Not only are food prices going higher but now they are fucking the consumer by reducing the quantity in many products. Funny how many do not take notice of this.
Smaller sizes are definitely in the mix, as corporations cut sizes. We're looking at trimming ounces to keep margins where they need to be. But companies are done laying off people. They're not going to HIRE any more, which I think is the real problem, because they're learning how to live and produce with current employees. So while unemployment won't go up, it's not going to get better either.
Many of those weighted items are produce, which are based on commodity pricing. I'm surprised they (Walmart) didn't say that. It's difficult to cut prices on tomatoes or corn. Market sets price. But you sure can cut pudding, ice cream and potato chips.
Speaking of trimming ounces. One packaged lunchmeat, not sure of the name, went from 9 1/4 ounce to 9 oz. Price stayed the same. Sly devils. Don't blame them or anybody for that matter, sop. Tough nut to crack is to lower prices and increase sales. I always felt WMT followed the jumbo size theory to increase sales dollars.