Tracking the price of food, experiment for MT

[midwesterner (banned)]

For this to be EFFECTIVE and not just a farce

1. Shoppers must target ONE supermarket only....and then use that market every month (noting if regular retail or discount would be appropriate)
2. Area of country must be noted (south, Northeast, west, etc) as COL is definitely different in some areas of country
3. Shopping at same time of month would also help...as vendors do price markups usually once a month if there is one
4. Not all the brands you have listed will be available everywhere....people should be able to re brand a product....and then stick to that brand throughout the year

Just a few thoughts on getting valid data....otherwise you are pissing into the wind

Good points and will be addressed before the full new thread is created. I want to Gage interest in this also. Who here is going to follow through and check these prices, or willing to partake.

Let's avoid stating the supermarket shopped at, but we need to be honest in our shopping the same store. It's useless if that's not the case. If promotion or coupons are used, we stick with the retail regular price for this poll, promotions and store sales don't count.

I like the idea of the region of country. We are including Canada in this poll, so Canadians feel welcome too. Price in your dollars, and region of country. Nobody has to give state or town they live in here, just a general area of country. Pacific northwest, east coast, southern, Midwest, rocky mountains, southwest. If in question email me or check with a map of where your state is located. For Canadians I'm open to how you would like to do this. We need a region, if you simply want to break it down in West coast, heartland, or east coast. Or rather state the providence that's fine, just let's keep it the same.

I would like to also stick with these brand seeing as they are probably all over north America. If I'm wrong, and replacement brand needs to be added for you product, then let me know and we'll note that below.

Same store, any store you choice that's grocery, or labeled grocery, but stick with that for prices even if you shop other stores.

[midwesterner (banned)]

All suggestions on how to make this most accurate would help. I want to get this out soon, so we can have valid January, more like Febuary data, charts.

Of course like all surveys it will not be perfect, but I think we can get it close if all are honest and stick to the gameplan once we officially figure the details out.

This data could reflect cost of living expenses in regions, plus the inflation data per area. Food is a great example of tracking inflation, since we all need it to survive, and will be bought at all costs.

My goal is to individualize each participants data every two months, then get an average per product, then total average. I'll do the same with all data half year through or year end and compile the national inflation averages on products, and as a whole.

[dancinmama]

Jan 24, 2011 9:52:01 GMT -5 midwesterner (banned) said:

Midwesterners Prices

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 Potatoe 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

My only concern with the table is regarding product shrinkage. IF Lays decided to go to 10.5 oz bags, then everything would have to be recalculated by the ounce; same way with the sugar, flour, cornflakes, etc. Maybe you would want to start out tracking the prices for the packaged foods by ounce from the get go to avoid the problem; maybe not.

Also, I went and looked for a 24 pack of Bud at my store (after having read a list posted by someone else) and there was NO 24 pack. At my store Bud came in 12-pks, 18 pks, 20-pks, and 30-pks. I think tracking a 12 pack probably would be better because the chances are that everyone will have that available to them.

I agree that the regular price of the product should be used not the sale price, card price, price after coupon, etc. Are we going to use Foster Farms for the chicken or store brand or what? The store brand is consistently cheaper than Foster Farms where I shop.

And ANYONE who walks into a grocery store could participate; you don't have to actually buy the item to report its price.

Not everyone has a Trader Joe's readily available (I don't) so I vote not to use their brands.

I would be happy to report Nor CA prices once we confirm which products that we are going to go with. As far as brands is concerned, I don't have Pioneer sugar. I think the most common brand here is C&H. We could also go with a store's name brand or generic rather than the name brands and report price per oz cuz some sugar come in 4 lb bags and some still comes in 5 lb bag.

I do think we should start out with as much consistency as possible.

[neohguy]

I'll be glad to supply data from ne oh. I shop weekly. I'll go along with whatever list you guys pick.

[texasredneck]

milk great value gal $1.49
eggs lone star farmers doz 1.64
Mrs Bairds bread 20 oz $2.28
chicken breasts 1.78 lb
80/20 hamberger $3.28 lb
Pillsbury flour 5 lb $2.28
Imperial sugar 4 lbs $2.88
Layes 11 oz chips $2.50
Kellogs cornflakes 24 oz $3.12
Bud Light case 24 cans $19.47
Breyers 1.5 qt vanilla ice cream $3.25

[dancinmama]

Jan 24, 2011 12:28:38 GMT -5 @wxyz said:

G

I dont think it is possible to get valid data with different people, dates, stores, etc as you noted. It will be interesting, however. Looking forward to seeing the data, even if it is not valid.

The thing is we have no choice. We COULD all check the prices on the same date (which would be fine with me), but going to the same store is impossible because grocery stores are regional.

