They Know It Is Out There
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (112717)
United States
January 23, 2021 4:40pm CST
I went to Ruler Foods today. A store that is very similar to an Aldi store. Ruler Foods is owned and run by Kroger.
They're prices are phenomenal, which is why I shop there as often as I do.
But they, like everybody else know that there is money out there. And as any business will do, they are going to want to grab onto as much of a share of it as they can.
Eggs were up 20 cents per dozen. Canned cream soups up 20 cents per can. Kroger box stuffing up 20 cents per box. Boxed macaroni and cheese up 10 cent per box. Frozen pizzas up 15 cents from before. 4 pack real butter sticks went from $2.39 to $2.79. All of the Kroger salad dressing bottles were up from 89 cents to 99 cents per bottle. Croutons up 10 cents per bag.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
What should strike you is not the price increases. It's the percentages.
Eggs up 30.77%. Canned cream soups up 40.82%. Stuffing up 28.99%. Macaroni and cheese up 25.64%. Frozen pizzas up 5.68%. Butter up 16.74%. Salad dressings up 11.24%. Croutons also up 11.24%.
These are staggering increases. But why now?
Because, again, "they" know it is out there. The money. $600 stimulus checks. Expanded unemployment benefits. More money added to food stamps.
I don't blame them, the companies taking the money.
Because, you see. It's not their money. That is, the people who are spending the money. It's not their money. And so they, the people who got this money will spend it anyway. And the other they, the people who sell stuff to you, know you will.
Now apply this same concept and principle to the $15 an hour increase that might be coming. Where will that money go? Into the pockets of hard working Americans?
Not hardly.
Because landlords will know there's more rent to collect. Gas stations will know they can get more pennies for their gas. Walmart knows that $5 shirt will still leave the shelf at $7. Cable companies know you'll still want that Internet and cable, and they'll take a bit more since it is out there to take.
When there is more money out there, it gets collected by someone. Especially if those collecting it know it is out there to collect.
13 people like this
14 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
23 Jan 21
The increases have been happening pretty consistently since last March.
3 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
23 Jan 21
I have not seen them, honestly. And I say that being someone who watches prices VERY closely. And I mean, very closely. These increases are more recent. Any increases before them were very gradual.
In all fairness, this was one store, and I did not see this same level of increase when I was at Walmart as well today.
2 people like this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
23 Jan 21
Luckily I am good with money, enough so that I can offset my investments to cover the difference. But not everyone is so privy to the ways of making money, and so those are the ones who suffer. And I honestly feel bad for them.
Nothing I can do to help them though. So, all I can do is go about my merry way despite it all. But it definitely pains me.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84701)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Jan 21
Oh and let's not forget how much of it will go to taxes, federal (and in some cases state). Not to mention sales tax. Which are a whole new set of percentages. So while it may look like hard working Americians will earn more and make more money, they won't. Not between tax priceses and inflation so businesses can turn a profit.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84701)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Jan 21
Yep. This is the sad reality of the world we live in.@porwest
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
26 Jan 21
@kaylachan If only everybody could see what we see.
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7355)
•
24 Jan 21
This Biden Admin is, in fact, keeping his promise of Dark Winter presidency -- to destroy America.
Does any of his executive action remind you of the Dark Ages? Or the Third Reich? Mussolini? Marxism?
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7355)
•
24 Jan 21
@porwest Oh, my! We and the world are praying for America. Be very brave and courageous. 
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
26 Jan 21
@everwonderwhy That is all we can do.
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35030)
• Philippines
23 Jan 21
These businesses are smart. We should be smarter.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
24 Jan 21
Unfortunately most people are not smarter. Most people, when you ask them how to make money, will tell you to have a job. While that is true, there are so many other ways to make money...and to be honest, just having a job won't get anyone ahead. So, when things like this happen, most people suffer.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
30 Jan 21
@yoalldudes The important thing is that you are making an effort to improve your life and financial well being. That is something that not every does. So, just by doing that you are already miles ahead of the game.
