What grocery items would you track for inflation

[Opti]

Mid has decided to track 10 items to track food inflation. Since they are not what I would have picked I was wondering what do people buy most often and what grocery items would you choose to track inflation in food prices?

I'd probably start with
celery
onions
hamburger
several chicken parts prices, i.e. boneless skinless thighs and breasts
16oz bag of frozen veggies

[Deleted]

Potatoes
hamburger
spaghetti sauce
brocolli
bananas
milk
bread
Carrots
pasta
pork shoulder chops

[teen persuasion]

milk
bread
peanut butter
eggs
cheese (IWS?)
apples/bananas
pasta
chicken leg quarters
carrots
lettuce

[kadee]

COFFEE
milk
bread
snack foods (chips, etc.)
potatoes
hot dogs
peanut butter
margarine
bananas
dried beans/pasta

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

OK ... my weird list reflects my weird eating habits (grin)

Original Fiber One Cereal
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
Alvarado Street Bakery Sprouted Organic Flax Seed Bread
Campbell's chicken noodle soup
Chunk Light Canned Tuna in Water
Oscar Mayer sliced turkey
Romaine Hearts (3-pack)
Broccoli
Cucumbers
Grape Tomatoes
Frozen medium-sized shrimp (400-calorie bag)

[kadee]

I see some of you are answering with the items you would buy...I didn't do that! I was in retail for 30+ yrs. & lots of that was in grocery stores. I listed items that seem to go when the cash gets short!
I was sort of putting myself behind the cash register & remembering what most people were buying.

But I think I need to add one....
CHEAP toilet paper!

[Opti]

When I did the OP I was thinking more what individual posters would choose and hoped that might point to what in general might be good to track. In some sense food inflation costs can be very individual depending on how and what you tend to buy.

K66, I appreciate your insight as I'm not very aware of what most people buy.

[Deleted]

cheerios
milk
bread
eggs
butter
flour
olive oil
bananas
whole chicken
onions

[kadee]

Well, Molly definitely buys different than most of us!

My personal list...
coffee
tea
milk (2%)
bread (whole wheat)
flour
sugar
hamburger (ground sirloin...less fat/waste)
dried beans/pasta
ham
cheeses
I still need to add...frozen veggies!

[djmj3284]

potatoes
ground beef
16 oz frozen veggies
milk
bread
rotel
biscuit mix/flour
turkey/chicken whole ones
pork roast
eggs

Really I never buy food other than milk or eggs when it isn't on sale anyway

[973beachbum]

My list isn't that different but here it is.

COFFEE
MILK
EGGS
BREAD
CORN FLAKES
PASTA
APPLES
CHEESE
TUNA FISH
SPLIT CHICKEN BREASTS
SHRIMP

[rubyslippers]

Milk
bread
coffee
eggs
butter
potatoes
onion
pop
boneless chicken breast
bananas

[Waffle]

milk
bread
hamburger (ground chuck)
boneless skinless chicken breasts
apples
potatoes
eggs
peanut butter
pop (soda pop)
bacon (I've noticed the price of bacon swinging widely lately)

[montanatransplant]

K66--Loved you remark about cheap toilet paper. I, as most of my friends and many businesses, use good ol' Costco Kirkland toilet paper. This passed weekend, we visited friends who use a brand of higher quality. I forgot how nice those higher quality brands are!! But, will just have to "enjoy" when visiting some of our "better-heeled" friends! (I wonder if they slip in a roll when they come visit us??

I would track:
Milk,
eggs,
bread,
oleo and butter (Boy, butter really took a leap!)
T.P. and P.T.
a "basket of fresh fruits" and
a "basket of fresh veggies"
ground coffee
Coke/Pepsi
93%/7% ground beef
skinless/boneless chicken breasts
orange juice
peanut butter
and Bud lite

[Deleted]

uh, transplant, not to be too finicky but you are waaaaaaaaay over 10 items!!*wagging finger*

[Sharon]

Is milk a good item to track since it is somewhat price controlled. We just a local dairy (that had the best milk) go out of business because of price controls and what it was costing to feed the animals.

[steff]

Milk
eggs
bread
butter
potatoes
tomatoes
toilet paper
coke/pepsi
hamburger
chicken (pick one specific chicken item...either just breasts, whole chickens, or drumsticks)
shampoo/conditioner

[gailbon]

WINE!!
milk
bread
steel cut oatmeal
beans
cheese
olive oil
potatoes
MORE WINE!!

[Agatha]

Ten things?

1. Mayo ($1.79 in 1978)
2. Coffee
3. Sugar
4. Flour
5. Butter
6.Eggs
7. Watermelon
8. Strawberries
9. Olive oil
10. Baking powder

I think I would stick with one brand in each. One can always find a cheaper brand but the results would be uneven.

