Latest news with #foodcosts
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
How Our Readers Are Saving Money on Groceries
Food costs continue to fluctuate, so we asked readers if they've changed how they shop and cook. Shoppers are finding smart ways to keep their grocery costs low, like buying in bulk and making typically store-bought items at home. Jessica Attie for The New York Times By Sharon Attia and Allison Jiang Published June 2, 2025 Updated June 2, 2025 With grocery costs in flux as a result of inflation, tariffs and other factors, it can feel like eating well means you have to spend a fortune. But our clever readers prove that that's not the case. We asked them if they have changed how they shop and cook. Below are some of their smart, money-saving tips. Pajeon is especially forgiving and can accommodate just about any vegetables you have on hand. Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Before you make yet-another trip to the grocery store, take stock of what's in your pantry, fridge and freezer to ensure that nothing goes to waste. Soups, pastas and fried rice are a great way to use up those leftover bits and bobs of meat and vegetables you have on hand. And Melissa Clark recommends leaning on bright, bold pantry staples, such as anchovies, chile paste, salsa or Dijon mustard, to turn everyday staples into something wonderful. Vegetable Pajeon | Chickpea Harissa Soup | Midnight Pasta With Garlic, Anchovy, Capers and Red Pepper Just five ingredients are needed for this one-pan dinner: salmon, butter, sesame oil, sugar and kimchi. Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Shop with a list — and keep to the list. To resist impulse purchases, one reader keeps to the edges of the grocery store, avoiding the packaged food in the center of the store as much as possible. Tomato Rice With Crispy Cheddar | Five-Ingredient Creamy Miso Pasta | Salmon and Kimchi Skillet Beans are a home cook's secret weapon: They're easy, hearty, economical and can be tucked into just about any dish. Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Repeating ingredients doesn't mean you're cursed to eat the same protein, grain and vegetable every day. That would be so sad, so boring! A big pot of black beans can be tucked into burritos for breakfast, served over rice for lunch and loaded onto cheesy baked sweet potatoes for dinner. Sausages can be baked into a buttery breakfast casserole, pan-seared with peppers and onions or cooked in a quick skillet pasta with your chosen green veg. Chili | Sausage With Peppers and Onions | Baked Potatoes To stretch ground meat further, you can add rice to make porcupine meatballs, a dish that became popular during the Depression. Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Taking advantage of lower prices on certain ingredients when you see them may lead to meaningful savings. Ground beef, chicken, pork and turkey all freeze well. Creamy, Spicy Weeknight Bolognese | Porcupine Meatballs | Easy Turkey Meatloaf Shopping regularly means you can take advantage of whatever beautiful produce the season has to offer. Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. It may seem counterintuitive, but making more frequent, intentional trips to the supermarket instead of one big trip can reduce the likelihood that you'll waste food. Going more often also ensures that you can peruse the freshest items that the market has to offer, and plan your menu accordingly. Miso-Parmesan Asparagus | Creamy Corn Pasta With Basil | Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce Rotisserie chicken is a hearty addition to suppers, like this delicious pasta from Christian Reynoso. Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Brilliant! Meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken — or a simple, homemade roast chicken — is a hearty addition to salads, pastas, soups and stews. Save the leftover bones and make chicken stock to freeze. Rotisserie Chicken and Greens Pasta | White Chicken Chili | Crispy Wonton Chicken Salad Quick from-scratch condiments, like this 10-minute chile crisp, are often cheaper than store-bought and surprisingly easy to make at home. Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Victoria Granof. Lots of basic grocery staples are cheaper and surprisingly easy to make at home: yogurt, for instance, bread, granola and more. You may even find that you prefer the taste and the quality of the homemade stuff, which you can customize to your taste. Readers also wrote in about multi-cookers like the Instant Pot, which quickly and efficiently cook beans from dried without the need for a lengthy soaking process. Focaccia | Chile Crisp | Pancake Mix Braised dishes like carnitas transform cheaper cuts of meat into fall-off-the-bone magic. Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Consider cheaper cuts of meat like chicken thighs or drumsticks, chuck roast, pork shoulder or shank. You may find you like them even better, especially in braised dishes like pot roast, carnitas and ropa vieja. Pressure Cooker Pot Roast | Slow Cooker Honey-Chipotle Chicken Tacos | Ropa Vieja This hearty, pesto-inspired meal proves that eating vegetarian doesn't mean skimping on flavor or satisfaction. David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Meatless Mondays are an opportunity to experiment with plant-based proteins like tofu and beans, which are endlessly versatile. Some of our most popular recipes, like these creamy, spicy tomato beans and greens, are fast, easy to prepare and delicious — all in part because they're vegetarian. Beans and Greens alla Vodka | Pesto Beans | Kung Pao Tofu Cooked grains can add heft and pops of texture to many meals. David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. It may be obvious, but buying in bulk not only ensures that you save on grocery costs. It also assures that you'll always have ingredients for a meal. Rice, for example, freezes well and can be a main, a side or a dessert. Big Pot of Beans | Farro | Can't-Miss Rice A quick and easy herb oil allows you to enjoy your homegrown herbs whenever the mood strikes. Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Sarah Jampel. Many wrote in about the cost-saving (and therapeutic) virtues of having a garden. Homegrown herbs, whether fresh or frozen, can elevate a meal exponentially, and many, like mint, dill, thyme and scallions, are easy to grow on your kitchen counter, even in urban kitchens. (Here's how to store and extend the life of your herbs.) Creamy White Beans With Herb Oil | Uchucuta Sauce (Andean Green Herb and Chile Sauce) | Greek Goddess Dip Food banks, community fridges and church pantries can be a big help to those in need. Cassandra Klos for The New York Times Some readers — especially those living on a fixed income — rely on food banks, community fridges and pantries to help them get by. Feeding America is a website that helps you find a food bank in your area by plugging in your ZIP code. You can also call a local church or community center.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Brexit border checks on fruit and vegetable imports from EU scrapped
The UK government will scrap planned border checks on Fruit and Vegetable imports from the EU, preventing the measures from taking effect on July 1. The decision, attributed to what the government calls Sir Keir Starmer's Brexit reset deal, is expected to save businesses approximately £200 million in additional supply chain costs. The new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal with the EU will eliminate routine border checks for food exports and imports on certain products. Impending checks on 'medium-risk' Fruit and vegetables, such as tomatoes, grapes, plums, cherries, peaches and peppers, will now not be introduced. Biosecurity minister Baroness Hayman said the Government's EU deal will make food cheaper, slash bureaucracy and remove cumbersome border controls for businesses.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How Inflation Has Impacted Your McDonald's Order Over the Last 10 Years
It's no secret that dining out, ordering takeout or having food delivered costs more than preparing food at home. But how much has the price of fast food risen in the past decade? Learn More: For You: According to data from Top Nutrition Coaching, the average restaurant meal costs $16.28 vs. the same food prepared at home, which costs $4.23. Since 2015, menu prices at popular fast-food chains have risen anywhere between approximately 39% and 100%. To put this into perspective, general inflation has only increased by an average of 2.9% per year, resulting in a cumulative price increase of 33.16%. In other words, today's prices are 1.33 times higher than average prices in 2015, which might make you wonder what is going on with food costs. In order to answer that question, GOBankingRates used fast food giant McDonald's to show you just how much inflation has affected your food order at the Golden Arches. Take a look at how much your McDonald's order has increased over the last 10 years. As one of (if not the) most popular fast food chains in the world, McDonald's is the biggest culprit of raising prices in the past decade. Keep in mind that prices can vary by location, but here are some examples of key takeaways to consider: Some McDonald's prices have risen faster than others. A medium drink still provides value, only rising 25% in the past 10 years, from $1.29 to $1.61. A medium-sized order of fries now costs $3.79, compared to the $1.79 price in 2015 — a $2 increase. If you want to save money by ordering a meal, get ready to shell out $11.99 for a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Meal, or $10.99 for a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meal. These items increased by 122% and 83%, respectively. The beloved Big Mac hasn't experienced quite such a high price jump. The sandwich cost $4.29 in 2015, and now costs $5.99. Read Next: Unfortunately, you can't even snag a Happy Meal for under $5 anymore. The children's favorite, which includes a choice of hamburger or 4-piece Chicken McNuggets, child-size fries, apple slices, a drink and a toy, costs anywhere from $5.09 to $6.93. Back in 2015, it would only set you back $2.99 to $3.59 to put a smile on your child's face, food in their belly and a plastic toy in their hands. The bottom line is that, overall, the prices at McDonald's have risen an average of 100% in the past 10 years, which is much more than the rate of inflation in general. That makes eating at home an even wiser financial choice today than it was 10 years ago. Dawn Allcot contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 This article originally appeared on How Inflation Has Impacted Your McDonald's Order Over the Last 10 Years
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
What popular items at Twin Cities grocery stores cost compared to three months ago