[dancinmama]

Jan 24, 2011 12:52:45 GMT -5 texasredneck said:

milk great value gal $1.49
eggs lone star farmers doz 1.64
Mrs Bairds bread 20 oz $2.28
chicken breasts 1.78 lb
80/20 hamberger $3.28 lb
Pillsbury flour 5 lb $2.28
Imperial sugar 4 lbs $2.88
Layes 11 oz chips $2.50
Kellogs cornflakes 24 oz $3.12
Bud Light case 24 cans $19.47
Breyers 1.5 qt vanilla ice cream $3.25

eggs (store brand) large/doz 2.49
Milk (store brand) $3.29/gal
Forgot the bread (was trying to recall the list by memory)
Forgot the chicken
80/20 hamburger (store brand) $3.49/lb
Gold Medal flour 5 lb $3.39
C&H sugar 4 lbs $4.19
Lays 11 oz chips $2.99
Yuban Coffee 12 oz $5.49
Maxwell House Coffee 11 oz $5.99
Kellogs cornflakes 12 oz. $4.39 / 18 oz $4.79 (didn't see 24 oz)
Bud Light 12-pk $12.49 (no 24 pk offered at my store)
Forgot the ice cream

[texasredneck]

No 5 lb bags of sugar in store and only 2 brands Imperial and store brand.

Robin guess I will have to do my drinking in Michigan.

[midwesterner (banned)]

1. Too major sugar brands I've found are Imperial and Domino. Is it safe to say we can find these brands in local stores? Domino looks like bigger company of the two, would like to go with that one. Any objections?

2. For flour, pilsbury looks like fairly standard in most stores? Again, any objections.

3. After some thought, I think scratching beer from list is a good idea. Here's my reasonings. State laws and counties tax liquior much more in certain areas, and may have tax hikes. This will not reflect the best price of inflation, but more government taxation of the product. I think beer should go for this reason alone, otherwise it would be a good gage of price.

4. Coke products are all over the world, huge company. I say we go with a 24 case of coke and it's price instead of beer.

5. Do we want to keep ice cream on list, or add a few more? If so, what are most popular brands nationwide? Does everyone get Breyers vanilla, or chocolate? Deans Ice cream would be second choice? What size of carton?

6. I say we go with store brand on eggs, and ground beef. Those are more local, harder to gage from a major corp. It will help be well rounded. Also do we want to stick with deans milk or go with store brand?

REMEMBER: once you pick an item if generic, has to be same each time, and same store each time. So if you don't plan on shopping there a lot, might want to shop at regular store for your prices.



What brands need to be generic???

[midwesterner (banned)]

Added a poll, top votes gets the win. I kept open 7 days but will probably start earlier on this, so vote asap.

[decoy409]

Quote: My only concern with the table is regarding product shrinkage

Read more: notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=moneytalk&action=display&thread=2120&page=2#ixzz1ByrM4JuK

That is a very GOOD catch and really needs to be talked about more as this is exactly what has become which is MORE fiat ridden debt note paper for LESS product.
Nothing like 'REAL VALUE!'

As well you would have to adjust for the States with higher tax rates.

[Deleted]

It is important to list whether buying from a regular supermarket...or a discount superstore

The price variances will be HUGE comparing the two

In our household...buying bulk we save 20-25% annually by buying at "costco"

For this scenario...you really want everyone using a regular store...not the discount variety

It should even the numbers out except for the COL difference

[midwesterner (banned)]

It is important to list whether buying from a regular supermarket...or a discount superstore

The price variances will be HUGE comparing the two

In our household...buying bulk we save 20-25% annually by buying at "costco"

For this scenario...you really want everyone using a regular store...not the discount variety

It should even the numbers out except for the COL difference

Bulk superstores like Sams Club and Costco can't be included, cause prices won't reflect individual costs. Walmarts of course are cheaper, but are not bulk stores, so those will be ok for this poll.

Most important thing to remember, and I'll state this above when ready to post, but once you pick a store, you must stick with that store for this poll. Store hopping will not reflect the value correctly, and track inflation based on that stores margin or prices. Each store is run differently, so same store, same prices recorded.

I hope many will participate and will get involved in this experiment, which will be very interesting to see each how the prices change if at all.

[midwesterner (banned)]

Going to start a poll in EE, want to gage interest. Please follow over there and vote if interested.

[Deleted]

Your Money would ATTRACT more people

This is their thing....

[midwesterner (banned)]

Your Money would ATTRACT more people

This is their thing....

Good thinking, Posted one there too. Better spot to attract more people.

[decoy409]

This here is the best idea here yet to keep things in check (along with size/amount)

Quote: It is important to list whether buying from a regular supermarket...or a discount superstore

The price variances will be HUGE comparing the two

In our household...buying bulk we save 20-25% annually by buying at "costco"

For this scenario...you really want everyone using a regular store...not the discount variety

It should even the numbers out except for the COL difference


Read more: notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=moneytalk&action=display&thread=2120&page=2#ixzz1BzAvTjrD

[dancinmama]

Jan 24, 2011 13:30:10 GMT -5 midwesterner (banned) said:

1. Too major sugar brands I've found are Imperial and Domino. Is it safe to say we can find these brands in local stores? Domino looks like bigger company of the two, would like to go with that one. Any objections?

2. For flour, pilsbury looks like fairly standard in most stores? Again, any objections.

3. After some thought, I think scratching beer from list is a good idea. Here's my reasonings. State laws and counties tax liquior much more in certain areas, and may have tax hikes. This will not reflect the best price of inflation, but more government taxation of the product. I think beer should go for this reason alone, otherwise it would be a good gage of price.

