We Already Do That
If you’ve been to the grocery store any time within the past year and a half, you know that prices on most items have gone through the roof. You pay more, but get less. Every trip is a budget buster, but you walk out with fewer bags of goods.
So you’ve taken steps to address the issue. You clip more coupons, you shop sales, you stop buying things you used to get because they are now seen as non-essential when finances are tight.
That’s why the comments of the President last week were out of touch. Well meaning, perhaps…but out of touch.
In an interview with News Nation, the President said his administration is bringing food prices down. Then he added, “And by the way, the food prices, the main driver of food prices is not the price of beef and eggs, etc., although they’re up. It’s packaged goods, packaged goods. You’re going to see people not buying Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, you’re going to see them buying other Raisin Bran, which is going to be a dollar cheaper.”
I hate to have to point this out to the President, but we here who buy our own groceries long ago figured that one out. It may be just anecdotal, but it’s what I’ve seen while at the store…the “house brand” or more generic product is off the shelves more quickly than the name brands. I know that, because I’ve tried to buy the house brand because, yes, it is cheaper. And when left with buying the name brand at full price or going without…I tend to go without.
So while I can appreciate the concept of what I think the President was getting at…he’s at least a year behind the curve on this. And it’s more than a little condescending, since lots of us have gone without name brand items for a long time due to finances. Apparently not a problem at his kitchen table.
Let’s hope he doesn’t come out to address the supply chain issue by suggesting that folks buy more when they do see something on the shelves. Again, at least a year behind the curve on that, too.
