Open Thread - Thurs 19 Oct 2023 - Shrink and Skimp!
Shrink and Skimp!
I've been thinking about the economy recently. How it's not that good for the 'little' people, and how we small people have been really experiencing it, no matter what the officials and their numbers about the economy say (Here's an article from Big about this - Strikes and Bidenomics, it was republished as a shorter, but mostly the same, article on the Lever - The Missing Inflation Data). One of the things I've encountered a lot of is shrinkflation.
Shinkflation is something I think we've all seen (recent BBC article on it). The package of a product we want, say a breakfast cereal, gets smaller but the price stays the same. So we are actually paying more for the product, by weight or quantity measurement, but we supposedly don't 'see' that because the overall price is the same.
My favorite kind of ice cream... Now in a smaller package! Image from
reddit.
There's a lot of recent examples of shrinkflation. Here's a 2022 article from Business Insider with a few.
Personally, I've really noticed shrinkflation in a few things I don't buy very often. I think I haven't noticed it as much in things I buy regularly, because the slide down in size/amount has been gradual. But, I bought some neosporin cream recently. The box size is the same, but the tube is about an inch shorter! And I bought some new deodorant. I have small hands. The stick used to dwarf my hand. Now, I can enclose the entire stick in my palm! That made me pay attention to other things like the size of potato or tortilla chip bags, ice cream cartons, toilet paper rolls, drinks, bags of flour, spices and herbs... basically, everything is smaller.
There's another, related, trend in how companies and businesses deal with inflation and pass it on to the consumer. That would be skimpflation. The term was recently developed and brought to use in 2021 and refers to a degradation 'in quality of services, while keeping the price constant'. The BBC explains it in this article - Skimpflation: an Even Sneakier Form of Skrinkflation. I noticed this a while back in hotels. They just don't offer the same quality of service. Service businesses don't either. Even dog groomers are skimping. They have to!
This article from the FED explains inflation, shrinkflation and skimpflation from a pointy-headed boss POV. I love (ok, I don't at all) this bit from the article: 'Consumers may have to choose to spend more for necessities and less for non-essentials.' Umm, yea. And what if you are spending everything you have on necessities and they cost too much? What becomes 'non-essential'? Toilet Paper? Fruit? Milk?
So what have you been noticing in these aspects of inflation? Have you come up with any way to get around it? I don't think it's completely possible, we still have to buy, buy, buy although we can grow, and make, our own things. How does one make toilet paper? Maybe use the falling leaves? Anyways, thanks for reading and here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Thursday's here!
Yesterday was very warm for here. I was outside sorting apples for a while! Today is going to be a bit cooler. I hope the day is and has treated you well!
Today is 'making cookies' day. Chocolate chips, here I come! Let us know what's up with you, and what you've been discovering, learning, thinking about!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Happy Thursday
I can't figure out whether it is inflation or devaluation of the dollar. Probably amounts to
about the same thing. Last year a cord of wood was $250, this year it is $300. The
heating oil companies are always playing with prices. Normally, I try to buy in bulk
during the summer months, as it is historically cheaper. This year it never went down.
But you know it will go up just in time for the heating season and stay that way. They
have us over the barrel, so to speak. And now the warmongers are threatening to
push more wars in the mideast. The Arab countries are suggesting embargoes against
non-friendly nations, like US and Israel.
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/10/iran-calls-for-middle-east-state...
Russia snubbed the west by lowering output to
western markets, so energy prices climb. So much for sanctions and price caps. They
just sell their discounted oil to India, who turns around and sells it to EU for more.
So much for the wonderful global economy. I guess we could burn all those reams
of paper the economists produce telling us how great the economy is, to stay warm?
Ah well, enough rambling. Thanks for the OT!
@QMS Wonder if relaxing oil
Wonder if relaxing oil sanctions on Venezuela ties into this?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/16/venezuela-us-sanctions-dea...
Waiting for some good analysis on this - Guardian not so reliable.
From what I have seen
US State Dept. offered to drop certain sanctions to get more VZ oil in the market.
VZ responded by saying all sanctions must be voided. The crooks in the US
noise machine are pretending this reprieve is due to 'fixing' the election
problems (which we created). But I think you are right. A steep jump at the
pumps will reflect poorly on team Brandon. And the salt dome oil reserves
are nearly empty. Oops!