4. Coke products are all over the world, huge company. I say we go with a 24 case of coke and it's price instead of beer.

5. Do we want to keep ice cream on list, or add a few more? If so, what are most popular brands nationwide? Does everyone get Breyers vanilla, or chocolate? Deans Ice cream would be second choice? What size of carton?

6. I say we go with store brand on eggs, and ground beef. Those are more local, harder to gage from a major corp. It will help be well rounded. Also do we want to stick with deans milk or go with store brand?

REMEMBER: once you pick an item if generic, has to be same each time, and same store each time. So if you don't plan on shopping there a lot, might want to shop at regular store for your prices.



What brands need to be generic???

We may need to go store brand on the sugar. I don't have Imperial or Domino in my grocery store. Sometimes I can get them at WAGs but not at the grocery store.

We do have Pillsbury flour so that will work for me.

Why are we doing a 24 pack of soda when buying in 12 packs is much more common?

We do have Breyers here; I've NEVER HEARD of Deans.

I think we should stick with store brands on the chicken too cuz we have Foster Farms and the store brand for fresh chicken. We do have Tyson products, but only in the boxed frozen food section.

[dancinmama]

And what happened to coffee and bread - IF we can find brands that we all have.

I heard someone else mention Wonder bread. We get that in CA. How about Oroweat? Is that nation-wide?

Yuban, Maxwell House, etc. Again we'd have to track the prices by ounces in case they shrink their containers.

What do you think?

[dancinmama]

Jan 24, 2011 13:36:20 GMT -5 midwesterner (banned) said:

Added a poll, top votes gets the win. I kept open 7 days but will probably start earlier on this, so vote asap.

Great poll, but in Nor CA I don't get 3 of the 4 brands that you listed: Tyson for fresh chicken, Domino, and Lakeshore. So if majority rules and the majority vote in areas that get those brands - great, but you might not end up covering the entire country.

I'm sure you didn't realize this when you picked the brands, but that's the way it is.

[midwesterner (banned)]

And what happened to coffee and bread - IF we can find brands that we all have.

I heard someone else mention Wonder bread. We get that in CA. How about Oroweat? Is that nation-wide?

Yuban, Maxwell House, etc. Again we'd have to track the prices by ounces in case they shrink their containers.

What do you think?

I think the tread is for some store brands, which would reflect some local prices too. I would like to have even amount then. If we go meats, eggs, milk, sugar and flour store bought I'm ok with that, but some like coffee, coke, corn flakes, need to be brand names.

I think a split should probably be in order, and would reflect the prices better.

Everyone get Maxwell house coffee, or Folgers coffee?? We can do 12 cans of coke if that's what people want. I'm a bit open here, just has to all be basic, staples, and common brands or products across USA and Canada.

[midwesterner (banned)]

So far I'm going with Kellego's Cornflakes, Wonderbread, lays potato chips, Coffee brand undecided, and 12 cans of coke.

We need a common coffee? Also do we want to add icecream brand, and what is nationwide brand? heard Deans is not nationwide, so that's out. Breyer?

I'm leaning toward store brands on rest of staples.

[dancinmama]

Jan 24, 2011 15:58:17 GMT -5 midwesterner (banned) said:

So far I'm going with Kellego's Cornflakes, Wonderbread, lays potato chips, Coffee brand undecided, and 12 cans of coke.

We need a common coffee? Also do we want to add icecream brand, and what is nationwide brand? heard Deans is not nationwide, so that's out. Breyer?

I'm leaning toward store brands on rest of staples.

Breyer works in Nor CA. I think store brands on staples is a good idea, but you'd probably have to track by price per oz.

[neohguy]

Might be best to specify "whole" chicken. Otherwise we are getting into various cuts.

[midwesterner (banned)]

Dont know if I will participate, but our local HEB rarely has 24 packs of coke. Twelve packs as said above will be better.

Thanks, 12 packs it is then. Everyone keep in mind that if there are a few items you don't buy, you don't have to buy any of them, just get the prices of that product when at store. I know it's extra hassle, but will help reflect a more accurate reading from final results.

[midwesterner (banned)]

Might be best to specify "whole" chicken. Otherwise we are getting into various cuts.

I was thinking of going with chicken breasts, the per lb price, not the whole price of the package. Thanks!!!

[neohguy]

Jan 24, 2011 16:32:21 GMT -5 midwesterner (banned) said:

Might be best to specify "whole" chicken. Otherwise we are getting into various cuts.

I was thinking of going with chicken breasts, the per lb price, not the whole price of the package. Thanks!!!

Chicken breasts are for rich people! ;D

[Guest]

Then I must be one of those uber-wealthy I keep hearing about because we take it a step further and buy the chicken breast tenders. Pull out the little tendon-thingys, bread 'em, and fry 'em up in a little oil and they melt in your mouth.

[decoy409]

This is a great post!

[texasredneck]

Mid Flour is still sold in a 5 lb bag as standard size.

Sugar the standard size is now 4 lbs for most brands.