate from $1.99 to $2.09. A loaf of store brand bread at Fareway was $2.49. I bought two loaves which will have to last until my next trip, or I will be baking bread. Dollar Tree seemed to be better stocked than Walmart or Aldi but to be honest I was on a tight timeline today so didn't spend much time looking for empty shelves. Large eggs were $1.12 at Aldi and butter was $2.99. Sharp cheddar cheese was on sale for $1.39 -- it's regularly $1.99. Canned fruit remains thin at Aldi, and they did not have any crushed pineapple which, of course, was the only one I needed! Fareway did have it for $1.68 which I considered a good price.
I need some sensitive skin bandages and could only find them in larger size. I've been cutting the bigger ones in half and cutting off excess tape which is a pain but works. I looked at Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Walmart. Walmart had a lot of empty slots in that area. CVS and Walmart are also available in town, but off from the other stores and I didn't have time or energy to go there.
I was able to buy celery for 98 cents a bunch at Walmart so bought enough for a year. Ditto cranberries. I found everything on my list but needed to stop at three stores to do so. Walmart was out of turkey breasts. The meat department lady told me that yesterday one lady bought out the entire bunker of turkey breasts.
Prices are up again. At Aldi frozen OJ concentrate from $1.99 to $2.09. A loaf of store brand bread at Fareway was $2.49. I bought two loaves which will have to last until my next trip, or I will be baking bread. Dollar Tree seemed to be better stocked than Walmart or Aldi but to be honest I was on a tight timeline today so didn't spend much time looking for empty shelves. Large eggs were $1.12 at Aldi and butter was $2.99. Sharp cheddar cheese was on sale for $1.39 -- it's regularly $1.99. Canned fruit remains thin at Aldi, and they did not have any crushed pineapple which, of course, was the only one I needed! Fareway did have it for $1.68 which I considered a good price.
I need some sensitive skin bandages and could only find them in larger size. I've been cutting the bigger ones in half and cutting off excess tape which is a pain but works. I looked at Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Walmart. Walmart had a lot of empty slots in that area. CVS and Walmart are also available in town, but off from the other stores and I didn't have time or energy to go there.
Reasonable Rascal
Veteran Member
Aldi in West Des Moines (I think, south side of University any way, by Sam's Club) was the same Sunday. Dozens of feet of empty shelves where normally there is bread. Only a very few specialty breads on either end.
RR
RR
my little country market has had blank spaces on shelves for the last cpl weeks.
I figgered it was cuz they were too small a chain.
soda, bread and many more items just.. not being shipped?
I used to buy their 'marked down' meats
but a cpl times cooking it up and smelling it, has turned me off.
seems like they dont mark it down as it approaches the best by date
they wait a few days AFTER, then mark it down.
saw a whole shelf of breakfast sausages that were OFF color.
several times I have bought a small roast that was marked down.
never again
I figgered it was cuz they were too small a chain.
soda, bread and many more items just.. not being shipped?
I used to buy their 'marked down' meats
but a cpl times cooking it up and smelling it, has turned me off.
seems like they dont mark it down as it approaches the best by date
they wait a few days AFTER, then mark it down.
saw a whole shelf of breakfast sausages that were OFF color.
several times I have bought a small roast that was marked down.
never again
school marm
Veteran Member
Yesterday at Smith's the Ball quilted 1/2 pint jars were up another dollar or so to $16.99! The pint jars were $15.99! Not that I'm buying--I haven't bought new jars in nearly a decade, but it's one of my inflation indicators. The lids were $4.49, or over 37 cents each. At that price (even though I get my lids at Lehman's so they are less, still the price keeps rising), I figured it was worth it to take advantage of the commercially canned beans on sale. All kinds of store-brand beans--black, pinto, kidney, garbanzo, northern--were 50 cents per can. For the time, convenience, savings on lids, and having my jars available for other foods, I decided it was a bargain to take advantage of. Canned tomatoes were also on sale and since we had such a poor yield due to low temperatures (only one week this summer did temperatures get into the 90s!) I got a couple of flats of those as well.
Butter on sale is over $4/lb. What is the world coming to?!
Butter on sale is over $4/lb. What is the world coming to?!
greysage
On The Level
Trying to get back into going to the grocery store rather than ordering delivery.
So I went tonight to get sugar, coffee, and frozen cheesecake. Check at customer service about my gift card I intended to use. Got that confusion cleared up, the guy was great, didn't make me wait a second.
I was looking for my sugar and two college girls asked what bread crumbs come in "some sort of small bag?" "Nope, it's a tube, probably over there where it says stuffing." "Oh duh thanks!"
Got my other stuff. Earlier guy shouts to me from a way off. 'Sir, you can't use gift card at self checkout."
So I got in line at the register. A young black woman had me rung up, knew exactly what to do with the gift card, and she bagged my stuff without even asking. Thanked me and told me to have a good night. That was almost like pre-plandemic there!
I was floored. The last time I went, people were all weirded out. Me too. That was in August.
Maybe it was because of it being the Friday night crowd?
Doesn't look like we're having shortages near me. And I can't recall Instacart not being able to get something I ordered for a long time now.