I loved
how the Brandon administration released a statement that Maduro had agreed to a deal when in reality no agreement was made.
Maduro himself denied any deal.
These morans think they can just snap their fingers and everybody comes to attention.
I so wish a very hard crash of their egos soon.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
I guess they think...
If they wish it'll happen, and say it, it will! Maybe they all have the same brain trouble Brandon (and my father) have. Dad's to the point where he says basically nothing, and doesn't understand what oil is. Wonder if the presidential admin will get there too??
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Could be devaluation of the dollar...
I dunno. The end results seem to be the same, the normal people suffer and pay. My once every two weeks grocery shopping has gone from costing about 190$ in 2021 to about 300$ now. It's staggering. I am buying exactly the same things, maybe even cheaper versions of things like flour, and it's still an amazing increase!
I've noticed the price of a cord of firewood going up too. And everything else...
Would be 'interesting' if the Arab countries embargoed us. Anyway, thanks for the great comment and have a great weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning.
Been hoarding a lot. Started with the pandemic. Then it was due to shortages. And shrinkflation, skimpflation got weaved in. I don't do Costco/Sams Club - too much quantity for 1 person. So, stock up whenever items I use are on sale. I feel obnoxious hoarding but.... And it also takes space in my urban dwelling. Use a toilet paper brand which is gentle on my ass which costs a little bit more. So stock up when it goes on sale and now I have 6 months supply. As for cooking ingredients, I need to pay attention a bit more due to the dates - best by, use by etc. Coffee is another item I hoard - freeze-dried instant coffee.
It's not called hoarding
It's called prepping.
And you are making wise choices.
The TP issue when the pandemic hit convinced me to invest in at least one Bidet toilet in the master bath.
'Eff the Koch Brother(s) who have cornered the TP market.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Bidet Toilet...
Heh, I read that as a BideN toilet. But I bet one of those couldn't do what it's supposed to do!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Prepping...
like earthling1 said above. Hubby and I also prep or 'hoard'. It's hard with the longer term cooking items - like ohh, worchestershire sauce or cinnamon (I bought both recently because the stuff we had was out of date), they go out of date too quickly. I wonder if that's a 'new' thing to make us pay more, or if it really is because we are getting old and eat less.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
FED : 'Consumers may have to
FED : 'Consumers may have to choose to spend more for necessities and less for non-essentials.'
But Yellen says we can afford two wars. And Biden said something similar. We truly are an Empire.
Wars cost nothing!!!
Right? Yellen seems to think so!
But milk, that should cost!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Look at this entitled Zionist
Look at this entitled Zionist - very typical attitude displayed by Western officials that others should always center their (Western) feelings, issues etc. Good on the Indian anchor to ask him to f*k off
The NOIVE of that guy — I tellz ya…
“The Holocaust means we can order everybody around and tell them what and what not to think and say, 75 years later and forever”
Gaza hospital bombing — some logic (Saidit / Way of the Bern)
I finished watching the clip...
and my mouth was hanging open, just stunned that anyone, any guest on a show, would say such a thing. Good grief..
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
You might have missed Simplicius' newest:
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-101823-israel-ukraine-war
So this is what it takes to end US empire: brute force, caution, and wait until their own criminality undoes them. Still, I don't like what will be replacing US empire.
"there's something so especially sadistic about waving the flag of a country that you're actively destroying" -- Aaron Mate
I kinda hope the criminality undoes them...
But I'm not sure. Part of me wishes we could just fade into the background as a nation and care about ourselves and our own country. But I don't think the wannabe global rulers will let that happen.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I'd too rather fade than explode
and cause greater destruction for both Americans and all others.
"Part of me wishes we could just fade into the background as a nation and care about ourselves and our own country"
You're not wrong, Sima
I've been watching this incrementalism develop for decades, going back to the 2 cent Tootsie Roll and the 5 cent Mars bar my adolescent years.
We go to the same grocery store once a month and I still have receipts going back to 2004.
I compare prices every so often, but there is no accounting for shrinkflation except for the canned goods that show ounces.
Bagging your groceries is a thing at Winco and pumping your own gas is across the nation now unless you live in Oregon (it's illegal) or you drive an electric car.
Thanks for highlighting this ongoing debacle.
