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Shoppers browse the vegetable section at Clark's Market in Aspen. (Paul Conrad/The Aspen Times)
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ASPEN — The rising cost of everyday items — from gasoline to grapefruits — is hitting Americans hard and Aspen is not immune.
With oil spiking at more than $100 per barrel, and pundits warning a recession, some staple food commodities such as corn, wheat and soy also are skyrocketing.
According to statistics with the U.S. Department of Labor, Americans are paying 20 percent more for bread than they did in 2005 and nearly twice the price for a dozen eggs (see chart).
Magdalena Baczynska of Aspen shops for her family of four — a fiancé and two kids, age 12 and 17 — and said high prices have raised the family budget.
A gallon of milk that recently sold at City Market for $3.89 now sells for $4.15, she said, and fresh produce is going up steadily.
“But we have to eat, you know, and we will pay the prices even if it’s up,” Baczynska said.
Many of her friends drive downvalley to shop or aim for bargains at the City Market in El Jebel, she said. But with the price of gasoline to make the trek west of Aspen, it’s just not worth it to her unless she’s doing a very big shop, Baczynska said.
With oil spiking at more than $100 per barrel, and pundits warning a recession, some staple food commodities such as corn, wheat and soy also are skyrocketing.
According to statistics with the U.S. Department of Labor, Americans are paying 20 percent more for bread than they did in 2005 and nearly twice the price for a dozen eggs (see chart).
Magdalena Baczynska of Aspen shops for her family of four — a fiancé and two kids, age 12 and 17 — and said high prices have raised the family budget.
A gallon of milk that recently sold at City Market for $3.89 now sells for $4.15, she said, and fresh produce is going up steadily.
“But we have to eat, you know, and we will pay the prices even if it’s up,” Baczynska said.
Many of her friends drive downvalley to shop or aim for bargains at the City Market in El Jebel, she said. But with the price of gasoline to make the trek west of Aspen, it’s just not worth it to her unless she’s doing a very big shop, Baczynska said.
She rarely goes farther than El Jebel, she said.
“Basically, stuff like bread and butter is a difference of $20 for a week,” Baczynska said.
But smart shoppers can find bargains and big savings, she said.
City Market’s value card system entitles shoppers to special deals on items marked with yellow tags in the supermarket aisles, and that’s where Baczynska finds some relief.
“It’s still cheaper than Clark’s,” Baczynska said.
“Unbelievable,” said Don Karrer of Aspen of grocery prices. “I notice [the price increase] with fresh produce the most.”
Karrer said produce that once went for $1 per pound now fetches $1.99, a hike he sees in grocery stores all over the valley.
“It’s accelerated since the first of the year,” Karrer said.
But Karrer has a plan; he stays “away from the junk,” he said.
“If you shop the way you’re supposed to you can save on your food budget,” Karrer said.
For him, that that means picking fresh goods from the perimeter of the store and avoiding pricey (and unhealthy) processed food and, like Baczynska, looking for deals in local supermarket aisles.
Peter Collins and Clare Lyons-Collins are from London and were stocking up for a 12-day stay at the Gant recently.
For about $180, the couple was able to get enough groceries for the week and said Aspen’s grocery prices are comparable to the UK.
“Vegetables seem to be more expensive,” Lyons-Collins said of American stores, but she added that eggs, for example, also have doubled in cost in the UK and Europe.
“Basically, stuff like bread and butter is a difference of $20 for a week,” Baczynska said.
But smart shoppers can find bargains and big savings, she said.
City Market’s value card system entitles shoppers to special deals on items marked with yellow tags in the supermarket aisles, and that’s where Baczynska finds some relief.
“It’s still cheaper than Clark’s,” Baczynska said.
“Unbelievable,” said Don Karrer of Aspen of grocery prices. “I notice [the price increase] with fresh produce the most.”
Karrer said produce that once went for $1 per pound now fetches $1.99, a hike he sees in grocery stores all over the valley.
“It’s accelerated since the first of the year,” Karrer said.
But Karrer has a plan; he stays “away from the junk,” he said.
“If you shop the way you’re supposed to you can save on your food budget,” Karrer said.
For him, that that means picking fresh goods from the perimeter of the store and avoiding pricey (and unhealthy) processed food and, like Baczynska, looking for deals in local supermarket aisles.
Peter Collins and Clare Lyons-Collins are from London and were stocking up for a 12-day stay at the Gant recently.
For about $180, the couple was able to get enough groceries for the week and said Aspen’s grocery prices are comparable to the UK.
“Vegetables seem to be more expensive,” Lyons-Collins said of American stores, but she added that eggs, for example, also have doubled in cost in the UK and Europe.
“It’s a world thing,” Lyons-Collins said.
Local grocers say it’s all about the markets and rising commodities prices.
“We’re not rising as much as everything else,” said Aspen City Market manager John Hailey, who cited the skyrocketing cost of gas.
He estimated grocery store price inflation at about 3.8 percent each year.
But Hailey said consumers have choices, and smart shoppers can make out well.
Hailey pointed out Kellogg’s Special K cereal, which normally sells for $4.19, on sale for $2.50, as well as a gallon of milk reduced from $4.49 to $2.77 for a limited time.
“If you’ve got a bit of time and you’re a smart consumer, you can negate the effects of inflation,” Hailey said, citing the case of a regular customer who spends a few hours in the store and saves as much as $100 in one visit.
Tony Welgos, manager of Clark’s Market, said he doesn’t follow pricing too closely — that’s the providence of the pricing department in the seven-store chain — but he hears few complaints from customers.
Welgos said Clark’s Market strives to stay competitive and match City Market prices.
“What they have, we don’t have and vice versa,” Welgos said, adding that Clark’s carries some specialty brands such as Boar’s Head meats and offers fresh-squeezed juices.
cagar@aspentimes.com
<i>This article is a feature of Inside Business, published Tuesdays in The Aspen Times.</i>
Local grocers say it’s all about the markets and rising commodities prices.
“We’re not rising as much as everything else,” said Aspen City Market manager John Hailey, who cited the skyrocketing cost of gas.
He estimated grocery store price inflation at about 3.8 percent each year.
But Hailey said consumers have choices, and smart shoppers can make out well.
Hailey pointed out Kellogg’s Special K cereal, which normally sells for $4.19, on sale for $2.50, as well as a gallon of milk reduced from $4.49 to $2.77 for a limited time.
“If you’ve got a bit of time and you’re a smart consumer, you can negate the effects of inflation,” Hailey said, citing the case of a regular customer who spends a few hours in the store and saves as much as $100 in one visit.
Tony Welgos, manager of Clark’s Market, said he doesn’t follow pricing too closely — that’s the providence of the pricing department in the seven-store chain — but he hears few complaints from customers.
Welgos said Clark’s Market strives to stay competitive and match City Market prices.
“What they have, we don’t have and vice versa,” Welgos said, adding that Clark’s carries some specialty brands such as Boar’s Head meats and offers fresh-squeezed juices.
cagar@aspentimes.com
<i>This article is a feature of Inside Business, published Tuesdays in The Aspen Times.</i>
The price of food
<b>White bread, one pound</b>
2005 — 98 cents 2008 — $1.32 <b>One dozen grade A eggs</b> 2005 — $1.28 2008 — $2.16 <b>One gallon of whole, fortified milk</b> 2005 — $3.17 2008 — $3.86 <i>Source: U.S. Department of Labor</i> |
