Nickname: Mako

Review: >> "They have significant exposure to unionized labor costs," says Richard Hastings, economic adviser at the Federation of Credit and Financial Professionals. << I toured a Kellogg's cereal factor some years ago and it was substantially automated. I have to believe it is even less labor intensive now. As for the 3% price hike, my question is whether it will be an "honest" 3% up on the shelf prices, or a "stealth" increase by shrinking the package content. As for Pop-Tarts, I have long preferred, and paid more for, Pilsbury Toaster Strudel though it is now stretching beyond my price range and becoming an occasional [when a featured promotion] treat. Random speculation: Is the foreign word [strudel] a metaphor highlighting the globalization of the food industry?

Date reviewed: Aug 3, 2006 12:40 AM

Nickname: cody

Review: The governments (from the Feds down to the locals) have started the trend. We don't have income tax increases anymore. Instead, just fees: users' fee, enhancement fees, Internet phone fees, registration fees, etc., sort of disguised VAT. FICA "contributions" are also nothing but a flat tax where, in most cases, you'll never see any money back. How about replacing the present Social Security system with a U.S. Congress pension plan look-alike?

Date reviewed: Aug 1, 2006 1:50 PM

Nickname: andy

Review: Most people realize prices are going up for just about all commodities which affects most people. The problem is that most corporations give raises (if you get one) to their employees that don't cover even the smallest of price increases, let alone inflation.

Date reviewed: Jul 31, 2006 8:58 PM

Nickname: in colorado

Review: I agree that the notion that there has little to no inflation is laughable. Over the past 5 years we have seen the prices of many staples jump: beef, dairy, produce, processed foods, etc. This has been especially noticeable at the warehouse club stores. Consumers aren't getting decent pay raises, are watching their credit card balances mount (along with the APRs charged). Meanwhile, corporations are seeing double digit growth in profits. And to add insult to injury, we are told that big business can't pick up the spending slack to keep the economy moving forward now that consumers are tapped out.

Date reviewed: Jul 31, 2006 8:55 PM

Nickname: froggy

Review: Pet food is also affected. I noticed that our Science Diet cat food has more liquid in it now than before. Plus our cats don't seem to like it anymore, we might have to switch brands.

Date reviewed: Jul 31, 2006 7:42 PM

Nickname: moedoc

Review: If you look closely, those companies that have not raised prices, have decreased the amount of product you receive. I have stopped buying "Hot Pockets" because they are now all dough and filling with little meat. I saw a 3 liter jug of Deer Park water, that almost looks like a gallon of water, and I almost passed out when I opened a package of link sausages and saw how small the links have become. Will ten eggs in a carton be next?

Date reviewed: Jul 31, 2006 6:20 PM