[montanatransplant]

Hey Laterbloomer! Why are you pickin' on me? ? ? ? Others went over the 10 items, and some went under. You're hurting my feelings. . . . . But that's really okay--I've a thick hide and my you-know-what is way too big. Getting back to tracking items, let's all meet at "gailbon's" house--she's tracking WINE and MORE WINE. . .

What kind of wine, Gailbon? Re: the steel cut oatmeal, I'm not sure the extra cost is worth it. It has more texture, even after soaking, than regular oatmeal. Is there something else to it that you like??

I'm waiting for the poster that includes lobster, scotch, caviar, fillet mignon, and an one-hour massage at one's favorite spa!!

[gailbon]

Hi Montanatransplant! Come on over for the wine! Better yet, I will go visit you in Montana, which is on my travel "bucket list"!
I do prefer the steelcut oatmeal over the regular kind. I add milk, walnuts, and a pinch of cinnamon, and put it in the microwave to heat up. On sale in my area, I can buy it for about $1.00/lb. It tastes a bit heartier than regular oatmeal, and it really fills me up until lunchtime.
My husband and I are into all types of red wines. We are not wine "snobs", due to our budget, but we do try to track some of our lower-cost favorites.

[ambellamy]

1. Non fat Milk
2. Crackers
3. Gala Apples (Tend to be the cheapest year round)
4. Pasta
5. Canned Spaghetti Sauce
6. Canned Veggies (corn & green beans)
7. Rice
8. Beans (the dried kind sold in bags)
9. Flour
10. Sugar

I opted for ingrediants that required cooking from scratch, not convience foods (which we always know are more expensive.)

In recessionary times people go really simple and try cooking more from scratch.

[bobbysgirl]

butter
milk
eggs
bread
flour
sugar
peanut butter
jam
pasta

[texasredneck]

I wish all the people posting there list on this thread would join the market talk thread on prices. The more that participate the better information we all gain.

[westerngal]

Milk
Bread
fruit
chicken
yogurt
cottage cheese
potatoes
butter We raise our own beef and eggs

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I like his list, but it does need some produce on it too. I'd probably add bananas, celery and onions to it.

[midwesterner (banned)]

Anyone interested in the MT experiment, send me an email, and I'll set you up with a chart. Just follow the rules below, and email me your prices next trip to your grocery store.

Tracking prices and inflation at the grocery store experiment 2011 This experiment will be on a bi monthly basis in order to see how inflation and prices at the grocery store have changed over a years time. We have sampled basic staple goods most common in all markets, and available to all regions in USA and Canada. Anyone that would like to participate may do so. Experiment Rules: 1.All food items must be from list above, and if no alternative is available in area, please note this. Sizes must be the same even if close replacement is used. PLEASE TRY TO USE ITEMS ON LIST FOR MORE ACCURATE DATA. 2.No super discount stores can be used. All stores must be a local or average grocery stores, that don’t sell in bulk, or greatly, reduced prices. Sam’s Clubs and Costco are not allowed. 3.Once you pick a store to shop at, you must stick with that store for the year, and can’t change stores. Prices must be from same store each time. 4.You must get your prices for the items on list within the two-month timeframe or result in dropping out of experiment. This means every two months I need an update on your prices. I'll try to send out reminder emails to those participating. 5.When results are gathered, I prefer you post them on the reply button so all can see, or you may email me the results. Each poster will get a chart table with their personal results, and can see all others results. I will be updating them for you once they are posted. 6.Prices Must be retail prices. No coupon prices, in store promotions, or sales prices. If item is on sale, record the retail standard price for this experiment. 7. List the region of USA or Canada you are from. (Example: Midwest, Southeast, Pacific northwest) 8.DO NOT INCLUDE SALES TAX IN FINAL PRICE. We can add your sales tax rate on your chart if you wish, but price must be before taxes. 9.Last of all; be honest and serious about the thread. This will be time consuming on my part, and only want those that will be serious, and honest to participate. All and all lets have fun, and see what the results bring!

USA Total Prices

Months Tracked	Jan/Feb	Mar/Apr	May/Jun	July/Aug	Sep/Oct	Nov/Dec	% Change
Gallon Milk/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
Dozen Eggs/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
20 oz Wonderbread	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
1lb Chicken Breast/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
1lb 80/20 Ground Beef/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
5lb Flour/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
5lbs Sugar/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
11 oz Lays Potato Chips	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
24 Oz Kellogg's Corn Flakes	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
12 Case Coke	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
Grand Total $	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total %

Canadian Total Prices

Months Tracked	Jan/Feb	Mar/Apr	May/Jun	July/Aug	Sep/Oct	Nov/Dec	% Change
Gallon Milk/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
Dozon Eggs/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
20 oz Wonderbread	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
1lb Chicken Breast/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
1lb 80/20 Ground Beef/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
5lb Flour/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
5lbs Sugar/Store Brand	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
11 oz Lays Potato Chips	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
24 Oz Kellogg's Corn Flakes	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
12 Case Coke	First	Second	Third	Forth	Fifth	Sixth	Total
Grand Total $	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total %

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