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anorak
 264 Posts
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Status: offline |  Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 15:02:25  
| Just got this in on the news feed:
The Labor Department's most recent inflation data showed that U.S. food prices rose by 4.1 percent for the 12 months ending in June, but a deeper look at the numbers reveals that the price of milk, eggs and other essentials in the American diet are actually rising by double digits.
Already stung by a two-year rise in gasoline prices, American consumers now face sharply higher prices for foods they can't do without. This little-known fact may go a long way to explaining why, despite healthy job statistics, Americans remain glum about the economy.
Meeting with economic writers last week, President Bush dismissed several polls that show Americans are down on the economy. He expressed surprise that inflation is one of the stated concerns.
"They cite inflation?" Bush asked, adding that, "I happen to believe the war has clouded a lot of people's sense of optimism."
But the inflation numbers reveal the extent to which lower- and middle-income Americans are being pinched.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its June inflation report that egg prices are 19.5 percent higher than they were in June 2006. Over the same period, according to the department's consumer price index, whole milk was up 13.3 percent; fresh chicken 10 percent; navel oranges 19.8 percent; apples 11.7 percent. Dried beans were up 11.5 percent, and white bread just missed double-digit growth, rising by 9.6 percent.
These numbers get lost in the broader inflation rate for all goods and services, which measured 2.7 for the same 12-month period. Across the economy, rising food prices were offset by falling prices for things bought at the mall: computers, cameras, clothing and shoes.
"All of that stuff is going down in price, but prices for gasoline have gotten higher, and food prices have gone up," said Mark Vitner, a senior economist for Wachovia, a large national bank based in Charlotte, N.C.
People also go to the mall a lot less than they go to the grocery store, so they're constantly reminded that dietary staples are up sharply.
Why are food prices rising?
It's partly because of corn prices, driven up by congressional mandates for ethanol production, which have reduced the amount of corn available for animal feed. It's also because of tougher immigration enforcement and a late spring freeze, which have made farm laborers scarcer and damaged fruit and vegetable crops, respectively. And it's because of higher diesel fuel costs to run tractors and attractive foreign markets that take U.S. production.
The Labor Department's last detailed survey of consumer spending, in 2005, showed that Americans spent about 12.8 percent of their income on food. A bit more than 7 percent of their income was spent on food at home, and 5.7 percent was spent on food away from home.
These percentages suggest that higher food prices, while unwelcome, won't break the bank for most consumers. But for retirees such as Jacqueline Wilson, 60, of Upper Marlboro, Md., rising food and fuel prices take a big bite out of fixed income.
"I make every dollar count," said Wilson, outside a Giant supermarket. "I cut back. ... I get only as much as I need. I don't buy it because it is 10 for $10, but so that I'm using it and not wasting my money."
Asked about her view of the economy, she answered, "Terrible."
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Cruella DeVilla
 USA
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Kazzie
 United Kingdom
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Cruella DeVilla
USA
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Nina A
 United Kingdom
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blott
 United Kingdom
21274 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 17:57:58
| If milk, bread, or the rest of the staple foods cost £x or $x, then you have to have it whatever its price.
When we were in Florida in June, you could still get one of those yucky white sliced loaves (the too sweet ones) for 69 cents.
When you can get a meal or 'fixings' in $s for the price we'd pay in £s, who's counting anyway? Like petrol/gas, prices have got a long way to go to catch up! |
Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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chrizzy100
 USA
7101 Posts
Joined: 26 May 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 19:16:06
| I doubled my food bill when I first moved over here....my mum has a fit when she see the cost of everything...
Everything here is expensive once you are paid in $$... | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Katys Grandad
![]() United Kingdom
1105 Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 19:26:57
| quote:
[i]Originally posted by blott
When you can get a meal or 'fixings' in $s for the price we'd pay in £s, who's counting anyway? Like petrol/gas, prices have got a long way to go to catch up!
I understand the point you make but, unless you eat out for all your meals at home, the 'saving' is more notional that actual. I'm not even sure I would agree that eating out in the US is that much cheaper that at home. Add the 9-13% tax and 15-20% tip and there really isn't that much difference.
I don't pay that much attention to grocery prices but I haven't noticed any great differences. If anything, I've found US prices to be marginally higher, particularly on good quality items. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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anorak
264 Posts
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 09:19:09
| We find that basic items like eggs, butter, chicken, barbecue sauce,flour, milk, some fruit and vegetables and of course "orange juice not from concentrate" are cheaper particularly if you buy them in larger packs from Sams Club .
We make our own bread, its proper bread even though we make it in an electronic breadmaker it comes out real nice. Not like the sweet lightweight supermarket "bread" which we would not eat. If you can still find a proper bakery in Fl you will find that their bread is very expensive, but there aren't many left and you are going to have to burn gas to get to it unless you are lucky and live round the corner - something which doesn't happen much in the US with everything so spread out.
