If you feel you have to eat everyday then you are well aware of the prices of your groceries continue to make it extreme hard to eat as you would like.

I have noticed that a few of the stores that I visit have this trend of artisan food stuffs and damn they are expensive and it seems to be a growing trend.

Food prices have been steadily rising for years, but a new trend sweeping the grocery industry is making the situation even worse for middle-class shoppers. Across the country, more grocery chains are embracing upscale, boutique-style offerings. As a result, affordable staples that everyday shoppers rely on are nearly disappearing.

While these “premium” grocery formats may offer sleek aesthetics, artisan products, and organic selections, they come with a hidden cost: higher prices on basic goods. As these stores grow in popularity, many middle-income shoppers are finding themselves squeezed out of their own neighborhoods, forced to either pay inflated prices or drive long distances to find affordable alternatives.

Here’s why this grocery shift is happening, how it’s impacting the middle class, and why it’s a growing concern for families already struggling with the cost of living.

In many urban and suburban areas, traditional grocery stores are being replaced or rebranded into upscale, specialty-focused markets. These stores feature curated selections of organic, locally sourced, and “artisan” products. While appealing to affluent shoppers, they often reduce shelf space for budget-friendly brands or bulk items.

What’s driving this trend? Simply put, profit margins. Premium grocery items tend to carry much higher markups than basic pantry staples. Grocers can make more money by selling imported cheeses, boutique wines, and specialty health foods than by stocking generic canned goods or family-sized staples.

https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2025/07/09/10160223_the-new-grocery-trend-thats-pricing-out-middle-class-shoppers.html

This is something you should watch out for in the future for it is a trap.

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AS long as we are talking about food prices…..

I am a devout beef eater and have been watching those prices shoot up and up why is that?

(I am not a rancher and do not buy or sell beef so if this article is in error please set the record straight)

Soaring U.S. beef prices are hitting consumers in the wallet and raising costs for restaurants.

“Anybody should be able to afford a burger,” said Andrew Schnipper, a managing partner at Hamburger America in New York City. “It’s never been an expensive item historically.”

Yet the restaurant may be forced to raise the price of its burgers, which start at $7.50. “We’re very focused on trying to charge the least amount we feel comfortable doing,” he added. “But obviously, if prices go up we have to raise prices.”

The cost of beef reached $5.98 per pound in May, according to Federal Reserve data — the highest since the Department of Labor started tracking beef prices in the 1980s. That rise hasn’t come overnight. Ground beef costs have increased 45% over the last 10 years, compared with roughly 30% for the overall Consumer Price Index.

Overall food prices have eased since surging during the pandemic, although they’re still up nearly 17% since 2022, according to the CBS News price tracker. That means a grocery bill that cost $100 back then would cost around $116.85 as of May (the latest data available).

So what accounts for higher beef prices? The answer largely comes down to simple economics, with demand outstripping supply. That has resulted in higher costs throughout the supply chain, including for meat processing companies, the restaurant industry and consumers.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beef-prices-record-highs-drought/

There is always alternatives but those are almost as expensive…..so if you eat regularly you need to find people that can control the necessities like food.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”