Grocery Price Differences across the Country

[PollyPoPo]

Merlin, you're right about sales tax being higher on some things in Texas. 

Once a year there is usually a tax holiday on clothing, about the time for shopping for school clothes, and I think the supplies are non-taxed, too.

[PollyPoPo]

About downsizing packages, but not cost - a couple years back most ice cream providers started selling something less than half gallons, but the package still looked almost like a half gallon.

A competitor put out commericals about their half gallon still being a half gallon. 

Just another example of how they are trying to keep sales up while raising prices at the same time, at least until someone calls them out on it.

Anybody remember New Coke?

[Adriana Rose]

Wow those taxes sound freaking great!

The town that is closest for groceries and stuff just tacked buck and change on to the sales tax to help the local tourism.. I dont know why they did that there was no problem that I could see. But now my sister and I are starting to go to another town that is 60 miles away so we dont have to pay the extra, it works out better because there is lower sales tax and more stores to choose from.

[PollyPoPo]

Chicken thighs    3.85/.77 per pound (frozen in 3# blocks)
Chicken legs    8.70/.87 per pound (frozen in 10# blocks)
Chicken legs    .87 ***
Chicken thigh and leg quarters  5.90/.59 per pound (frozen in blocks of 10#)
Chicken breast boneless, skinless    1.97 per pound
Chicken breast with bone and skin    1.00 per pound (Split***)
Whole chicken   .87
Ground beef    19.98/about $2 per pound in 10# chubs
Beef roast 7 blade (I used to see it in Chicago called pot roast or chuck, but this is a thinner cut)   3.48 per pound   
Beef steak Blade cut chuck***   2.49 per pound
Beef roast Boneless chuck   3.94 per pound
Beef roast Chuck (bone-in)***   2.49 per pound
Beef steak  T-bone   3.97 per pound
Beef steak T-bone***   2.99 per pound
Beef steak Cube***   2.99 per pound
Beef  Skirt steak (fajita)   2.97 per pound or 3.97 if it is butterflied
Pork chops (cheapest version) Assorted (mixed in same package)   1.97 per pound
Pork chops Sirloin***   1.47 per pound
Pork tenderloin      2.98 per pound   
Mac and Cheese in a box with powdered cheese (cheapest house brand)      .34
Ramen noodles      .17 each (same per item price in big packs)
Bread (cheapest loaf of sandwich type, 24 oz)      .87
Bread       
Onions white      .50 per pound
Onions yellow      .50 per pound
Potatoes (white, non-bakers)      1.77 for 5# .35/lb
3.54 for 10# .35/lb
Fresh mushrooms, 8 oz non-sliced      2.48
5# flour      1.84
4# sugar   Yep, in 4# not 5#   2.36
1# dry pinto beans      .72
1# Rice      .50 per pound
1# salt pork      3.58 per pound
Bacon    12 oz   2.98
Bacon   12 oz***   1.99
Gallon whole milk      2.98
Tomatoes      1.78 per pound
Broccoli      1.98 bunch (not a weight)
Eggs per dozen      1.64 small
1.74 large
1.84 jumbo
Head lettuce iceberg      1.14


***In Polly's area represents a local chain store – has some loss leaders to get people in store – most items cost more and the meat is not the same quality as HEB or Wal-Mart.

[PollyPoPo]

I put some of the prices side by side and most appear pretty close other than some really cheaper options like big frozen blocks of chicken legs or thighs. I have found these have to be thawed as a mass and then you've got 5# to 10# of chicken to cook up at one time.  Prices here seem to be a bit lower in general than Mehan (South) and Raveyn (who's about 300 miles north of us).  I have noticed a lot of the cheaper, starch foods (rice, beans, potatoes) are cheaper in different parts of town, same chain store.  Some things like mushrooms are much cheaper in one area – perhaps there are growers there?

I'm guessing some costs are due to transportation (we are reasonably close to the Valley for fresh veggies year round).  Food preferences also seem to play a factor with beans, rice, and fidello cheaper here than 50 miles north.

Would like to see some figures from further North, East and West.

Thanks.

[PollyPoPo]

Wow those taxes sound freaking great!

The town that is closest for groceries and stuff just tacked buck and change on to the sales tax to help the local tourism.. I dont know why they did that there was no problem that I could see. But now my sister and I are starting to go to another town that is 60 miles away so we dont have to pay the extra, it works out better because there is lower sales tax and more stores to choose from.

Adriana, am I correct in thinking you are in the Colorado area?

[raevyncait]

I have 2 WalMarts within 5 miles of my work, in 2 different towns. At one a large can of cat food of the brand I use is $.70, at the other it is $.89.  I've not really compared a lot of the other stuff though.

As to the TX Sales Tax, the STATE sales tax rate is 6.25%.  What varies is the county and city rates, which may add up to a maximum of 2% to that 6.25% in most cases. in large metropolitan areas, like Dallas, Fort Worth & Houston, where many cities butt up against each other, things can be taxed at 8.25% at this store, and across the street it's as little as 7.25%, although most of the areas that I'm ever in, it's somewhere between 7.75 & 8.25 these days.

[Adriana Rose]

Yup

[PollyPoPo]

Adriana,


My son went to school in Colorado Springs for three semesters and we found that prices were higher for everything back then, some due to taxes.  Doing research on some other stuff, I found things like building codes and stuff were more restrictive (and therefore costly), too.

It is beautiful up there, so I guess that kind of makes up for it and there are activities galore for outdoor-loving people.  Some day I hope to make it to the big RenFaire up there. 

