Third Quarter Food MarketBasket Shows Increase in Food Prices
Arizona, October 7, 2008 – Retail food prices at the supermarket increasedin the third quarter of 2008, according to the latest Arizona Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 basic grocery items was $57.46, up 5.6 percent or $3.07 from the second quarter of 2008. Comparatively, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national survey was $48.68, up about 4 percent or $2.01 during the quarter.
Compared to the third quarter of Arizona’s 2007 marketbasket ($49.90), the overall cost for the Arizona marketbasket items shows an increase of about 15 percent.
Of the 16 items surveyed in Arizona, eleven increased, four decreased and one kept the same average price compared to the 2008 second-quarter survey. The national survey shows 11 items increased and five decreased.
To access an entire menu focused on those food items down in price in the third quarter and designed around stretching your food dollar, go to www.fillyourplate.org. Look for the “Stretch Your Food Dollar” menu and the additional food savings tips.
Russett potatoes and cheddar cheese showed the largest retail price increases. A 5 lbs bag of potatoes was up $1.24 to $3.39, and a pound of cheddar cheese rose 80 cents to $5.59.
Other items that increased in price were: mayonnaise up 53 cents to $4.35 for a 32 oz jar; whole milk up 30 cents to $ 3.95 a gallon; ground beef up 27 cents to $ 3.89 a pound; center-cut pork chops up 23 cents to $4.95 a pound; apples up 17 cents to $1.89 per pound; a 32-oz jar corn oil up 21 cents to $4.15; a 32 oz jar of vegetable oil up 16 cents to $3.95; a 5 lbs bag of flour up 10 cents to $3.69 and whole fryers up 7 cents to
$1.79 per pound.
We continue to see increases in several staple food items due primarily to the long-term effects of high energy prices in the food sector. Sustained high costs for processing, hauling and refrigerating food precuts are reverberating at the retail level. Even with increased food prices, approximately 10% of a household’s disposable income is spent on food.
“While this third quarter showed a jump in Arizona food prices by more than 5%, we’re hoping for a leveling off as commodities have shown price drops,” says Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers. “Oil has led the way with a barrel of oil currently hovering around $90 „Ÿ quite a difference from the year’s record high of $147.27 per barrel in July. If commodity prices continue to trend downward, we can hope for some balancing of food prices instead of the spikes we have seen over the past eight quarters. With energy prices down, agriculture producers are hopeful their costs will be more manageable too.”
Regarding the top gainer in this quarter’s survey Jim Sartwell, an American Farm Bureau economist explained, “Acreage planted to potatoes was down nearly 8 percent this year. The combination of smaller crop and some production losses in the field has led to higher-priced spuds in the produce aisle.”
In Arizona, eggs showed the greatest decrease in price down 74 cents to $2.25 per dozen; bacon and Cheerios were both down 10 cents to $3.89 a pound and $3.15 for a 8.9 ounce box respectively and white bread was down 7 cents to $1.59 for a 20-oz. loaf.
Prices remained the same on a sirloin tip roast at $4.99 a pound. Prices remained steady on beef due to local supply and meat processing here in Arizona.
While retail grocery prices have gradually increased, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped over time.
“In the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures on average. That figure has decreased steadily over time and is now just 19 percent, according to Agriculture Department statistics,” explains American Farm Bureau Economist Jim Sartwell.
Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the Arizona farmer’s share of this quarter’s $57.46 Marketbasket total would be $10.91.
The Farm Bureau Marketbasket Survey is unscientific, but serves as a gauge of actual price trends across the state. Bargain shoppers statewide should find individual items at prices comparable to the Farm Bureau survey averages and certainly cheaper with discounts and in-store specials. Arizona Farm Bureau seeks to identify the best in-store price, excluding promotional coupons and special deals.
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Third quarter-2008
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Second quarter-2008
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Arizona
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National
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Arizona
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National
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Red Delicious apples
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$ 1.89
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$ 1.80
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$ 1.72
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Russet potatoes, 5 lbs
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$ 3.39
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$3.38
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$ 2.15
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$ 2.55
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Ground Chuck, lb.
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$ 3.89
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$2.95
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$ 3.62
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$ 2.85
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Sirloin tip roast, lb.
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$ 4.99
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$3.98
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$ 4.99
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$ 3.84
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Center cut pork chops, lb.
