I noticed some rock bottom prices in the Tuesday grocery circulars, which made me wonder if grocery prices are falling. Vons advertised chicken breasts for $.97/lb, a 10-lb bag of potatoes for $1.97, 24-ounce boxes of Raisin Bran for $.99, and butter for $.99 a pack. Wow!
Plus, the circular had a $10 off coupon for a purchase of $50 or more. Guess where I am grocery shopping this week?
Have you noticed that grocery prices are falling in your neighborhood? A recent news story from the Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., says food prices will level out this year. But a story from WalletPop says a drought in California could bump up prices, which already rose 5.5% last year. I care about grocery prices and I know you do because food spending fell 2.4% in the last quarter of 2008.
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I’m always leary of meat that is THAT cheap. What kind of hormones have been pumped into the chicken or cow? Eewww…
Really? Even if a mainstream market is selling the meat? I don’t think the quality is any lower than what they normally sell. But perhaps you only buy/eat organic meat? I wish I could afford it!
Very little has changed overall. As has usually been the case, grocery store fliers offer deals on certain items. If you’re in the market for those items, it’s a good thing for you. In general, I try to buy only the things I really need. I watch the ads, and also go to the stores that regularly carry my fave products at the best prices. At the moment, I’m focusing on using what’s in my freezer and pantry, so that I don’t let things go beyond the expiration dates. Too often we lose money by having to get rid of out-of-date food items.
I think the major chains are finally taking a look at the competition from the smaller, local markets. I often find prices that low at some of the lesser chains (Jon’s, Super King, Big Saver and Superior Warehouse. The thing these markets have in common is they serve areas that have lost markets. So Superior replaces an Albertsons, Super King an old Ralph’s…These are non-union markets, so the wage costs are lower but I wonder how much they also save by not maintaining large, centralized warehouses, buying the produce more frequently from the downtown suppliers.
I have gotten boneless, skinless chicken legs (leg&thigh) for 99cts a pound, and it was no different from chicken I have gotten from mainstream, higher priced market.
Remember also that major manufacturers offer discounts to most if not all of their customers, so if certain brands are on sale one place, they will probably be on sale somewhere else–next week, if not this. I’ve seen this esp with cereals, etc. Don’t just rely on the circulars that come with newspapers or delivered with the Pennysaver, check out the markets online.
Lynda, I get this feeling too. The Ralphs circular this week had a whole page on $.99 items! I think the mainstream markets are realizing people are going to the dollar stores for groceries.
Fresh Salmon fillet is $3.99/lb at Ralph’s starting today and that works for us since I do most of my cooking on the grill out back!
If you look closely at that Von’s ad, most of those coupons are for purchases over $10 on this weekend only. Aside from specials, prices are going UP – and not just at the grocery store. Been to a gas station, car wash or the movies lately?