How Food Inflation is Disguised

<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dcr-apis/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/food%20inflation.jpeg" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> It’s not your imagination—some food products are shrinking in size, and this plays an important role in food inflation. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167718726000147?via%3Dihub" target="_self">A recent study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst</a> found that the average size of packaged food dropped by 14.6% over a seven-year period before the pandemic. The authors suggest this trend has continued.  There are two aspects to this. First, there’s “shrinkflation,” which means an existing product is smaller but costs the same. Second, there’s “shrinkage,” which the researchers say is when new, smaller packages replace older, larger ones. The second method is more common. Either way, consumers are getting less for their money, especially when they’re not paying close attention to unit prices. Would you prefer to see a product’s price go up rather than have a price increase disguised by smaller packaging? Research suggests consumers strongly dislike hidden price increases because they hit a psychological nerve. Why is the manufacturer being so sneaky? What else is the company doing to their product line? It can diminish trust in a brand. Consumers don’t want to feel like they’re losing something they had before, and they certainly don’t like having to change long-held habits.  Can you fight back? It takes some detective work, but it’s possible. You can spot hidden price hikes by paying attention to unit pricing and remembering the old sizes. You can find more affordable substitutes. Also, warehouse clubs offer better value if you’re willing to buy larger quantities. See you at Costco!  <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a> Related Articles <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/General-Health-Wellness/" target="_self">The Essential Guide to General Health & Wellness Services</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top Rated Local Companies</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a>