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$ 4.95
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$3.62
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$ 4.72
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$ 3.40
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Bacon, lb.
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$ 3.89
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$ 3.51
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$ 3.99
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$ 3.57
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Whole fryers, lb.
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$ 1.79
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$ 1.43
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$ 1.72
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$ 1.47
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Whole milk, gallon
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$ 3.95
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$ 3.92
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$ 3.65
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$ 3.88
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Mild cheddar cheese, lb.
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$ 5.59
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$ 4.91
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$ 4.79
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$ 4.60
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Eggs, one dozen large, Grade A
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$ 2.25
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$ 1.71
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$ 2.99
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$ 1.82
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All-purpose flour, 5 lbs.
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$ 3.69
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$ 2.62
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$3.59
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$ 2.57
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Mazola corn oil, 32 oz.
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$ 4.15
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$ 3.63
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$ 3.94
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$ 3.48
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Crisco vegetable oil, 32 oz.
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$ 3.95
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$ 3.19
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$ 3.79
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$ 3.01
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Kraft mayonnaise, 32 oz.
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$ 4.35
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$ 3.27
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$ 3.82
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$ 3.19
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Cheerios, 8.9-oz. Box
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$ 3.15
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$ 2.79
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$ 3.25
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$ 2.98
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White bread, 20-oz. Loaf
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$ 1.59
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$ 1.79
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$ 1.66
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$ 1.90
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Arizona Farm Bureau Money Saving Tips to Stretch your Food Dollars
- Check the newspaper for sale items then make a plan where to shop.
- Use grocery store club card and then compare prices to store brands.
- Shop right after you have eaten.
- Make a list of what you need and stick to it.
- Clip and use coupons.
- Buy in bulk, but don’t by more than you can eat.
- Buy fresh items and less processed items.
- Shop the edges of the store avoiding the items at the ends of the aisles.
- Shop alone.
Stretch Your Food Dollar Menu III
Arizona Farm Bureau put together a menu to help you stretch your food dollar by utilizing items that have gone down in price. This quarter’s items down in price are eggs, bacon, cheerios and white bread. Items unchanged are sirloin tip roast. Arizona Farm Bureau recommends stocking up on meat items as they are ideally priced in the midst of rising prices in so many other areas of our daily lives. To obtain actual recipes for the “Stretch Your Food Dollar Menu III” go to www.fillyourplate.org.
Menu for the Week:
Sunday: Italian Pot Roast & Spaghetti
Green Salad
Garlic Bread Fingers
Milk or Iced Tea
Monday: Meat Loaf
Carrots & Potatoes
Rolls
Milk
Tuesday: Spaghetti Subs
(use leftover Sunday dinner)
Zucchini, Carrots and Celery with Ranch Dressing
Cheerios & Trix Treat Bars
Milk
Wednesday: Ham and Beans
Corn Bread
Crunchy Apple Salad
Milk or Iced Tea
Thursday: Baked Ham Egg Casserole
Stuffed Zucchini
Toast or Rolls
Milk
Friday: BLT w/Pesto Mayo
Corn on the Cob
Sliced Melon (Seasonal is best)
Milk or Iced Tea
Saturday: Sausage with Sweet Potatoes and Apples
Milk or Iced Tea
***You may adjust this suggested menu to your family’s like and needs
Shopping List
Dry goods:
2 lb. Bush Beans
Spaghetti
1 box Jiffy (cornbread mix)
1 - 10 oz box Cheerios
1 - 10 oz box Trix cereal
Bread
Subs & Rolls
2 small cans tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
Meats:
3 lb. Beef Roast
1 lb. Ground Beef
2 - 3 lbs. pre cooked Ham
1 lb. bacon
1 lb. smoked sausage
Produce:
Romaine Lettuce
6 tomatoes
Carrots
Celery
4 ears Corn on the Cob
Zucchini
4 medium potatoes
2 medium sweet potatoes
Misc:
Pesto sauce
Parmesan cheese
Mini marshmallows
Dairy:
1 dozen eggs
2 gallons milk
8 oz package mozzarella cheese
Pantry items you might have on hand:
Mayo
Margarine
Italian Seasoning
Bread Crumbs
Cooking Oil
Minced Garlic
Paprika
