MT experiment/ Tracking food prices 2011

[midwesterner (banned)]

Afternoon everyone at EE. I going to be starting an experiment tracking inflation on some basic staples in grocery store. I'm working out the fine details, but right now I'm working on 10 common items many purchase.

I'm wanting to gage the interest of anyone here willing to participate in this. I only want those that are serious about recording prices. All you would have to do is email or post your recent grocery prices on 10 items listed, then I will compile the data. Other than your screen name, and region of USA or Canada you live in, nothing more than the prices of the goods is expected 6 times this year, bi monthly to track the prices.

There will be a few small rules, like no bulk food superstores, coupon prices, promotions, sales prices. We want the retail price for this survey. Also must shop same store for the prices listed.

So if anyone is interested, either email me, or vote in the poll above and let me know if your willing to have fun with this.

Thanks everyone!

notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=moneytalk&action=display&thread=2120&page=1

Months Tracked	Jan/Feb	Mar/Apr	May/Jun	July/Aug	Sep/Oct	Nov/Dec	% Change
Gallon Milk/Deans	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
Dozon Eggs/Lakeshore	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
20 oz Wonderbread	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
1lb Tyson Chicken	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
1lb 80/20 Ground Beef	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
5lb Pillsbury Flour	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
5lbs Pioneer Sugar	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
11 oz Lays Potato Chips	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
24 Oz Kelloge’s Corn Flakes	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
24 Case Cans Bud Light	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total

[Cookies Galore]

I would, except the only brand/product on that list I have ever bought is the Corn Flakes. Good luck!

[Sammy]

Mid, several of the named products are not sold everywhere, but if you change the product to let's say a certain size of a specific type of product that may help.

I'm wintering in mid Florida and shocked at the prices of food.... I'm from Boston. I'm told the prices go up after the 'snow birds' leave which I think is awful. Lot of factors go into pricing food such as transportation costs, availability, etc.

I'm curious as to what people pay for food in other areas.

[rick]

I was surprised to realize I paid 4.09 for a gallon of milk the other day. I had never paid attention

[midwesterner (banned)]

Mid, several of the named products are not sold everywhere, but if you change the product to let's say a certain size of a specific type of product that may help.

I'm wintering in mid Florida and shocked at the prices of food.... I'm from Boston. I'm told the prices go up after the 'snow birds' leave which I think is awful. Lot of factors go into pricing food such as transportation costs, availability, etc.

I'm curious as to what people pay for food in other areas.

There is a bigger discussion going over at MT about all this. We have come up with some more store brand or generic items, and half well known national brands. Still working on a coffee brand, and some other small details, but getting close to some final decisions. Come add your 2 cents, I want this to be fun for all that participate in this. Should be interesting experiment over the year.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We don't ever buy any of the 10 items on the list ... so I wouldn't be much help.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

IMO you don't need to buy the items to get the prices. However, like others have said, you need to look for different brands. For instance, both your milk and egg brands are not available here, and neither is the sugar. Not sure about Pillsbury though, Gold Medal flour may be more common.

You do have some brands that do appear to be universally available (the beer, flour, potato chips, corn flakes) so it might make more sense to do a couple of comparisons by looking at store brands vs name brand.

You could have what is the store brand gallon of milk, eggs, sugar and chicken and ground beef.

I'd also throw in what a 12 pack of Coke cans would cost as well.

[Opti]

I've never heard of Pioneer or Lakeshore. It might be best to either go with store brand on things like eggs, milk, or go with national brands almost everyone can find.

I don't consider Bud Light or Potato Chips grocery staples. Perhaps soda
and a bag of potatoes or certain kind of potatoes per pound would be a better indicator. Anyway, there are usually sales on Potato Chips it the brands on sale vary week to week.

The only thing I buy semi-regularly on your list is eggs and for me that averages once a month or less.

[midwesterner (banned)]

notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=moneytalk&thread=2274&page=1

Experiment is ready, anyone wanting to participate can follow the link to MT where the thread is.

Thanks everyone!

[Opti]

Mid, have you already surveyed people on the top 10 items they tend to buy regularly? The price of flour and sugar will tell you something, however, its a rare family that purchases these more than once a month.

My staples would include things like celery and onions. I notice you aren't tracking the costs of any fruit or vegetables.

[Deleted]

Midwesterner I am assuming you live in Michigan since you have Lakeshore and Pioneer on there. I haven't seen these brands outside of Michigan, but I could be wrong.

[midwesterner (banned)]

New thread is started. We have new rules, and it's easier for store brands. You don't have to buy all these items, just catch the price on them if and write them down next time in store. MT has all the information, or email me if interested.