Did you know that a pound is no longer 16 ounces? Yup, it’s true the official package of one pound of anything is now 12 ounces… ok so it’s not official, but it is reality.
Reportedly the new package of coffee looks exactly like the old one that made 270 cups, but the new package now makes only 240 cups. A roll of paper towels is 4.5 feet shorter. There are 52 fewer nuts in Planters Deluxe Mixed Nuts, and 48 fewer chocolate chips in Ghirardelli chocolate chips. A toilet paper roll is a half-inch narrower, tuna comes in a 5.5 ounce can rather than 6 ounces, a “half-gallon” of ice cream is 48 ounces, not 64.
All this non-inflation is screwing up my cooking and costing me money. Not only do I get less for the same money, I now have to buy twice as much to get enough to make a recipe. Hey, I used to make a tuna casserole with two cans of tune, now it takes three. This is reminiscent of the hot dog bun conundrum, you know ten dogs in a package but only eight rolls in a package……..a serious plot I tell you and just think of all those buns that go to waste, except in Maine where I guess they can use them for a lobster roll.
The official change in inflation from 2009 to 2012 is 7.4%. That means to buy what $1.00 bought in 2009 you now need $1.07. However, when you factor in the great disappearing product, I’m guessing inflation is more like 15%. Of course as the politicians like to say there are options to avoid this inflation, you can always grow your own coffee, catch your own tuna, switch to cheaper chocolate chips, and give up ice cream altogether.
And you can always switch to dried leaves… the academics have it down pat don’t they?
Just wait until there is real inflation, half off your next purchase will mean you give the merchant half as much more.
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