Let me tell you about the grocery prices I’ve found that have NOT increased!
Everyone is complaining about inflation and the rising cost of groceries. I get it. I don’t like it when prices go up.
I’m a BIG grocery shopper for our Big Family. With so many people that I get to feed every day, and while striving to stay within a wise budget, I am very focused on what is reasonable to buy and how to manage costs of all the food we need. And well…
This is really exciting!!
Yes, I’ve noticed a rise in some prices. But guess what else?
- Not everything has increased. Keep reading to learn what I found out.
- Weekly sale prices and loss leaders are still very, very good.
- There are still great grocery markdowns if you take a few minutes to look for them. And best yet…
- Some prices are actually lower than they used to be.
I just spent some time looking at my online accounts, comparing my Costco and Sam’s purchases from early 2022 until now, early 2024. Friends, please don’t believe all the hype and fear we’re hearing about how grocery prices have increased exponentially. While it is true for some products, it simply isn’t true across the board. Or across the grocery store aisles as the case may be. :)
Are grocery prices as bad as everyone says that they are?
Not based on my receipt comparisons from February 2022 to February 2024. Below you’ll see everything that hasn’t gone up and even some prices that have gone down! Take a look here at some staple foods I buy that I noticed that have gone up in price. But then take notice of the actual amount that they have increased.
- 3-pound bag of organic petite Baby Carrots was $3.98 and is now $4.86. (That’s an increase of $0.88, but do you know how many baby carrots are in a 3-pound package? It’s a lot of carrots.)
- 3-pound package of Tortellini was $9.48 and after inflation is now $9.78. (Up only $0.30?? To feed my entire family? Ok.)
- 2-Pack of Mayonnaise was $5.58 and is now $6.11. (That’s an increase of $0.27/jar.)
- 2-pound package of Sliced Colby Jack Cheese was $6.88. Two years and inflation later, it’s $7.24. (That’s less than a penny per slice more than I paid in 2022.)
Would you call these increases “exponential??” I don’t.
And now for the really fun discoveries I made while looking at old and new receipts!!
Grocery Prices I’ve Found that Have NOT Increased
- Organic Grass Fed Hamburger Meat at Sam’s was and still is $4.98/pound.
- Regular Hamburger Meat still regularly goes on sale for $2.98/pound at various grocery stores. All meat goes on sale at a variety of times throughout the year. Watch the ads and stock up on prices we’re used to.
- Chicken Legs at Costco and Sam’s used to be and still are only $0.98/pound.
- Organic Spring Mix and Spinach at all stores where I shop are still less than $5.00, just like they used to be. (I just bought some at Sam’s for $4.12 and Walmart usually has them for $4.98.)
- Banana’s price-per-pound has actually gone down a few cents from 2022 to 2024.
- Costco and Sam’s still offer their amazing Rotisserie Chickens for just $4.98 each.
- Sam’s 5-pound bag of shredded cheese was $13.68 in January 2022. February, 2024 it is $12.68. That is a dollar LESS.
- Also a dollar less is my favorite frozen fruit mixture from Sam’s. It was $11.98 and is now $10.98.
- Just about every store I’ve seen still has store-brand pasta at $0.98 for a 1-pound package.
- Gold Potatoes were at Costco and Sam’s for just $0.52/pound – not a sale price.
This isn’t everything, but these are many basics I shop for regularly. Isn’t this encouraging?!
I realize that my prices may not be your prices. But I am guessing that if you compare your receipts from two years ago and today, you will find what I found. Some small increases, some actual decreases, and some prices that have stayed the same.
Be encouraged!
My goal for today is to share that we really can keep feeding our families well within a very reasonable budget.
Share with us here what you’ve experienced where you live and where you shop. :)
Sandra says
I’d be curious to see the price differences from 2019 compared to today. Also, price doesn’t tell the whole story given shrinkflation.
Laura says
I also really wish I was able to look back at 2019 prices! We only got our Sam’s/Costco memberships in 2022 so I was only able to look back that far to compare costs. But it was still helpful as a few months into 2022 was when prices really started shooting up. :) Shrinkflation is a very real thing – but thankfully not with the prices comparisons I did here to show that not everything has increased in price. I’m encouraged by this!
Alix says
I think one issue we find when comparing prices is the size/quantity one receives today vs 2 years ago and beyond. For example, while the cheese might be $1 less, the package size may have decreased (not saying this is true for your shopping experience, just what we’ve found).
Usually we’ve found that the package size isn’t drastically smaller, but smaller than it was previously. So while the price might not have increased much or at all when comparing just the price tag- the actual increase is on the verge of exponential when compared to the quantity.
That said, I’m happy that for your large family you haven’t noticed much of a difference in comparison!!
Laura says
Yes, I’ve noticed that some packages are smaller, trying to trick us into thinking the price hasn’t gone up. Boo. That isn’t true for these detailed cost comparisons I did so that made me excited that at least SOME prices aren’t shooting up!
ashley says
I have noticed a lot of processed foods are the highest inflation..my husband and I were talking about this that it’s not that people can’t eat affordably it is just we don’t want give up things we enjoy and is a privilege “1st world” problems.
LORD JESUS IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!
Laura says
YES. I’ve noticed that too. I miss Ore Ida French fries I used to buy for fun, haha! But I can’t justify paying so much. :)
Jesse says
I think this may be very dependent on where you live as well? Here on the east coast my normal Aldi cart went from just under $200 on average to about $300. I can barely afford to go into a big box store because most of the items I previously purchased have gone up to the point it isn’t cost effective for me to purchase them. Not to be a downer! But just a different experience. Fruits have also been very expensive and we have very few loss leaders. Pasta is 1.89 instead of the previous $1. It is quite an adjustment!
Laura says
Ack, I wondered about this. There are definitely some stores around here that I avoid because EVERYTHING has gone up there and it’s no longer worth it to even shop their sales. It stinks though that your Aldi purchases are that much more. Boo!!
Loy says
Sometimes it takes being in the right place at the right time. Last week I spent $31.22 for marked-down meat that would have cost $76.58 at regular price. This was a package of top sirloin steak, stew meat, and 2 grass-fed chuck roasts that were all on sale and marked 50% off the sale price. I always try to find marked-down meat on sale so the discount is taken off the sale price. I was very excited about this as we have had very little beef other than ground beef in the last few months.
Laura says
Awesome finds!!