So I went tonight to get sugar, coffee, and frozen cheesecake. Check at customer service about my gift card I intended to use. Got that confusion cleared up, the guy was great, didn't make me wait a second.
I was looking for my sugar and two college girls asked what bread crumbs come in "some sort of small bag?" "Nope, it's a tube, probably over there where it says stuffing." "Oh duh thanks!"
Got my other stuff. Earlier guy shouts to me from a way off. 'Sir, you can't use gift card at self checkout."
So I got in line at the register. A young black woman had me rung up, knew exactly what to do with the gift card, and she bagged my stuff without even asking. Thanked me and told me to have a good night. That was almost like pre-plandemic there!
I was floored. The last time I went, people were all weirded out. Me too. That was in August.
Maybe it was because of it being the Friday night crowd?
Doesn't look like we're having shortages near me. And I can't recall Instacart not being able to get something I ordered for a long time now.
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nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I haven't been in a store in about 3 weeks and didn't particularly notice any big shortages. Paper bowls were in short to no supply, so I got styrphome instead. I'm not looking to go to the store for another week, don't particularly need any thing.
I pay 4.18 for two sticks of Kerrygold, but do sometimes buy the wm brand.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
I arrived at the out of town WalMart just at the right time. Workers were refilling the empty cooler of 5 pound bags of chicken drumsticks ($2 each, so .40/lb!).
The one large clearance rack was filled exclusively with boxes of Cheez-It crackers, marked down from $5.72 to $2. Some sort of special edition collectors box, which I have no clue about the artist's work. I only bought one, as I'm really not into such snacks very much. Celery was .98 a bunch, so I bought two, rather than the normal one.
And, finally, after several months, I found size 13-15 heavyweight boot socks.They were in the hunting section, not the regular clothing section. I'm now fully stocked with my winter clothing. I've talked with a few people shopping for socks. Some are saying the size 6-12s are being made smaller. One guy with size 10 1/2 feet says the 6-12s are too small for him. And those size 13-15s, basically sold out in the several WalMart stores that I've visited, recently.
Eggs continue to be the one shortage, running out almost every week, or so. Seeing people buying two, 5-dozen cardboard boxes at a time (120 eggs), is a far cry from their previous buying a carton of 12 to 18 at a time. That'll easily create the shortage. And for almost a year, they've been only in one size, large.
Turkeys (.98 to $1.28/lb) are finally flying out the door. From about 300 birds last week, they are down to about half that, today. But, the $2.68/lb whole turkey breasts aren't selling very well.
I took a chance shopping today, figuring maybe people would spread out their shopping over a long holiday weekend. I was wrong.
The one large clearance rack was filled exclusively with boxes of Cheez-It crackers, marked down from $5.72 to $2. Some sort of special edition collectors box, which I have no clue about the artist's work. I only bought one, as I'm really not into such snacks very much. Celery was .98 a bunch, so I bought two, rather than the normal one.
And, finally, after several months, I found size 13-15 heavyweight boot socks.They were in the hunting section, not the regular clothing section. I'm now fully stocked with my winter clothing. I've talked with a few people shopping for socks. Some are saying the size 6-12s are being made smaller. One guy with size 10 1/2 feet says the 6-12s are too small for him. And those size 13-15s, basically sold out in the several WalMart stores that I've visited, recently.
Eggs continue to be the one shortage, running out almost every week, or so. Seeing people buying two, 5-dozen cardboard boxes at a time (120 eggs), is a far cry from their previous buying a carton of 12 to 18 at a time. That'll easily create the shortage. And for almost a year, they've been only in one size, large.
Turkeys (.98 to $1.28/lb) are finally flying out the door. From about 300 birds last week, they are down to about half that, today. But, the $2.68/lb whole turkey breasts aren't selling very well.
I took a chance shopping today, figuring maybe people would spread out their shopping over a long holiday weekend. I was wrong.
Yes, there is a limit. The online ad did not indicate that but I wondered. A friend went yesterday and has told me that the price is correct, limit is 1 and must have $35 additional. Still a bargain!
I tried to order a Boston Market Thanksgiving dinner (I'm too lazy to cook this year). "Sorry, we aren't offering that this year, NOTHING IS COMING IN." (emphasis added). Commissary not doing dinners either. I may try Omaha Steaks. Like I said I just don't want to cook this year. Maybe by Christmas I'll be up to making bacon-wrapped lasagna again.
straightstreet
Life is better in flip flops
I've found since it's just DH and I now and we have a decently stocked pantry, deep freeze, and long term storage in the "25 year" cans, we can shop our little home town grocery ad sales each week if we need to. - shop the ad I call it. We went today and came home with 4 bags of groceries, 2 cases of water, and a KY legend ham ($25 and a $5 off coupon) and spent just $57. That also included a pork loin. We all know how expensive meat is these days! On the other hand, there were several items they were out of including frozen vegetables and pie crusts that were in the ad and 2% milk which I love and drink every day if I can. All in all I don't think that's bad for what we got at today's prices.
ETA to add location: small town KY
ETA to add location: small town KY
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I was checking online dinners and some had a cut off date of the 15th. I can't do a full dinner without DHs help.
THERE will no more of he above, period....
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
We went to our local Walmart, yesterday, to pick up a few items to hold us over til the first of the month. Our store has been undergoing a huge renovation. It was completed, finally, when we went, yesterday. The store was absolutely packed with product, and pallets were sitting in the aisles waiting to be stocked on the shelves. This new renovation is going to take some getting used to. Everything has been changed. I found everything I needed, but it took a lot longer than it usually takes. I didn't notice a big jump in prices like I expected, once the store was finished with its remodel.
There sure wasn't any slowdown in customers at our store, yesterday.
There sure wasn't any slowdown in customers at our store, yesterday.
Bones
Living On A Prayer
Karo light corn syrup. North Central Kansas.
My wife uses it in her peanut brittle recipe. Last year, the quart bottle were $4.99. This year, no quart bottles in stock, only 1 pint bottles.
Price for the pint, exactly half as much product this year for the same price as last year's quart. $4.99
My wife uses it in her peanut brittle recipe. Last year, the quart bottle were $4.99. This year, no quart bottles in stock, only 1 pint bottles.
Price for the pint, exactly half as much product this year for the same price as last year's quart. $4.99
bracketquant
Veteran Member
I wish that I had another freezer.
Stop & Shop (New England regional supermarket) has turkeys at .49/lb, hams at .99/lb butt/spiral butt, .79/lb for shanks. There's no minimum dollar amount of other purchases, like in the past.
Stop & Shop (New England regional supermarket) has turkeys at .49/lb, hams at .99/lb butt/spiral butt, .79/lb for shanks. There's no minimum dollar amount of other purchases, like in the past.
Yeah... we just don't have room... even though we have 7 freezers! 1800# of chicken and two hogs... plus a side of beef when we butcher one of the steers next week, takes a LOT of room! I had to pull a couple spiral cut hams I got at Aldi for 77 cents a pound a few months ago. I vacuum packed the cooked slices, and it saves some space.
Summerthyme
Bones
Living On A Prayer
Yes.
Her recipe for peanut brittle has a completely odd result when she used the store brand.
It also uses margarine (yuck!) but it doesn't do well using butter.
It is a wonderful recipe, handed down to her. Any change in ingredients has a poor affect on it, so she stays with the original.
She isn't this year, but in the past several Christmas seasons, she would make it to order and sell and it was helpful at Christmastime. She needs a year off. Her sanity and a more relaxed season for her is worth far more.
I think 5 or maybe 6 years sgo, she made 240 lbs of it, 2 lb batches at a time. The stuff is wonderful.
babysteps
Veteran Member
Oh thank goodness
I'm not the only one.
We have 4 freezers and hubby and I get comments from MIL about our "excessive" freezers and garden and all of it.
She's sure first in line when she wants fresh goodies out of the garden or wants eggs or beef, though.
I hear you! Of course, we raise meat to sell, but even when it was just our family, I kept 47 cubic feet of freezer space absolutely full... home grown meat, veggies, fruit, baked goods, etc.
Summerthyme
Plenty are cooking around here. I ran up to the little local/regional chain grocery yesterday afternoon for some one-off foil pie tins and the wine for "second Thanksgiving" dinner at friends on Friday. The store was bustling with people buying dinner makings, and I think they had every high school kid in the township working, stocking shelves to keep up.
Their frozen turkeys never came down from $1.47/lb. so the cheapest I found were still either Walmart or Aldi at .98/lb. I opted for Walmart late last week for tomorrow's turkey.
Their frozen turkeys never came down from $1.47/lb. so the cheapest I found were still either Walmart or Aldi at .98/lb. I opted for Walmart late last week for tomorrow's turkey.
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psychgirl
Has No Life - Lives on TB
We are staying home tomorrow too so I just got a small turkey breast.
I’m not going overboard for the two of us. I wonder where else might have dinners to take home….Bob Evans might?
When to Giant Food (Central Virginia) yesterday and got the remainder of the items for thanksgiving dinner...the store was was very well stocked ....lots of specials.... frozen turkey was only $0.37 per pound....it is just DH and myself but we continue to make thanksgiving dinner with all the trimming every year...we make the sausage dressing my family has made forever...dh helps me mix it because the pot is huge...it is fully cooked and we freeze a bunch of dressing in meal sized containers to use with chickens during the year...the best part of cooking is the the leftovers ..
We only cook a turkey once year...and would really miss all the fixings if we didn't go to the "trouble" of doing it...lol....homemade giblet gravy and homemade pumpkin pie. .....we have fun cooking it together...
This year dh took off Wednesday...so he will have a mini.. vacation and not have to go back to work until Monday....
Happy Thanksgiving to all
We only cook a turkey once year...and would really miss all the fixings if we didn't go to the "trouble" of doing it...lol....homemade giblet gravy and homemade pumpkin pie. .....we have fun cooking it together...
This year dh took off Wednesday...so he will have a mini.. vacation and not have to go back to work until Monday....
Happy Thanksgiving to all
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