Before I stopped calculating it in 2022, we were up to 30% inflation on the food items I buy compared to prices from January 2020, and I have the receipts to prove it. I'm seeing around 50% inflation on food since 2020 based on the lowest price I can get for certain items.
For example, steak in January 2020 was $2.99/lb. at the lowest price. Now it's $4.99/lb. at its lowest. That's a 66% increase. Crackers for the kids are up from $0.99 to $1.49, a ~50% increase. Even soda at Sam's Club, which I notice but never buy there, has gone from $9.98 for 36 cans to $15. A 50% increase. As for soda prices at the local grocery store, I was sometimes able to get Pepsi products for 16.5¢/can on the best sales in 2019. Now the very best sales are 31.26¢/can. Just about a 100% increase. Though, admittedly, that 16.5¢ per can was a ridiculously low price then. A more regular sale in January 2020 would have been about 20¢-25¢ per can, which is still a 50% increase.
I just spent about $300 on food from Sam's Club and it's nothing compared to what I used to be able to buy for the same amount. My food budget used to be $400/month on the high end. Now it's double and I'm still wondering why the refrigerator is empty.
Before I stopped calculating it in 2022, we were up to 30% inflation on the food items I buy compared to prices from January 2020, and I have the receipts to prove it. I'm seeing around 50% inflation on food since 2020 based on the lowest price I can get for certain items.
For example, steak in January 2020 was $2.99/lb. at the lowest price. Now it's $4.99/lb. at its lowest. That's a 66% increase. Crackers for the kids are up from $0.99 to $1.49, a ~50% increase. Even soda at Sam's Club, which I notice but never buy there, has gone from $9.98 for 36 cans to $15. A 50% increase. As for soda prices at the local grocery store, I was sometimes able to get Pepsi products for 16.5¢/can on the best sales in 2019. Now the very best sales are 31.26¢/can. Just about a 100% increase. Though, admittedly, that 16.5¢ per can was a ridiculously low price then. A more regular sale in January 2020 would have been about 20¢-25¢ per can, which is still a 50% increase.
I just spent about $300 on food from Sam's Club and it's nothing compared to what I used to be able to buy for the same amount. My food budget used to be $400/month on the high end. Now it's double and I'm still wondering why the refrigerator is empty.
Good on you for keeping receipts. I should have done that too. Will probably start now