And yes, the dollar is becoming less valuable. Remember that every new dollar printed makes the dollar in your pocket less valuable.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Oregon gas law
Oregon recently repealed the old gas law. Self-serve is now legal with some provisions, e.g. prices for self-serve pumps must be same as full-serve. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicksibilla/2023/08/07/after-72-years-orego...
Anya
Good points...
I remember when buying a candybar was more than enough sweet. Now, I gotta buy two, sometimes three. And I think the mini bars, or 'bites' are like... a micron now.
I remember when pumping our own gas started as a 'thing'. I hated it. Still do, actually, but I have no choice. Going to Oregon is/was nice because I didn't have to do that!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning Sima, et. al. Thanks for the OT, Sima.
It's Thurbsday, 10/19 out on the west coast and today's temps are projected to be 60-96, just like yestidday. We've had more days of 90 and above than I remember since moving to the Bay Area.
Today's topic reminded me of my college days and the period shortly thereafter. There was a wholesale distribution market in Oakland that only sold huge quantities, but very cheaply. A bunch of us would get together every now and then and figure out how much of each staple we would/could use over the next period and convert that into a number of the 50 or 100 pound bags they sold, or gross of cans of stuff, etc., one person would then go down and procure same and then we would all divvy it up. Could still work and as a bonus it helps build neighborhood cohesion and all like that.
The real trick is to find uses for junk mail; mulch come to mind, as does home-made fire logs if one has a fireplace or wood stove. Beyond that, they're largely in control, now as always.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Junk Mail...
Maybe a toilet paper replacement?
I think what you guys did as students, buying huge amounts and splitting it, is a good idea. I might get together with some friends and do that...
Have a good weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good afternoon, everyone
I live a mile away from hoarders. The have a building with no doors, partial roof, partial siding. The building is stuffed full of filled garbage bags. When the building filled to the brim, they put out barrels, filled them. When they were filled, garbage sacks full of stuff was set on the ground in the front yard. When the yard filled, they parked a truck, filled the back of it with garbage backs. On weekends, they drive up with their truck beds full of garbage sacks. They have erected 2 more buildings which will soon be filled. No bags are ever removed, and this has been ongoing for at least 20 years. Nothing they keep is ever used. It is not even inspected. This is hoarding.
What we are trying to here among our site membership is classic prepping.
A friend was buying many food items from a Dollar General. I tried to explain to her that their packaging is from China, and every package of everything on the shelves was smaller than at other stores. You pay the same thing by amount or volume as you would at a grocery store. Shrinkflation does not save money. Nowadays, it is in every store.
We are being bent over, folks.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
In my parents' hometown...
There is a hoarder family. They own property on both sides of the little street through the rural town. It is awful. Old cars, trucks, vans, a school bus, barn pieces, clothes, house parts... all strewn across their acre or so on both sides of the street. The neighbors have build 10 foot high walls, to block the sight and noise. A few years ago, an old RV they were hoarding caught fire and burned down the old partial house they had filled with stuff. Didn't phase them one bit. And since they are 'original settlers' of the town, everyone is afraid to do anything about it. Sucks, just sucks.
As for shrinkflation and all the rest, we are definitely being bent over. *sigh* Nothing to do about it, but I do like the idea others have suggested of buying large amounts and then dividing it up...Ohh well, have a great weekend! Hope the Junior Brown concert was good. I haven't been able to follow along recently, too much family stress. But I really like Junior. I LOVE the mavericks, but I do really like Junior
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
The puppets will do as they are told.
A pilgrimage to Tel Aviv
coupled with kissing Bibi's buttis often on the agendaShe isn’t wrong
Lots of Jews are against what Israel is doing and they are being called self hating Jews for standing up against Israel’s crimes against humanity. It’s like Palestinian lives aren’t acknowledged as human. Anyone wearing Palestinian clothing or anything else relating to them are arrested while things like this meet with the world’s approval.
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
Germany is banning the Palestinian scarf (kufiya, keffiyeh)
and any other symbol of support for Palestine — from schools, and any other public places where it might possibly make some demographic “feel unsafe.”
The Frankfurt Book Fair, currently in progress, cancelled a long-planned award ceremony for a Palestinian novelist. Booth space for some major publishers from Islamic countries remained empty as they stayed away in protest against what they regard as the book fair’s one-sided embrace of Israeli narratives.