[Adriana Rose]

The prices get higher as you go higher it seems but I do love where I live. You just learn to adapt and get used to a road trip for a grocery run 

[Merlin the Elder]

I did some selective shopping this morning, stocking up on some items that we go through on a regular basis. With electronic coupons that Kroger uses, plus shopping circular specials, we spent $188, saving $55 off of regular prices. A lot of that saving was from a package of NY Strip steaks that regularly run close to $14/lb and they were only $5.99/lb.

PollyPoPo was reporting 0.50/lb onions, and we spent $1.19/lb.  Quite a difference.

Raevyncait, it looks like taxes have moderated a little...

[Rowan MacD]

Chicken thighs    3.85/.77 per pound (frozen in 3# blocks)
Chicken legs    8.70/.87 per pound (frozen in 10# blocks)
Chicken legs    .87 ***
Chicken thigh and leg quarters  5.90/.59 per pound (frozen in blocks of 10#)
Chicken breast boneless, skinless    1.97 per pound
Chicken breast with bone and skin    1.00 per pound (Split***)
Whole chicken   .87
Ground beef    19.98/about $2 per pound in 10# chubs
Beef roast 7 blade (I used to see it in Chicago called pot roast or chuck, but this is a thinner cut)   3.48 per pound   
Beef steak Blade cut chuck***   2.49 per pound
Beef roast Boneless chuck   3.94 per pound
Beef roast Chuck (bone-in)***   2.49 per pound
Beef steak  T-bone   3.97 per pound
Beef steak T-bone***   2.99 per pound
Beef steak Cube***   2.99 per pound
Beef  Skirt steak (fajita)   2.97 per pound or 3.97 if it is butterflied
Pork chops (cheapest version) Assorted (mixed in same package)   1.97 per pound
Pork chops Sirloin***   1.47 per pound
Pork tenderloin      2.98 per pound   
Mac and Cheese in a box with powdered cheese (cheapest house brand)      .34
Ramen noodles      .17 each (same per item price in big packs)
Bread (cheapest loaf of sandwich type, 24 oz)      .87
Bread       
Onions white      .50 per pound
Onions yellow      .50 per pound
Potatoes (white, non-bakers)      1.77 for 5# .35/lb
3.54 for 10# .35/lb
Fresh mushrooms, 8 oz non-sliced      2.48
5# flour      1.84
4# sugar   Yep, in 4# not 5#   2.36
1# dry pinto beans      .72
1# Rice      .50 per pound
1# salt pork      3.58 per pound
Bacon    12 oz   2.98
Bacon   12 oz***   1.99
Gallon whole milk      2.98
Tomatoes      1.78 per pound
Broccoli      1.98 bunch (not a weight)
Eggs per dozen      1.64 small
1.74 large
1.84 jumbo
Head lettuce iceberg      1.14


***In Polly's area represents a local chain store – has some loss leaders to get people in store – most items cost more and the meat is not the same quality as HEB or Wal-Mart.

Used to be the meat was cheaper at the Commissary out at the AF Base, but not really anymore.
  I never buy meat at Walmart since they got busted for relabeling old meat as fresh.  I have gotten spoiled meat there twice (returned it the same day).
  I do love me a full service Meat department, and Fareway is my favorite!  Not only does Fareway have MUCH better quality meat; they beat Walmart's prices all the time.

[Lady Neysa]

I don't which thread I should put this in so I'll put it in both. I just learned of an opportunity to buy a big meat bundle pack from a local butcher. They're offering 69 pounds of meat for appr. 2.45 per pound.  $169.00  In it you get a variety of- 4lb boneless beef sirloin steaks,17 lb pork loin roasts and chops,4 lb country sausage, 3lb bacon, two 4lb beef roasts, (not sure what cut), 12lb ground beef,5lb  chicken legs,3 lb bone in chicken breasts, two 3.5 lbfrying chickens, 6lb hot dogs(not real thrilled by the hot dogs...).  We're gonna split it with my parents, but this will still cover our meat needs for a while. The meat comes already separated and freezer wrapped, which is a big plus for me. I hate re-wrapping meat.
Sound like a good deal, or no?   

[raevyncait]

I don't which thread I should put this in so I'll put it in both. I just learned of an opportunity to buy a big meat bundle pack from a local butcher. They're offering 69 pounds of meat for appr. 2.45 per pound.  $169.00  In it you get a variety of- 4lb boneless beef sirloin steaks,17 lb pork loin roasts and chops,4 lb country sausage, 3lb bacon, two 4lb beef roasts, (not sure what cut), 12lb ground beef,5lb  chicken legs,3 lb bone in chicken breasts, two 3.5 lbfrying chickens, 6lb hot dogs(not real thrilled by the hot dogs...).  We're gonna split it with my parents, but this will still cover our meat needs for a while. The meat comes already separated and freezer wrapped, which is a big plus for me. I hate re-wrapping meat.
Sound like a good deal, or no?   

I would say that if you'll eat all of it, it probably averages out to a reasonable deal, especially when you figure in not having to go to get meat for awhile, or do the repackaging.  For me, personally, It's probably not a great deal, because I really dislike bone in meat, I'm picky about my ground beef, and even more picky about my hot dogs, and I don't eat country sausage.

[Lady Neysa]

I'll have to ask what the fat percentage is on the ground beef, I am pretty picky about ground beef, so if it's the gross fatty stuff, I might have to pass. The rest of everything else sounds ok.  It's a little heavier on the pork than I'd like, I'd rather have more chicken, but I doubt if they do substitutions. I actually prefer bone in meat on most things, I think it makes the meat more flavorful, as long as I'm not paying for too much bone.  I don't eat a lot of hot dogs but I believe they're Kunzler brand, which I like, I think its a regional brand.  We eat all of these types of meat, so hopefully it'll be ok. If not, we'll know not to do it again!