Paycheckology explains: Why your grocery bill keeps going up
No, you're not imagining things. That chicken is pricier than usual — and so are your eggs, bacon, and other household staples. Prices are going up, up, up! Grocery prices are 7.6% HIGHER than they were just two years ago!
The average Wisconsinite spends around $65 a week/per person on groceries and if this number keeps going up it will put a bigger dent in your paycheck than I-94’s potholes.
WHY prices are going up and WHAT you can do about it! Here are the Five Fast Facts:
🥴👀Economic hangovers are worse than a long night at Oktoberfest - Ever since the pandemic shut downs in 2020 we’ve had issues with groceries. We’re talking sick workers and slower deliveries causing efficiency to go down and prices to go up. Experts say things won’t be close to normal for at least another 6 months.
🤷♂️💨Labor Shortages - Remember how we talked about the “Great Resignation” and how so many are quitting jobs and seeking better pay? Well, guess what, lot’s of fruit pickers, slaughterhouse workers, truckers, warehouse operators, and grocery store workers are no longer on the job. This, too, is causing prices to go up.
🥩❓ “Where’s the beef?” - You’ve likely noticed that beef and pork prices are up 14% but you’re not alone. The White House also noticed and is investigating how four large companies that control meatpacking could be artificially beefing up the price of your steaks...
🪤👀Avoid paying too much by...tracking prices - If you've got sticker shock at the grocery store and want to know what something used to cost, you can look up the item’s price history using Google’s price tracking tool. This is a nice tip to make sure you don’t overpay.
🛒🎫Make Cash-Back Coupons Great Again - You can also get extra deals using store apps wherever you shop. Or, you can check for cashback bonuses or coupons on apps like ibotta or Rakuten that add on to the cashback just by scanning in your receipt once you get back home.
🔥Bottom line: Millions of families are feeling the pressure from higher grocery prices! If you’re in a bind, there are programs that can help, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and this handy food bank locator to help you find services in your area.