Nowadays, to stand up for freedom of speech and pluralism of political opinion in Germany means that one is a neo-Nazi or tool thereof, according to the establishment.
Good citizenship has been redefined to mean marching in ideological lockstep “against the Right,” under the E.U. and the various diversity flags.
The façade of multiple parties — all each others’ allies in a big coalition “against the Right,” and all cheering on war and military buildup versus the NATO enemy of the month — is, de facto, operating much like the old East German bloc party system did.
Very Orwellian. Disgusting and disappointing.
Hi lotlizard
I still have photos of my former husband from before we met. They are from 1980 when he was 20 years old in Germany. In the photos he wears a Palestinian scarf. That’s 43 years ago - how times have changed.
'How Times have Changed'
Can't agree with that more!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
That’s what gets my goat
Meanwhile it’s okay for Germany and other countries to support actual Nazis in Ukraine. Yep the same Nazis that killed Jews during the war and are directly tied to Bandera . One German officer refused to train them and he was fired for it.
Even Israel is supporting them and it’s pissed Putin off.
Just because most of the world has gone mad doesn’t mean I’m going to join in. I’m still waiting for the pro Israel folks to tell what is the difference between what Hitler did and what Bibi is doing. Well one thing is that Bibi has the support of many more countries.
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
That first cartoon...
Really, really hits. Becoming what you once hated and which hurt you so badly, I dunno how their minds reconcile it all.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
That's it, reconciliation is the point,
and that takes the capacity to self-reflect and take responsibility.
I think they should just be upfront about it...
And kiss Bibi's butt right there in the open, with his pants down and everything.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
flation
Hi Sima, Hi all, Hope all is well!
Batteryflation. Car battery. Just had to buy one. $200. A 24 month (short-life) unit. If it lasts the full 2 years, that makes $8 per month, or $2 per week, or over a quarter a day to have a battery sitting in the car. Which I start/use on one day a week usually, two sometimes.
I have bought batteries for $30 that lasted 5 years in the past. Even more recently a $50 battery that lasted 50 months. The $50 battery then was $1 per month to have a battery sitting in the car, or three CENTS/day. Having a good car battery was $1 per month, now it is $8 per month.
Anti-freezelation. Used to be $4 per gallon at 100% strength. Now it is $8-12 a gallon, and all is 50% WATER, 50-50. So at minimum it would cost $16 to get as much anti-freeze as I used to get for $4.
That 1 lb. can of coffee went to 14 oz., then 12 oz., now I think 11 oz. is the standard, a third less product. Price is about tripled.
Multiply it times every friggin' item people buy, and I wonder why they are broke? It must be the avocado toast! But we can afford a two front war no problem.
Imagine what it must be on military hardware!?!
Excel used to come with MS basic programs. Then it was an add on package you bought. Now they want you to lease it by the year essentially, and since windoze10, a copy of everything should go (auto default saving to cloud) to Bill Gates because you used his program. Same for word. We used to get discs with our programs, and own them.
be well all!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Batteryflation...
I suffered this recently too. I can't believe how much the price has risen, and how poor the product seems to have gotten. I've had batteries that have lasted 10 years! Or more! Now, 2 years seems to be the norm. I had to get a new small battery for my Mom's EV Camry. Not the big, huge, very expensive battery that runs the car, but the small, 'normal' battery that actually turns on everything for the big battery. Went to 3 different car parts places, they couldn't supply the battery. So we finally went to our much beloved independent car repair place. They could supply the battery, but even though it is a 'normal' battery, Toyota has rigged it so those can't be used (different connectors or whatever). So they ordered a battery from Toyota. It cost about 320$!!
As for Excel and so on... gah. That is insane too. I've used Linux for years and years, but if one games, like my husband does, one has to have a Winblows computer. Bleh. And this 'cloud' stuff for saving files, what the heck? My phone wants to do that too. I removed the program :). I can save what I want on my own computer, thank you very much! (I said to myself when I got rid of the program).
But, yea, they are right, *wink*, it's all because of our love of avacado toast!
Have a great weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Whole Earth Catalogue Online
Somebody archived much of the Whole Earth Catalogue and put it online --
https://boingboing.net/2023/10/14/whole-whole-earth-catalog-online.html
I went there, https://wholeearth.info/ and clicked a few random items and the content is there. Who knows what info and ideas lie therein and how useful or relevant any of it is today, but it is there.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --