Honey, Someone Shrunk the Groceries

Like millions of other American families, we are paying close attention to our grocery budget. I have always been a frugal shopper but with this year’s price increases, I am trying to be extra careful at the grocery store. Imagine my surprise when my beloved Publix store brand pasta was the same price as fancier name brand pasta. I knew this could not be right, so upon investigation I realized that the box of name brand pasta contained 25% less pasta than the store brand. Coincidentally, I read an article in Time Magazine about this very trend the next day. The gist of the article is that companies are hesitant to raise prices again right now, so instead package size is being reduced.

Do food makers think we are idiots? I am insulted that someone has decided I will pay the same price for less food and not notice. Ice cream cartons have been shrinking for years. (If you don’t believe me, go to the freezer right now and see if your ice cream contains an actual half gallon.) The moral of the story is read the label to see if you are buying the same amount of food as you did last year.