Meriden — Inflation has eased to 6.5% in December 2022 on electronics, gasoline, etc., but food prices are still up 11.8% year-over-year in the US, with food prices rising .
“Money is tight,” said Demetria Armour of Meriden, who was grocery shopping at the C-Town supermarket at 160 Colony Street recently.
“I mean, everyone seemed to be struggling,” she said. “And it’s not good here. You work, but you still have nothing. It’s really sad and only God can make it better.”
According to CNN Business, deadly bird flu in poultry flocks, especially turkeys and laying hens, and extreme weather, which causes delays in food distribution, are two reasons for the rise in certain food items like eggs.
Nearly $5 Trillion in Stimulus Package Approved by Congress in Early 2020 Sends Largest Federal Funds Ever to U.S. Economy to Houses, Restaurants, Airlines, Hospitals, Municipalities, Schools and Other Agencies Did. According to some experts, as quoted by Forbes, this could lead to higher prices because stimulus checks will bring more money back into the economy, causing an economic expansion.
Moreover, Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine was another cause of inflation in US gas and food prices.
“We used to buy (groceries) for $100, now everything is around $200,” Meriden’s Birgen Morales said. “I think it affected everyone.”
Meriden’s Migdalia Alicea explained how price increases have affected her shopping habits and reflected on how her grocery budget has increased.
“I don’t have small children, but I can’t imagine raising three with the money I have to spend on groceries right now,” Alicea said. So I easily went from a budget of around $100 a week to $150-$160 a week.”
Other food items with higher prices as of December 2022 include canned fruits and vegetables, up 18.4%, lettuce, up 24.9%, and milk, up 12.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. . .
Meriden’s Jackie Allen explained that health risks come with rising prices for healthier options at grocery stores.
“It’s hard to eat protein and nutrients when it’s so expensive,” Allen said. – Blood pressure goes up, people bloat, you know, more product causes more health problems.”
1. Have a game plan
While grocery shopping, it’s very easy to buy things you don’t need, creating bills that balloon over your budget. Make a list and don’t overuse it. Also, don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry because you’re more likely to buy groceries you don’t need when you’re hungry.
2. Take advantage of discounts
Most grocery stores offer senior discounts. For example, some Ctown supermarkets in Connecticut offer his 5% senior discount on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This location at 160 Colony St. in Meriden does not offer senior discounts, but does offer certain discounts when spending $50 or more several times a year. You can see their deals and more in weekly ads on the CTown Supermarkets website.
3. Use store point cards
Most grocery stores offer loyalty cards that allow you to earn points and save money on groceries. For example, Ctown Supermarkets offers a customer program that earns her 1 point for every $1 a participant makes in-store. During the redemption period, participants can redeem their accumulated points on their next purchase. For more information on the program, please visit the C-Town Supermarket website.
4. Use shopping apps
Many grocery stores have companion apps that customers can download to stay up to date on their latest deals and coupons. CTown Supermarkets has an app that makes it easy to find deals, create shopping lists and add store cards. Stop & Shop offers digital his coupons that can be redeemed at checkout on the company’s app.
5. Purchasing Store Brands
According to Consumer Reports, store-brand food and beverages can be 20-25% cheaper than name-brand products.
