Shoppers Believe Government Policies and Actions Most Responsible for Higher Prices in Supermarkets 

The Feedback Group, a leader in providing actionable stakeholder feedback, today released new findings from national research conducted with 1,150 consumers about their experience shopping in supermarkets for food and groceries.

Government Policies and Actions Top List of Factors Responsible for Higher Prices at Supermarkets
Supermarket shoppers rated a variety of entities and factors, on a five-point scale where five is "highly responsible" and one "not at all responsible", as to their degree of responsibility for higher prices in supermarkets. Viewed as most responsible, government policies and actions received the highest mean score (3.86). Product manufacturers and suppliers scored second most responsible (3.75), followed more distantly by wars and worldwide political conflicts (3.42), supermarket retailers (3.40), and labor supply shor

Mintec's 2024 US Easter Index

Mintec’s US Easter Index measures price fluctuations across key food commodities that are typically consumed in the US during the Easter period. The US Easter Index compares the commodities’ prices in March 2024 against March 2023 to determine whether consumers will be hypothetically better or worse off this Easter. The Index is comprised of three sub-indices: the US Easter Protein Index represents a selection of meats, fish and eggs that will typically be eaten as part of a main Easter dinner; the US Easter Chocolate Index compares the main...

Biofuel and Ag Groups Call on EPA to Issue E15 Emergency Waiver

Today, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, and National Sorghum Producers sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling on Administrator Michael Regan to act swiftly on an emergency waiver for E15 sales:

“New and ongoing conflicts across the globe continue to pose risks to the United States’ transportation energy supply. In addition to the conflict in Ukraine, now extending into its third year, the recent unrest and volatility in the Middle East present additional challenges...

Flashfood and The Save Mart Companies Partner to Make Groceries More Affordable on the West Coast

Flashfood, the app for grocery’s best deals, today announced a partnership with The Save Mart Companies, a California-based grocer operating 194 stores under the banners of Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx in California and Western Nevada. Flashfood’s free app connects shoppers with fresh produce, meat and other high-quality groceries at up to 50% off, diverting food waste from landfills and offering great deals on groceries at the same time.

The Flashfood app is now available at 44 Lucky stores in the greater...

Biden Calls on Snack Companies to Stop 'Shrinkflation" Rip-Offs

U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday called on snack companies to stop shrinkflation, which is when businesses cut product sizes but keep prices the same, describing the practice as "a rip-off."

"Some companies are trying to pull a fast one by shrinking the products little by little and hoping you won't notice," Biden said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

"Give me a break. The American public is tired of being played for...

Mintec Releases "Christmas Dinner Index 2023" Report

Holiday Food Prices Projected Up 7% from Last Year, 18% from Two Years Ago

National supermarket data confirms slower food price inflation with consumers seeing smaller price increases when shopping for 2023 Christmas meals. According to a data analysis and forecast prepared by Category Partners, the price of purchasing Christmas dinner at a supermarket will be approximately 7% higher than in 2022. The forecast was derived using supermarket sales data provided by NielsenIQ collected from more than 35,000 food stores in the United States.

The data analysis shows that a basic Christmas dinner in 2023 purchased from a supermarket...

Mintec Releases "Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023" Report; Read It Here

Mintec enables the world's largest food and manufacturing brands to implement more efficient and sustainable procurement strategies. We do this through our cutting-edge SaaS platform, Mintec Analytics, which delivers market prices and analysis for thousands of commodities, food ingredients and associated materials. Our data and tools empower our customers to understand prices better, analyze their spend and negotiate with confidence.

Mintec’s latest report, “Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023,” is a look at the components that make up the traditional holiday dinner...

Kroger's Freshgiving Prices are Even Low, Low, Lower than Last Year's

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today shared its zero-compromise Freshgiving meal offering customers a holiday basket that includes all the staples for less than $5 per person—even more affordable than the retailer's turkey day bundle last year. Complete with pumpkin pie, turkey at the center of the plate and plenty of fresh sides, this feast is sure to please.

"No matter how families gather, Kroger's Thanksgiving is Fresh for Everyone," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO...

Target's Serving Up an Easy, Affordable Thanksgiving Meal for Under $25

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced how it is helping guests serve up an effortlessly delicious Thanksgiving meal that won't stretch their budgets. Starting today, guests can shop Target's Thanksgiving meal for under $25 online and in store, including the following must-have staples to serve four:

• Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey (Frozen) – 10 lb.
• Good & Gather Russet Potatoes – 5 lb.
• Good & Gather Cut Green Beans – 14.5 oz.
• Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup – 22 oz.
• Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce – 14 oz...

U.S. Consumers Spent More on Food in 2022 Than Ever Before, Even After Adjusting for Inflation

The USDA, Economic Research Service’s (ERS) Food Expenditure Series (FES) provides a comprehensive measure of the total value of all food purchases in the United States. The series tracks spending on food intended to be prepared at home, such as from grocery stores, and food that is prepared away from home, such as at restaurants. The FES allows Government agencies, academic researchers, and industry stakeholders to assess and track developments in consumer food-buying behaviors and the U.S. food supply...

American Farm Bureau Federation: Turkey Prices Fall as Thanksgiving Approaches

The cost of purchasing a turkey could be lower this Thanksgiving, thanks to a drop in avian influenza cases and a recovery of the turkey population in the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed turkey and egg prices in the latest Market Intel report, which states the average price for an 8-to-16 pound turkey typically served for Thanksgiving was $1.27 per pound in August 2023, 22% lower than the same time last year.

“The status of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) is much...

Amazon Used Secret ‘Project Nessie’ Algorithm to Raise Prices

The strategy, as described in redacted parts of FTC lawsuit, is part of agency's case that Amazon has outsize influence on consumer prices

Amazon.com used an algorithm code-named "Project Nessie" to test how much it could raise prices in a way that competitors would follow, according to redacted portions of the Federal Trade Commission's monopoly lawsuit against the company.

The algorithm helped Amazon improve its profit on items across shopping categories, and because of the power the company has in e-commerce, led competitors to raise their prices and charge...

Giant Eagle Locking in Value for Customers by Lowering and Holding Prices on 800 Popular Items

Giant Eagle, Inc. announced today a new "Price Lock" on an expansive list of 800 high-quality items, including a wide variety of grocery essentials at all Giant Eagle and Market District locations and a selection of popular items at GetGo. Beginning May 4 through August 9, the "Price Lock" will reduce and control prices on these items by an average of nearly 20 percent.

"We are putting the customer at the center of everything we do," said Giant Eagle, Inc. Interim CEO Bill...