@yoalldudes (35030)
• Philippines
28 Jan 21
@porwest I enrolled in an online course to start March 1. I hope I do get a freelance job online so I can haveoptions. I am trying blogging but I'm processing real slow. Still in the writing articles stage 
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
24 Jan 21
Oh. Don't get me wrong here. They are not greedy at all. They are just trying to make a living like everyone else. I always remind people who call the rich greedy that are poor and expect handouts...
Greed is simply wanting money you did not earn.
So, to that end, poor people who accuse rich people of being greedy are really the pot calling the kettle black.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Jan 21
I have been very happy since I discovered Aldi delivers to home, Now I can get two dozen eggs with each box below a buck and I am a happy camper
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52142)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Jan 21
When you say your eggs went up by twenty cents it doesn't sound like much. But when you say they went up by 30.77% that seems like a lot. So is the price increase a big one or a small one?
I hate it when prices in stores constantly fluctuate. Like every week, for example. And by prices I mean regular prices not the sale price. In my Russian store, bell peppers can be $2.99/lb one week and the next they will be $3.99/lb. And certain prices are so high, it's ridiculous. People actually buy that stuff overpriced though. I guess they either don't care that the stuff is way overpriced or they don't pay attention to price labels.
I remember I wanted cauliflower. They had it in stock but it was a very small size and they were selling it for $5.99. Way overpriced. I really wanted it but didn't get it. And then they were selling strawberries, which normally are $2.99 or maybe $3.99 for almost ten bucks. No freaking way was I gonna spend that much.
@Deepizzaguy (122067)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
24 Jan 21
Raising the minimum wage of $15 per hour will cause massive layoffs in the mom and pop businesses since the customer will have to pay higher prices for the products.
The management cannot pay all of the employees with that high price tag.
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
24 Jan 21
Prices went up long before the stimulus checks. People were hoarding; and the stores knew that the customers would pay whatever they asked. Supply and demand. I don't know that the prices will EVER go back down. Probably not.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
24 Jan 21
This is not entirely true. I watch a lot of this stuff very closely, and the one thing lacking in at least the past four years is inflation. It just has not happened. This is an anomaly. Trust me. My assertion of the why is of course conjecture. But it stands to reason.
It is not unlike the period between February and May when prices tend to go up. People have tax refunds to spend.
When you watch prices like I do, you notice this sort of thing. Another thing to watch is gas prices. There are actually good days to buy gas and bad days to buy gas. Gas prices tend to go up toward the weekend for example since everyone knows more people will be on the road.
@ZedSmart (19839)
• Philippines
23 Jan 21
Even with the basic commodities here, the price increase is very noticeable and this businessmen knew that people will not stop eating and patronizing these products.
Employees in small and medium businesses received twice a wage subsidy @ 6-8K pesos (around 120-160USD) through social security system as well as those marginalized sector with their social amelioration through social welfare office. And just before the end of the year, SSS announced that they will increased the contribution payment of SSS members by 1 percent. Aid received twice, contribution payment, forever. Where's justice?
@BHolopaw (176)
• Orlando, Florida
24 Jan 21
Every time the minimal wage is increased prices go up, more self checkout lanes are opened, a high school kid loses a chance at a first job, etc.
Also, when the wage is increased to $15, the people who have worked hard improving themselves and now currently make more than minimal wage but less than $15 will suddenly be worth the same as a new hire with no skills or experience.
The stimulus is a one time thing, while raising the minimum wage hurts every time I buy supplies. It also hurts my customers because I pass the costs of goods on to them.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112717)
• United States
28 Jan 21
You bring up something I failed to bring up here, and that is the 'automation' of certain processes once dealt with by people. We will see more self checkout lanes, as you said, and kiosks at fast food restaurants etc. Businesses will still make their money. They will just find more ways to offset the higher costs of doing business, and this is also one of the ways that they will do it.
Thank you for reminding me of that.
1 person likes this
