https://www.agriculture.com/livestock/cattle/lawsuits-allege-price-fixing-by-big-beef-companies

https://nypost.com/2020/05/09/worlds-biggest-beef-producer-faces-federal-anti-trust-probe/

https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/11-attorneys-general-seek-probe-into-meatpacking-industry-for-price-fixing

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, the state attorneys general noted that the domestic beef processing market is highly concentrated, with the four largest beef processors controlling 80 percent of the industry.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-poultry-probe/u-s-launches-criminal-probe-into-alleged-chicken-price-fixing-by-tyson-rivals-idUSKCN1TQ2QO

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-meatpacking/us-to-probe-surging-beef-prices-falling-cattle-prices-during-coronavirus-pandemic-idUSKCN21Q3DD

https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/justice-dept-intervenes-in-major-poultry-price-fixing-case

The landmark Maplevale lawsuit alleged that the biggest poultry companies – Koch Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, Tyson Foods, Sanderson Farms, Perdue Farms, Mountaire, and other poultry giants – coordinated prices between 2008 and 2016, resulting in a 50% price hike for broiler chicken. They took this action “despite input costs (primarily corn and soybeans) falling roughly 20% to 23% over the same time period,” according to the complaint. The defendants in the case control about 90% of the country’s poultry sector.

I don't go out to shop or anywhere, I get curbside pick up with my daughter's order and they have gone up a little at Meijer. My other daughter went to Aldi and I checked my receipt and not a thing had gone up that I had her get for me and I got a lot of things. You were limited on four of one kind of canned food, then you could get four of another kind and so forth. I got flour, same price it always was as was the sugar, brown sugar. Great price on a 3 pack of colored sweet peppers too. I got thighs and drumsticks a ten pound package was I think $5.89.

Sue in Central Indiana

I put in a small order for Walmart delivery last night for today. The only thing that might be higher than normal are the eggs? I have been thinking of having a delivery of food sent to the local food bank. I don't know if they (Walmart) will do that or not. I may call the food bank and ask them if that's possible before I give it a try.

No higher food costs here. I purchase things on sale, buy extra....it's pretty much the same here. Gas is half what it was a year ago. Lots of money saved there!

My local Shop n Save prices went up. So I go to Aldis and Walmart now and use the local store for small stuff like milk, bread and loss leader items. Isn't it a coincidence that the prices went up when people started to finally get their unemployment money and incentive checks. Let's take advantage.

I looked last night because I am almost finished with what I eat for breakfast and was debating between going to the store or ordering for delivery. This would be the first time since March 7. Of the things I normally purchase most have gone up.

Isn't it a coincidence that the prices went up when people started to finally get their unemployment money and incentive checks. Let's take advantage.

The stores have been pummeled by labor safety issues and supply issues.Costs for the stores themselves are rising, and grocery stores have to raise their costs to maki a decent profit, they are not making a killing.

I read in an article recently that if shoppers would be happy buying whole chickens, poultry prices could stay down because labor is much less, but whole chickens don't sell well.

I'm thinking too that the pitiful checks don't go far, after late rent and mortgage/car payments it is not as if families have huge amounts left for food.

We've noticed a slight increase at Aldi & Kroger since we're using the delivery or pick up options.

The FDA did increase the monthly SNAP benefit by 40%.

“These are unprecedented times for American families who are facing
joblessness and hunger. USDA is providing a 40% increase in SNAP
benefits to ensure that low-income individuals have enough food to feed
themselves and their families during this national emergency,” said
Secretary Perdue.

Locally, eggs and prunes (!) are the only items I've noticed with a price hike. Eggs were dirt cheap before. It's hard to see how farmers were making any sort of profit when a dozen eggs were 80 cents or less, so I don't mind paying $1.20-ish. My DH buys most of our meats, I don't pay much attention there. We haven't had meat shortages here, but I guess it's a good thing my Dad taught me to break down a chicken, and that I passed that skill along to my DD.

That said, this crisis had made me realize how incredibly lucky me and my extended family are to be food-secure. It's not a financial hardship for us to keep a well-stocked pantry. For many, they don't have the few hundred dollars it takes to keep 'extra' around. Paycheck to paycheck ... yikes.

Lucille, When a store doubles their prices on commonly used items, but other store don't that is TAKING ADVANTAGE.

Buying whole chicken would be waste for us. We only eat the breast.

Definitely prices have gone up on some things. Kroger usually has the family pack of boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.99 it's now $2.29. Ground beef has gone up a bit also. Shrimp and fish are about the same.

There have been daily several locations to pick up free food distribution that are announced on TV. They show long lines. Some are schools for the regular students who would normally be fed at the school.

Lots and lots of donations. People from the professional football teams and other professional sports. Etc.

I have not been paying all that much attention to prices lately, as I am happy to be able to have something to buy. I've been going to higher end stores the past couple of months in order to avoid families with children, as the children are not good about keeping their masks on, and I fear them the most. The prices are a bit higher, but the inventory is better, and people respect social distancing better. Also the higher end stores are less crowded.