What popular items at grocery stores cost compared to three months ago What popular items at grocery stores cost compared to three months ago What popular items at grocery stores cost compared to three months ago Last fall, more than 80% of voters said the economy and inflation drove them to the polls. That includes the rising price of gas and groceries. That led WCCO to take a closer look at where prices stood and track them for three months. The Doyles have three energetic boys. Fueling them has gotten expensive. "I would say over the last three years, our budget has tripled," said Molly Doyle. It's that sentiment that spurred us to start checking prices across the metro. In January, we began tracking prices at the Fridley Super Target, the Apple Valley Aldi and the north Minneapolis Cub. Back then, 2 pounds of chicken cost $11.98 at Cub. Now, the price is down to $7.98 At the Fridley Super Target, eggs were $4.59 in January. Now, you can get a dozen for $2.99. As for overall average prices in the Twin Cities, chicken was $9.65; now it's $7.52. Milk was $3.45; now it's slightly up to $3.63. Bread stayed the same at $1.87. Eggs were at $5.06; now they're down to $4.48. Overall, all the items would cost you $20.01 in January. Now, the price is down to $17.50. As for getting to the store, that will cost you more. WCCO went to Bobby and Steve's in Minneapolis, Holiday in Columbia Heights, and Speedway in Mendota Heights. Average for all three in January was $2.95 per gallon, it's now up to $3.17 per gallon. Overall, there is some relief as we all navigate the prices. "We are trying, we are trying," said Doyle. A big factor in grocery prices is tariffs, WCCO will keep monitoring the impending changes. CBS News tracking national price trends for many top grocery items CBS News has been keeping tabs on the change in prices of household expenses nationwide. Their price tracker is based on data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for food, household goods and services. They are utilizing Zillow for rent and home-purchase prices.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Grocery price increases outpace overall inflation for third straight month: StatCan
Despite the annual pace of inflation cooling last month, Statistics Canada says consumers continue to pay higher costs for groceries as food prices rose faster in April than they did the previous month. A sign advising that products from the U.S. affected by a tariff will be marked with a symbol at the shelf is seen beside a display of Canadian products in a grocery store in Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Despite the annual pace of inflation cooling last month, Statistics Canada says shoppers continue to see the cost of groceries rise at a faster rate. The agency reported Tuesday that prices for food purchased from stores increased 3.8 per cent on a year-over-year basis in April, up from a 3.2 per cent year-over-year increase in March. It marked the third straight month that grocery price increases have outpaced the overall inflation rate, which was 1.7 per cent in April. Statistics Canada said items that contributed most to the year-over-year price acceleration included fresh vegetables, for which prices rose 3.7 per cent, fresh or frozen beef at 16.2 per cent growth, and coffee and tea at 13.4 per cent. Prices for food purchased from restaurants also rose at a faster rate in April, increasing 3.6 per cent year-over-year after a 3.2 per cent hike in March. Shoppers feeling the weight of their growing grocery bills have likely noticed it most at the meat counter, said University of Guelph professor and food economist Mike von Massow, noting that beef, in particular, was noticeably more expensive. That's partly because demand for beef is higher at this time of year, as families dust off their barbecues for the summer grilling season, but von Massow said it's mostly the result of recent supply disruptions. 'We had some dry weather in the last few years and lower profitability, so in that case cow herds decrease in size and it takes awhile for those numbers to come back,' von Massow said. 'Cow herds are the factory of beef production. So if you have fewer cows, you have fewer calves. If you have fewer calves, you have less mature beef that is being harvested and processed into beef.' Meanwhile, coffee prices are rising as some producers experience lower yields due to extreme weather or changes in temperature, he said, noting 'coffee is kind of the canary in the coal mine relative to climate change.' 'Coffee is very temperature dependent,' von Massow said. He added that a weak Canadian dollar doesn't make matters better. Coffee is produced elsewhere, meaning a weak loonie make it more expensive to import. It's also a product subject to Canada's retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. While the U.S. doesn't produce a lot of coffee, he said some of the brokers that Canada relies on to buy coffee from are based in that country. 'I expect that Canadians will start buying coffee from other places rather than from the U.S. in order to avoid those tariffs, but that adjustment takes some time,' he said. Von Massow said the effect of the ongoing trade war has been quite limited on Canada's grocery inflation overall so far, but that could start to change in the coming months. Some of Canada's large grocers have warned of looming price hikes due to added costs from U.S.-Canada tariffs. Loblaw Cos. Ltd. chief executive Per Bank said last week that the number of tariff-hit products at the grocery store could soon spike as pre-tariff inventory runs out. Loblaw has been aggressive in marking products on display affected by tariffs, a tally that last week reached over 1,000 items. But Bank said the total will rise to more than 3,000 by next week and could peak at double that number within the next two months. While he said he was pleased that Ottawa has adjusted its counter-tariff policies to limit the charges to finished food products coming from the U.S., Bank said pressures from the trade war still linger. 'While the tariff situation might be improving between the U.S. and other countries, that's not yet the case here in Canada,' he said in a May 14 LinkedIn post. 'In fact, we'll be facing a large wave of tariff-related increases in the weeks ahead.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2025. Companies in this story: (TSX:L) Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
