Guess who's raising grocery prices NOW?
The state of the grocery industry just continues to get more and more interesting. Over the past few weeks, I've been sharing articles about some traditional supermarkets and retailers believing the key to future financial success is to be "more like Wal-Mart," touting everyday-low-prices versus employing high/low sales cycles.
Well, today's edition of Daily Finance has this story... "Wal-Mart Quietly Raises Prices."
According to the article, Wal-Mart has been increasing prices 6% across the board over the past six weeks, with some products' prices taking increasing as high as 60%..! Some highlights:
"For instance, the price of a 32-ounce bottle of Windex household cleaner jumped 50%, a 12-ounce box of Quaker Oats instant grits climbed 65% and a 50-ounce container of Tide detergent rose by more than 50%.
"Wal-Mart is also under assault in the grocery aisle -- one of the areas it has aggressively expanded over the last few years...Theoretically, this should be Wal-Mart's moment to shine. U.S. consumer confidence in July was at its lowest point since February. People still want low prices. Unfortunately for Wal-Mart, they just would rather shop at other stores."
So Wal-Mart's own "everyday low price" strategy isn't even working out for themselves anymore. Why does SuperValu feel it is going to work for Jewel?
New Couponer
New to the coupon game. Was very frustrated to use a coupon at Wal-mart. It was a "manufacturers coupon" and the cashier said "Well if it won't scan then we can't take it". Hello, never had a problem at Jewel or Dominicks.
Will other stores follow suit?
Went to Dominick's to pick up just a few things and went past a display of the Maruchan Yakisoba noodles which my daughter likes for school lunches once in a while. I remember them being on sale for .88 each and regular price $1.00 each for the longest time until now. Today they were advertised "regularly" $2.39 each but on sale $1.59 and with a buy one get one free. Obivously a good sale if BOGO and with expired coupons. But go figure.
Prices (inflation) going up
Wal-Mart is ahead of the curve. They understand that corporate taxes are going up to pay for the new laws in Washington. Politicians will be able to blame greedy corporations on the price increases and deflect attention away from the new taxes. We all have to remember that the consumer pays all the taxes. Corporations simply pass them along in the form of higher prices in order to remain healthy. So the next time you hear a politician claim they didn't raise taxes, remember taxes trickle down to all of us in countless ways. The result is still the same, if our income hasn't gone up our standard of living drops. This is why sites such as this are so important to consumers. We will all have to work even harder to take advantage of buying advantages.
Well said
Well said rid2mad. I am tired of everyone who doesn't understand how the economy works talking about raising taxes on the corporations. They simply don't understand that eventually it will be higher "taxes" (in the form of prices) on them. Or, people will simply start losing their jobs as companies decide that the best way to offset the higher taxes will be to lay off employees.
Working at Walmart...
Yes we have noticed for the past few weeks that their going around changing the prices....and we don't like what we see. Their raising prices and cutting hours, we just don't get it!! They keep this up, wonder what their next slogon will be....
Shopped at WM
I don't find the prices generally attractive at WM. Selective items like Pop Weaver popcorn, Great Value sour kraut, and automotive (oil/filters) are good. My problem is the everyday low price values are very limited and limited time deep discount are few and far between, Heinz 40z ketchup at $1 and Sweet Bay Rays BBQ 40z at $2. Barely worth going or paying attention that's why I'm rarely there.
WM vs grocery
Just an FYI, I can't count how many times I've seen HUNTS ketchup for $1 at Jewel. Usually it coincides with a catalina deal and/or you can find a coupon. I'd much rather buy it this way, even if it is a smaller quantity (not sure on the ounces).
I noticed...
I was at Walmart a couple days ago and realized 3 things I bought the week before were higher. I often buy my "kid soda" at Walmart when I don't have a stock from couponing at Jewel or Dominicks. The Walmart brand , twist up, went from 66 cents to 78 cents. That is a big percentage! Just another reason to avoid the "big box store"
I noticed prices going up at
I noticed prices going up at Walmart the past few months. Mostly on food items I used to buy there or was thinking of buying. I am there often enough to remember what certain prices are/were.
I am going to start living like a friend of mine and shop at neighborhood stores and the fruit markets where things are cheaper and fresher and buy as I go as well as cook fresh. Most of the time I shop at Food 4 Less now. One example- I got coupons at Jewel, held them for a month or so and then got loads of Kool Aid/Country Time canisters for 50c ea. at Food 4 Less.
My favorite thing at Walmart has been the rollback which I noticed lasts maybe a month or so then they quietly raise the price.