We are still saving money because DB Kevin is not going out for lunch, and I make both lunch and dinner for both of us. I'm also starting to make clothes for us (not that we really need them, but I already have the fabrics), and so there's that as well. I'm also making cheerful pillows, and that helps our morale.

We have such a large inventory of food that we really do not need to shop for food as often as we do, and it seems that I tend to overbuy when I do shop, but I am definitely not hoarding. I did see packages of meat being returned to the shelves when customers tried to buy more than their allotment, however.

Sorry function but your comment struck me the wrong way.

When a store doubles their prices on commonly used items, but other store don't that is TAKING ADVANTAGE.

I don't think that is correct. People will just go to the cheaper stores.

Commonly, the little stop and go stores will have significantly higher prices on common stuff, but they are in business to sell gasoline, not cokes or tp. The same with small local stores that don't have the buying power of huge stores. I don't think that is taking advantage. Their costs are likely higher on some things.

As far as chicken, I was simply pointing out that people can buy chicken much more cheaply by buying whole chickens sometimes. If you want chicken breast, pay more and buy chicken breast.

Maifleur, what way is that?

It shows that you feel that you are entitled to what you want when you want. You are metaphorically turning up your nose are what other people normally would eat perhaps because you are special???

Shop N Save is not a little stop and go store. It is a chain grocery store. They were always a little higher, but just by a few cents. They are ripping off the people who are scared to go into the main larger shopping areas.

A few examples.

Lettuce $3. Walmart $1.50

Celery $ 3. Walmart 1. 69

Sweet onions $1.89 lb. Aldis $.99 lb

Fresh chicken breast. $2.99 lb Walmart & Aldis $1.99 lb.

Eggs $3.00 lg dz Egg farm. 1.25 lg

Those are a few things I saw.

Maifleur, where in the heck did you get that from? I just stated that a grocery store really raised their prices and were taking advantage of people now that they have money to spend on food.

Walmart delivers as do many others. I think that if people want lower prices but don't want to shop at the actual Walmart store, they will split a delivery order. Here too, there are a few smaller stores with higher prices and always have higher prices, but for various reasons people shop there. They have free choice, they are not being taken advantage of.

Isn't it a coincidence that the prices went up when people started to finally get their unemployment money and incentive checks. Let's take advantage.

If all they have is an unemployment check, they will stretch that dollar and go to Walmart at midnight when fewer people are there. But the Shop n Save prices don't seem that awful for a small store.

Walmart delivery and pickups are full . You can't book spots. If you read what I posted , there are people who are scared to go elsewhere to shop.

I haven't really been paying much attention to prices either, just doing my normal shopping. But I did read that grocery prices are up around 1.4% overall. What it really boils down to, digging a little further, is that prices on some things are up (poultry, beef, eggs for example) and some are way down (fresh fruit and vegetables) so they pretty much offset each other. So if you spend $100 normally for example, you may see around $1.50 increase. I can afford that. YMMV.

I support helping out those who need it for basic groceries. I don't want to support someone's cigarette and poor food habit who is too lazy to cook basic foods and wastes it on sodas, chips and poor nutrition. I do not support more taxes as I feel like we are taxed to pieces already (says one who owes a big enough tax bill this year).

there are people who are scared to go elsewhere to shop.

Even if that were true, the ads show plenty of reasonably priced groceries at this store. I know, you were in the mood to be outraged, but it looks like this little store is not a good target for your ire.

Safeway has been having EXCELLENT sales! I just purchased a $5 deal from the Deli: 8 pieces of fried chicken, a side dish of loaded mashed potatoes & a 2 ltr of Coca Cola....then had a -$2 off reward! Oikos Yogurt was .89cents. They have tons of things for .88 cents each! Safeway Store Flyer

Food here, in Colorado....is still VERY inexpensive.

Lucille. Ads always look good. They are called loss leaders. They are to get you in the store so you will shop for other higher price groceries. Grocery prices varies to what part of the country you are in and what part of the state you are in. No I'm not in the mood to be outrageous. Just telling the facts. Do you shop in this store? The store was OK to do some shopping in before they started to take advantage of people. If fact I use to shop in it all the time. Until they started not checking the expiration dates on their products, leaving expired products on the shelf. They also put in a wine and beer section , taking away food items I like to buy.

I agree with function except that only some of the items are loss leaders. What I have found and it will depend on the store is that some of the sale prices are the normal prices or sometimes just a little higher. People tend to believe what they see and if it states the price is a sale price unless they check or know the regular price they are fooled.

The Shop and Saves that were in this area had poor quality food. Prices look good but the produce and other fresh items would rapidly turn bad after purchase.

Edited to add that I stopped shopping the ads many years ago. I found better bargains when the individual stores would reduce prices because the stock was becoming older or if another shipment was expected.

Today there is not need to shop any ads. If you shop with the store app, the sale price is applied as are digital coupons. I don't know why Kroger prints a weekly ad since the weekly ad is on the app. I know, a few don't use an app, so they exclude themselves.

