Grocery prices up by 7.9%
Consumers also see fewer deals
South Florida consumers paid more at the grocery store as they quarantined at home, cut off from dining out.
Prices for typical food items increased by 7.9% in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties between February and April, according to a Consumer Price Index report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Grains, proteins, dairy, fruits and veggies all cost more as people ate more meals at home.
At Publix, the region’s largest supermarket chain, a three-pound or larger package of ground chuck was on sale Jan. 30 for $3.49 a pound, a saving of 70 cents a pound off the regular price of $4.19 a pound. On April 15, the same ground chuck was on sale for $3.99 a pound, 70 cents a pound less than the $4.69-a-pound regular price.
Coffee prices are up noticeably at the stores as well. Plastic 1.5-pound containers of Maxwell House and Folgers that were commonly
discounted to $6.99 on a rotating basis before the pandemic now cost more than $8 on sale.
Egg prices spiked 15% nationwide between March and April, the bureau reported. But that jump seems to have abated.
A carton of a dozen Publix-brand large eggs that sold for $2.25 on Feb. 19 had climbed to $2.99 by April 15 but was back down to $2.19 on May 4.
At Walmart, a dozen Great Value-brand large eggs were listed at $1.76 on Wednesday.
Prices were up sharply in all six food-athome categories measured in the report:
■ Cereals and bakery products, 9.0%
■ Meats, poultry, fish and eggs, 8.9%
■ Dairy and related products, 9.0%
■ Fruits and vegetables, 5.8%
■ Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials, 8%.
■ Other food at home, 7.2%
Most of the pain has been felt since March, the report shows. Prices for food jumped 6.5% between March and April, the bureau said.
In late March and April, it was common for consumers to encounter sparsely stocked meat coolers, produce bins and bread shelves, in addition to the ongoing dearth of paper towels and toilet paper.
Meat prices have been climbing over the past month as rising infection rates among meat processing plant workers triggered temporary plant shutdowns.
Prices jumped highest nationwide between March and April for eggs (15%) pork chops (7.4%), fresh whole chicken (7.1%), frozen fish and seafood (7.5%), milk (5.8%), apples (5.7%), and citrus (5.8%).
Florida consumers who were asked on Facebook whether they’ve noticed higher grocery prices said they’ve been seeing fewer “buy-one-get-one-free” deals and fewer sale prices.
“By the time I pay the inflated Instacart price, pay the delivery fee and give a generous tip, I have no idea!” one consumer said on Facebook.
Prices of some items, however, haven’t changed. Colossal white shrimp was sold for $9.99 a pound on Jan. 30 and again on April 15. Salmon fillets were also unchanged at $9.99 on those dates.
William P. Stronge, economist and Florida Atlantic University professor emeritus, said the price increases aren’t surprising considering the surge in demand early in the quarantine and supply chain disruptions triggered by infections at meat processing facilities.
He sees demand for meat and produce falling in the coming months because many people will still be out of work and unable to resume their former buying habits as the economy gradually recovers. That, combined with fewer people going to restaurants, will drive down demand, leading to lower prices for cattle and feed, and ultimately, supermarket food.
“We’re in a deep recession and it will take awhile to climb out,” he said.
The rise in food prices in South Florida was offset by a 20% plunge in gasoline prices between February and April and declines of 11% for apparel and 17.2% for motor vehicle insurance. Overall, the price index declined by 1% between February and April.