INFLATION SHOCK: Quantities Shrinking, Package Sizes Getting Smaller!
December 18, 2009 20 Comments
ATLANTA— It’s happening all around us. The complete debasement of the US dollar. The value of the US dollar has been falling throughout the year as the Federal Reserve purchases mortgage-backed securities and treasury bonds to pump excess dollars into the system and Barack Obama has gone on a deficit spending binge unmatched in human history. These are all tinders for big-time inflation.
Sure, we don’t yet see the galloping price increases of the 1970’s. But at the tail end of a severe recession wrought with excess capacity, we nonetheless are witnessing price increases year-over-year, rather than price decreases.
But more surreptitious than that, we are witnessing the decrease in quantities available to be purchased. The purchasing power of your dollar is declining. Rather than raise prices, manufacturers are selling you less at the same price. You think this is crazy!? Well, consider these scary facts from across the past year or more:
- The LA Times describes how Skippy increased the size of the jar “dimple” in order to reduce the quantity sold without having to raise the price.
- USA Today reports of reductions in the size of ice cream tubs and Dial soap.
- MSNBC investigates the disappearing candy bar.
- Consumer Reports demands Federal action over half-filled boxes of Rice-a-Roni.
- And last, but certainly not least, Articlebase makes the salient observation that Twitter managed to reduce the size of a blog post to 140 characters.
Fascinating.
Less quantity. Same price.
It’s happening folks.
But the reductions in quantities can’t go on forever. Inflation is just around the corner.
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I ate a Klondike bar last night that was the thinnest Klondike bar I’ve ever seen in my life. I didn’t think anything of it until I read your post. Now I’m thinking, I bet you they’ve thinned it down to save money…. Oh well. I didn’t need the extra sugar anyway.
I had the same experience with a Dove bar a while back… it set my mind to wondering. The more I talk to people, the more people are finding the same thing to be true. We’re being duped! Things are getting smaller, but we’re paying the same price.
I’ve noticed it in restaurants too. Scant servings, same price.
Are you sure it was a Klondike bar and not a peppermint patty?
Positive.
Just checking. People come on here with outrageous claims like “the peanut jar dimple is bigger”…
Sure it is son. Sure it is. You know, if your assessment is based off your reflection in the dimple, then I hate to tell you, but it isn’t the dimple. Your nose is actually bigger. It’s from all that lying you do. And all that lying you do will also be reflected in the size of your gifts this Christmas. But I know… you’ll just keep on lying… claiming it’s all Obamaflation. Some day you’ll learn son. Some day.
Well, let me clarify just so it doesn’t appear that I’m lying. I’m positive that it was a Klondike bar. However, I am not positive that it was smaller than normal. I’m going off of how big I remember them to be, and I haven’t had one for a year or so. So, the question is, has it actually become smaller. I will Google it to see.
Yes, I have found someone else who has had this issue: http://lifeaccordingtojess.blogspot.com/2007/07/klondike-stop-taking-away-our-food.html
There may be others as well. I’m sure there are people out there right now holding a Klondike bar and wondering WTF happened to the other half of it.
writerdood: I believe you. I was just kidding around.
Yes. I know.
But it still raised the question, and I had to find out.
I’m almost surprised that it’s true!
Almost…
Here’s another: Tubs of Smart Balance spread used to be 16 ounces, now they’re 15 ounces. It’s all part of the incredible shrinking supermarket.
Yeah – they go on and on and on…
I wonder if we’ll see another move to adopt the metric system for this reason? You can’t readily track your incredible shrinking packages if the frame of reference itself changes!
Agreed, Marque. As long as the left wing of the Democratic Party is desparately trying to push us towards European socialism, we might as well toss the metric system into the mix…
Please, please don’t encourage them to attempt more idiotic ideas!
Besides, a serious attempt was made to change over to the metric system during the Clinton administration and it died a withering, silent death.
I just wrote these 2 emails, the first to Consumer Reports:
I love CR, but you’re not perfect. Recently you have paid a little attention to a pet peeve of mine, but not enough. Hidden inflation. Manufacturers everywhere surreptitiously decrease package sizes thinking consumers won’t notice. The packages are the same shape and often close to the same size. I believe you highlighted ice cream recently. But it happens regularly and I think you should have a “hidden inflation” list in each issue. My dog food-Avoderm-just decreased the package size from 35 to 30 pounds. That’s a 15% price increase! Toilet paper, Hershey bars, dishsoap, coffee-it’s endless. Why don’t you have subscribers write in with their list. It will help keep manufacturers honest and will increase your circulation-REALLY. Thanks. I’d like to hear back.
the next to the dog food company:
I want to express my disappointment that you decreased the size of your large bags of dog food from 35 to 30 pounds. This is an underhanded way of increasing the price which many manufacturers use thinking consumers won’t notice. It is a bad business practice. For your information I report these to Consumer Reports and will list your product on my website as a hidden inflation product. I had been quite happy with the product previously, as was my dog.
Looks like I’m late to the party but I had to comment on the Klondike Bar. My wife and I have been big fans of them since last summer and the last ones I purchased ( mint and salted caramel pretzel? ) seemed to be smaller. I had my wife check the weight on the older boxes and they were 4.5 oz each, the new ones were 4.0 oz each. Same price. 11% less product.
Dove used to be 4.25 Oz. Now, after holding off five years (but with increased prices) they have reduced size to 3.19 Oz. That is one QUARTER cut!! They look and feel like hotel / sample bars. Maybe if they reduced donations to “charities” and their own pockets the trend would taper off.
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Dove bars are now down to 2.89oz
dove senistive skin soap bars were just reduced in size from 4.25 oz to 4.00 oz or 7 grams less product, that means when you buy a six pack your getting almost half a bar less than before…same packaging smaller print and same price
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