As per 'loss leaders'--depends on where you live. In Wisconsin & about half of the rest of the states, loss leaders are banned.

https://www.aeaweb.org/research/loss-leading-bans-retail-competition

Per The Atlantic (December 10, 2019)and proposed cuts to the SNAP program:

Last week, the Trump administration approved a new rule that is estimated to cut off nearly700,000 unemployed people from food assistance provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). The rule, which makes it harder for states to waive the federal program’s work requirements in areas of high unemployment, targets a group of people known, in the bureaucratic language of public-assistance programs, as ABAWDs—“able-bodied adults without dependents.”

'High unemployment' defined as >6%. Targeted cut. Was scheduled to begin April 1 but has not been implemented due to a court injunction citing the coronavirus.

The price of eggs has gone up at my local Kroger. The price of cucumbers was up last week, but produce prices vary each week. I forgot tomatoes during my one weekly grocery trip, so while I was dropping off my father's groceries I stopped at a smaller grocery which usually has higher prices, rather than go back to the larger store. Since I forgot tomatoes, I don't know how that price compared, but I did notice cucumbers were a few cents less at the smaller store

Most of what I buy is still the same price, and although I always check the ads online and try to stick with my list, I spend more since I usually shop only one store. I have found that Kroger is no longer including the 5x digital coupons in their ads (at least for the last month), and some items that are frequently on sale don't seem to be as often.

Incidentally, I have been using only my credit card to shop, thinking that it protects me and the check-out people if neither needs to handle money. Last week I had the misfortune of being in the line of a check-out lady who kept coughing into her sleeve and fidgeting with her mask while scanning my groceries. (Under her nose so she could breathe, over her nose so she could cough.) Then she handed me a paper coupon sponsored by General Mills. I instinctively reached to take it with the cash register receipt, but why couldn't the coupon have gone on my account, to be redeemed electronically? That would have been one less chance for an employee to be exposed to the virus.

Please, let's not get into that Reagan era myth about 'welfare queens' buying 'junk' food with 'government handouts'. It is true that junk is cheaper than mostly non-existant nourishing food in the 'food deserts' of poverty, who would *choose* to live in poverty... in order to 'take advantage' of SNAP?

Take a look at the people in line at food pantries. Even in good times, I see ordinary people trying to get by, including veterans, the elderly and young children. Yesterday I heard a stat that 40% of Americans unemployed since March had been earning less than $40K a year. I can't berate them for not saving for this rainy day -- not when salaries for a huge percentage of Americans have been stagnant for decades, while they paid a disproportionate share of taxes.

Price increases cited 4.3% for meat, poultry, fish and eggs; 2.9% for cereal and baked goods; 1.5% for produce. Lower gas prices may help with transporting our foodstuffs, but they mean nothing to people who can't afford a car or who have no job to drive *to*.

Please, let's not get into that Reagan era myth about 'welfare queens' buying 'junk' food with 'government handouts'. It is true that junk is cheaper than mostly non-existant nourishing food in the 'food deserts' of poverty, who would *choose* to live in poverty... in order to 'take advantage' of SNAP?

You are the only one going there AFAICS, Chisue. If you didn't want to know the details of the proposed cuts to SNAP, you should have left SNAP out of it. I thought you were being misleading, perhaps inadvertently, by intimating that the cuts would affect 'families' when you said this:

Eligibility allows 'a family of one' a net income slightly over poverty level. (Looks like $1041/mo. for one person on the SNAP tables; $2146/mo. for a family of four.)

...when the proposed cuts are targeted to single able-bodied adults without dependents.

Furthermore, you are advocating spending my money..."I would rather live in a nation that helps hungry people through federal taxes..." (more than I already contribute thru taxes?)with an 'I would rather' vs spending your money by increasing your contributions to existing voluntary charitable food programs, of which there are many....something which I encourage you and everyone else who is financially secure to do. Lead by example.

So this is just a reminder that it is all too easy to spend other people's money but some of the other people may not be so enthusiastic about your plan. The 'I don't wanna' hear it' routine? Won't work in a free society.

ci_lantro -- I took Outside Playing's comment to be against public welfare like SNAP.

There's always a place for charity, but it's not a reliable means of feeding the needy. The 'freely given' aspect of many charities makes them more likely to be taken advantage of than a program that vets for need. I'd let charities 'fill in' where people don't quite qualify for government programs. Personally, I support both a food depository and a small local group that does 'filling in', funding numerous smaller needs for clothing, eye glasses, bus fares, etc.

Either you want to feed needy people or you don't. SNAP seems an excellent way to do that, regardless of the age or 'family' status of recipients. (I also see it as part of Public Health, a benifit for everyone in a community.) You don't have to agree! LOL

I saw on the news the other night one reason why egg prices are going up is due to restaurants being closed - let's say a restaurant normally buys 100 dozen eggs (a # I made up to keep it easy) - they will get a large case of the 100 dozen eggs. Now those same eggs are being sold to stores and they have to be individually packaged in 1 dozen cartons instead. So, costs go up. It made sense to me.

I haven't noticed a huge difference in the price of other items though. I'm back to doing Walmart pick ups. They've hired more people and their wait times are much less. Been happy with them the last few weeks.