Grocery products get downsized again

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/3263982-420/consumer-per-companies-costs-downsizing.html

Jan 12, 2011 04:46AM

Looking at the rows and rows of products lining supermarket shelves, it’s nice to see that at least some prices haven’t risen. Look at the package that the product comes in, however, and it becomes clear that stickers aren’t telling the whole story.

Major manufacturers of consumer goods are again coping with rising commodity costs by cutting back on portion sizes, chipping away a few ounces here and taking out a few slices there rather than ask the customer to pay more. But the net effect is just as costly.

Ivory dish detergent has dropped its 30-ounce bottle down to 24 ounces, a 20 percent reduction. A can of Hills Brothers coffee that once held 34.5 ounces now contains just 27.8 — a 19.4 percent cut.

[Poboy]

1. I've noticed this with Oreo's and Safeguard bar soap.

It amounts to stealth inflation.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. toilet paper rolls are almost a half inch shorter..stand 2 rolls next to each other....

1 old one and the new ones

[Frustratedlady]

13. Go into a public stall and it is so narrow, you could use it for shoestrings! n/t

[subterranean]

26. My wife did that.

Same brand, one that she bought in 2008 and one from 2010. The newer one was noticeably smaller.

[BlueIris]

2. There's a term for this that I can't remember. It's the name for what happens when

manufacturers reduce size and keep price the same, or in some cases raise it. It's considered a very bad sign for a company's future and an economy's ability to function.

[zorahopkins]

12. Inflation?

Is that the term you are looking for?

[BlueIris]

18. No.

It's the term that describes raises in price despite reduction in quantity. I think I'll go dig for it now. Someone in the Economy forum might know.

[Confusious]

21. deflation?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. this has been happening for more then a year by me....I noticed it last summer and brought to my....

grocery store attention....the management knew of course but the workers were clueless.

[louis-t]

4. I have written multiple letters to companies for this.

The first was years ago when Bigelow dropped the number of teabags from 24 to 20. Rcently, I noticed that tuna no longer comes in at 6 ounces (it was 7 ounces at one time, then dropped to 6.5, then 6, now 5). Oh, by the way, stick anti-perspirant is now a size small enough to "get past inspection when you fly", same price. This has been going on for 30 years. Mid-'80s, restaurants began weighing portions, counting french fries, slicing pepperoni thinner (my thought was "how much thinner can they slice them, you can already see through them") Maybe they're trying to starve us to death.

[TwilightGardener]

15. Yep, I noticed it with tuna cans. I did not notice Bigelow tea--and I've been

buying it for years.

[louis-t]

25. They were hoping you wouldn't.

Box is the same size. They count on no one paying attention. At least I got 2 free boxes for my efforts. :eyes:

[KT2000]

6. 4 lb. bags of sugar

insead of 5.
Pretty soon tuna cans will be the size of Fancy Feast cat food.

ALSO - read the labels on paper towels - the count varies as does the price per sq.yd.

[Pathwalker]

14. Fancy Feast cat food has been downsized too. My cats are not amused.

They glare at me as if I am putting them on a diet. Lots more gravy and jelly too, and less meat.

[KT2000]

16. Really? - just started buying it

Have been giving the cat the grain free high end cat food (purchased at a pretentious nutritional pet food store where customers are clients and are Counseled about their pet food choices) and thought I would save with the Fancy Feast.
It turns out that the price is the same, except that Fancy Feast does go on sale sometimes.
Not always up for the pet store visit either.

[Bozita]

7. Half-gallons of ice cream went from 64oz to 56oz to 48oz in the past 4 years.

One pound packages of frozen veggies are now 12oz.

Today's Entenmann's Louisiana Crunch Cake contains fewer calories than its predecessor due to its containing less cake.

Even toilet paper squares are smaller.

[zorahopkins]

8. Ah, Just Like in the '70's!

Those of us old enough to remember the 1970's will recall that this happened back then.

It was a harbinger of inflation.

[denverbill]

17. Yes and I'd be willing to bet that the CPI doesn't measure this.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. You now get 9 cookies instead of 12 in many packages.

[Frustratedlady]

10. Don't forget the freezer section. Check bottoms of bottles/containers.

The indentation is almost a half cup.

I purchased some graham crackers and could put my hand down the inside of the box, as the crackers were smaller. Now, they've downsized the box.

There are tons of examples. The bad thing is, the size won't go back to normal.

[Ezlivin]

11. Shopping at Mildendo's Market in Lilliput again?

So that's why I feel like a giant when shopping. A whole week's worth of groceries can fit in the palm of your hand.

Damn.

[onethatcares]

19. I don't think it's the rise in comodity prices, I believe

it's just another way for the corporations to screw us out of our cash while giving us less.

Do you think the CEO of Nestleas, Hills Bros, Proctor Gamble really gives a nucking futz about what we pay? We got no choice because they're all in collusion.

[Stevenmarc]

20. Last time I bought tuna it was 6oz now they're 5oz

[defendandprotect]

22. Don't worry, Congress has been protecting us from this .... Oops!!

This has been going on for decades ... but presumably, Congress never noticed!!

:eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

23. How can a family create and live on a budget with this going on?

Can't be done can it?

Don

[niyad]

24. even couponing and shopping sales and the dollar store doesn't help much. just glad I only have to

shop for the kits and myself.

[Shagbark Hickory]

27. You should see what happened to a roll of angel soft toilet paper.

I stopped buying it when I needed a magnifying glass to see the rolls.

It's fooling no one. I switched to the private label TP.