As far as other food is concerned if you want to buy anything that has been "processed" and put in a fancy box with a fancy name then it costs more than in UK.
I put the food prices here down to increased refrigeration costs due to the weather, shipping from a long distance and higher fuel costs, too many stores chasing not enough customers each, too much advertising. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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ShirleyD
 United Kingdom
5170 Posts
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 10:31:26
| Im sure without looking too hard I could find a similar report about food in the UK, due to the floods, overpackaging etc and we certainly don't have a bakers within walking distance either 
I am doing my best to boost the Florida economy with my shopping trips  When I see thoses fab blue skies, I have to say that all those things associated with everyday life just dissapear from my mind. It is such a great place to go and unwind  |
Shirley
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-850.aspx | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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steph_goodrum
 United Kingdom
6665 Posts
Joined: 12 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 12:15:21
| | We have been having this discussion recently about the cost of fresh vegetables etc due to the bad weather and are increasing rapidly. Bread as well even the young lad who served me in ouor local shop a couple of months ago double checked because he, like me, noticed the jump from 73p for a loaf of Hovis bread to £1.03 overnight. |
Babblin Boo
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/92.aspx
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Paula D-S
 United Kingdom
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anorak
264 Posts
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 12:28:44
| | On the news recently they said that the increased price of wheat would increase the cost of a loaf by about 5p, other foodstuffs which include anything made from maize (lots of sweet things are made with corn syrup from maize) will also go up as maize has doubled in price as there is a big demand for it to make alcohols to add to gasoline as an alternative fuel. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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blott
United Kingdom
21274 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 12:48:20
| quote:
Originally posted by Katys Grandad
quote:
[i]Originally posted by blott
When you can get a meal or 'fixings' in $s for the price we'd pay in £s, who's counting anyway? Like petrol/gas, prices have got a long way to go to catch up!
I understand the point you make but, unless you eat out for all your meals at home, the 'saving' is more notional that actual. I'm not even sure I would agree that eating out in the US is that much cheaper that at home. Add the 9-13% tax and 15-20% tip and there really isn't that much difference.
I don't pay that much attention to grocery prices but I haven't noticed any great differences. If anything, I've found US prices to be marginally higher, particularly on good quality items.
We eat out in Florida for around $35 for two of us, for a main course, dessert and a soda or coffee each. That includes tax and the tip. Nothing spectacular, just an 'ordinary' meal.
We just had a comparable 'pub' meal in the UK which was £25 for two of us. Also nothing spectacular, just an ordinary meal.
Strawberries from Sainsbury's are £1.89 a punnet. In Florida they were $5 for two punnets, each comparable in size to the Sainsbury's one or maybe even a little larger.
I were going to be pedantic about it, I'd call those 'actual' savings.
There are some items in Florida that are more expensive than in the UK but not many. There will always be differences in another country's prices for some items.
But, for people going to visit Florida on vacation, then I think they would probably be surprised how inexpensive it can be, whether it's the overall supermarket shopping bill or for the cost for eating out. There's a whole lot more exciting stuff to Florida than concerning ourselves unnecessarily about the cost of food there. |
Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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DiannaUK
 United Kingdom
1122 Posts
Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 13:26:56
| I'm genuinely surprised that some people feel it is more expensive to eat out in the US than in the UK
I have always found it much cheaper, plus the venues are nicer, the staff are more helpful and the portions are bigger.
I've also found my overall supermarket bill to compare favourably with the UK, even though I tend to buy more treats when I'm on holiday (for the family, you understand, not for me )
Before I used to visit FL so regularly, my credit card bill would often groan at the cost of eating out in Spain, Portugal or Greece, whereas it purrs quite nicely when I'm in the US.
Whatever ......... the place is fabulous, the restaurants are plentiful and varied, the weather is great, the attractions are fun, it's good value for money, and best of all, you're on holiday ..................................ENJOY!
Dianna |
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida-vacation-rental-2061.aspx |
Edited by - DiannaUK on 15 Aug 2007 13:28:04 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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chrizzy100
USA
7101 Posts
Joined: 26 May 2003
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 13:38:07
| | if you holiday to FL from within the USA you should find Orlando a cheaper place to shop than most places up North...my food bill is half the cost..eating out can cost more...we have more offers up here...which I've yet to find in Orlando... | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Cruella DeVilla
USA
10570 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2004
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Katys Grandad
![]() United Kingdom
1105 Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 13:42:18
| quote:
Originally posted by blott
quote:
Originally posted by Katys Grandad
quote:
[i]Originally posted by blott
When you can get a meal or 'fixings' in $s for the price we'd pay in £s, who's counting anyway? Like petrol/gas, prices have got a long way to go to catch up!
I understand the point you make but, unless you eat out for all your meals at home, the 'saving' is more notional that actual. I'm not even sure I would agree that eating out in the US is that much cheaper that at home. Add the 9-13% tax and 15-20% tip and there really isn't that much difference.
