Remember your last grocery shopping trip? How often did you notice the prices of some items were higher than usual?
Maybe you shrugged it off, thinking it was just a temporary blip. But, unfortunately, that's not the case. Inflation is real, hugely concerning, and wallops every consumer, especially in our grocery bill.
If you're like most people, you're looking for ways to cut down on expenses without sacrificing nutrition and quality. But with prices rising every day, that can be a challenging task. In this article, we'll look at how inflation affects the cost of groceries, and explore some strategies you can use to save money while still eating well. Let's dive in.
Items that were once affordable have become more expensive, and people have to make tough choices about what to buy and what to do without. Unfortunately, this inflationary food prices trend may have only begun, with some experts predicting that grocery prices could rise by as much as 10% by the end of the year. 
THE NUMBERS
In the last year, U.S. consumers saw the largest annual increase in food prices since the 1980s. Food prices in general increase about 2% every year; however, from 2021 to 2022, they increased about 11%. Even though price increases are slowing down slightly, prices are still predicted to increase anywhere from 5 to 10% in 2023 (1).
This has and will continue to significantly impact the prices of groceries. The Consumer Price Index for all food increased 0.4 percent from January 2023 to February 2023, and food prices were 9.5 percent higher than in February 2022 (2).
THE REASONS
1. Supply Chain Disruption: a major factor contributing to the rise in grocery prices is inflation. The failure of the banking system and the American dollar losing some of its value has amplified these issues. As the dollar's value decreases, the cost of importing goods increases, leading to higher consumer prices.
These increases, in turn,
impact the supply chain, as manufacturers and retailers face higher costs for
raw materials and transportation, which are then charged to you, the consumer.
In addition, increased demand for certain products, such as meat and poultry,
has also contributed to the rise in prices.
Finally, as restaurants have
reopened and people have resumed outdoor activities, there has been a surge in
demand for food items previously in lower demand, driving their prices up.
2. Rise in transportation costs. With fuel prices increasing and a shortage of truck drivers, shipping costs have risen, making it more expensive to transport goods. This increase in transportation costs accumulates across the entire supply chain, from growers and manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers.
3. Rising costs of labor. With the pandemic leading to labor shortages and a tight labor market, wages for workers have increased. This increase in labor costs has led to higher production costs for food items, which ring up at the grocery store in higher costs to consumers in the form of higher food prices.
4. Weather-related events. Droughts, floods, and wildfires can impact crop yields and drive up the cost of produce, further contributing to the rise in grocery prices.
HOW IT WILL IMPACT YOU
The rising cost of groceries significantly impacts
consumers, particularly those on a tight budget. Families and individuals
already struggling to make ends meet are finding it increasingly difficult to
afford necessities like food. This impact can lead to difficult choices, such
as buying groceries instead of paying bills or sacrificing nutrition for cost
savings. Seniors on a fixed income are also affected, as are families with
children who may rely on school meal programs for food.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
To cope with rising grocery prices, consumers are returning to what our grandparents did and learning to grow their own food. Growing your own food is the perfect way to not only save money at the grocery store, but to give you food security in these unprecedented times.
No land, time, or experience in starting a garden? No worries! The Eden Grow System is the perfect food-security tool to help you and your family grow your own food, 365 days-a-year, without having to worry about the next inflation spike.
Visit edengrowsystems.com to learn more.
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References:
(1) https://www.gao.gov/blog/sticker-shock-grocery-store-inflation-wasnt-only-reason-food-prices-increased
(2) https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/