Obviously prices are higher. Have you noticed, though, that sizes are shrinking?
I love chocolate, paricularly Dove milk chocolate. A bag of it was $5.87! AND, when I pulled it off the shelf the bag was puffed up with air, and there were 10 pieces inside. I remember beingable to buy a bag for $3.50 and there were 26 pieces in it.
I put it back. I just couldn't do it.
Now, chocolate is a dumb example, I realize. The same thing is happening to everything. Here's the good news: smaller packages means you can store them more easily as you stock up before prices go hyper-crazy. And, another positive thing: it might be a good time to break some bad habits (such as not buying the chocolate, for me).
One last thought: the smaller volumes is a sneaky tactic, and many people will not understand the double-whammy and will go through their grocery money way too fast. Credit card debt will spike, but so will crime. Keep extra vigilant.
"the smaller volumes is a sneaky tactic"
That's been going on for years, I guess to keep the pricing at a level people are comfortable with. It's been especially noticeable with coffee over the past 10 years.
And I noticed they are slicing steaks thinner. I remember when they were nice and thick cut.
At my local grocery store, sometimes the steaks are very thick cuts and other times thinner. Sometimes they're all thicker cuts, sometimes they're all thinner cuts and other times it's a mix. I don't know why that is, only that it's hit and miss.
You probably know this but independent butchers will slice you steaks as thick as you want and not jack the price up typically. When I want to ball out with the lady we buy a giant 2" thick bone in ribeye and split it between us, usually have leftovers too that make good breakfast the next day