I don't pay that much attention to grocery prices but I haven't noticed any great differences. If anything, I've found US prices to be marginally higher, particularly on good quality items.
We eat out in Florida for around $35 for two of us, for a main course, dessert and a soda or coffee each. That includes tax and the tip. Nothing spectacular, just an 'ordinary' meal.
We just had a comparable 'pub' meal in the UK which was £25 for two of us. Also nothing spectacular, just an ordinary meal.
Strawberries from Sainsbury's are £1.89 a punnet. In Florida they were $5 for two punnets, each comparable in size to the Sainsbury's one or maybe even a little larger.
I were going to be pedantic about it, I'd call those 'actual' savings.
It isn't a saving at all unless the meals are exactly the same.
What you had was 2 different meals on 2 different occasions in 2 different places in 2 different countries and can't be truly 'comparable'. The fact that 1 is cheaper that the other is inevitable but surely not a basis for a wider point that eating out in the US/Florida is always cheaper.
That being said, I would agree that where true comparison is possible (eg McDonalds etc..) the US prices are generally lower but it certainly isn't true across the wider range of eating out. I could give you plenty of examples but I feel fairly sure we eat at different places. | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Cruella DeVilla
USA
10570 Posts
Joined: 18 May 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 13:58:51
| I would consider myself a bit of a gastronomist and I do feel it is cheaper to eat out in Floirda. I am not a lover of the fast food type places so can't comment on those. I do prefer something a bit more upmarket generally and I have certainly found these to be cheaper.
On a more average sort of place take Mannys and a 9oz Filet Mignon for example where in the UK could you get this quality and size/thickness of steak with all the extras you get included/loaded into the price for the equiv of $17.48 what approx £8.74 (The 7 oz would be the equiv of £7.49 give or take a penny or two) and that is only two of a dozen examples I am thinking of at the mo?
Dont get me started on fish and seafood compared to the UK it is a steal.
For me the very bottom line would be the quality of the food and then the price. You get what you pay for to use the old cliche.
When you are on vacation you generally don't give a monkeys and after all we are a vacation forum so most would not care about the price of maize. |
CDV
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1404.aspx |
Edited by - Cruella DeVilla on 15 Aug 2007 14:19:37 | | Report this post to a moderator | goto top of page |
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Katys Grandad
![]() United Kingdom
1105 Posts
Joined: 11 Oct 2004
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 14:20:50
| quote:
Originally posted by Cruella DeVilla
I would consider myself a bit of a gastromist.
For me the very bottom line would be the quality of the food and then the price. You get what you pay for to use the old cliche.
When you are on vacation you generally don't give a monkeys and after all we are a vacation forum so most would not care about the price of maize.
I think that's a pretty fair summary CDV. BTW - What's a Gastromist?
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blott
United Kingdom
21274 Posts
Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Status: offline | Posted - 15 Aug 2007 : 14:23:08
| quote:
Originally posted by Katys Grandad
quote:
Originally posted by blott
quote:
Originally posted by Katys Grandad
quote:
[i]Originally posted by blott
When you can get a meal or 'fixings' in $s for the price we'd pay in £s, who's counting anyway? Like petrol/gas, prices have got a long way to go to catch up!
I understand the point you make but, unless you eat out for all your meals at home, the 'saving' is more notional that actual. I'm not even sure I would agree that eating out in the US is that much cheaper that at home. Add the 9-13% tax and 15-20% tip and there really isn't that much difference.
I don't pay that much attention to grocery prices but I haven't noticed any great differences. If anything, I've found US prices to be marginally higher, particularly on good quality items.
We eat out in Florida for around $35 for two of us, for a main course, dessert and a soda or coffee each. That includes tax and the tip. Nothing spectacular, just an 'ordinary' meal.
We just had a comparable 'pub' meal in the UK which was £25 for two of us. Also nothing spectacular, just an ordinary meal.
Strawberries from Sainsbury's are £1.89 a punnet. In Florida they were $5 for two punnets, each comparable in size to the Sainsbury's one or maybe even a little larger.
I were going to be pedantic about it, I'd call those 'actual' savings.
It isn't a saving at all unless the meals are exactly the same.
What you had was 2 different meals on 2 different occasions in 2 different places in 2 different countries and can't be truly 'comparable'. The fact that 1 is cheaper that the other is inevitable but surely not a basis for a wider point that eating out in the US/Florida is always cheaper.
That being said, I would agree that where true comparison is possible (eg McDonalds etc..) the US prices are generally lower but it certainly isn't true across the wider range of eating out. I could give you plenty of examples but I feel fairly sure we eat at different places.
Both of the meals were exactly the same food components in the UK as we've eaten in Florida, which is the reason I said they were comparable. 
No, I'm absolutely sure we don't eat in the same places. |
Blott
www.orlandovillas.com/villas/150.aspx
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US Food Prices Sharply Up
