4 MARCH 3, 2022 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
‘It’s too damn expensive’
Rising grocery prices force Forest Hills residents to buy less as infl ation soars
The increased prices at supermarkets is due in part to the supply chain
turmoil, worker shortage, COVID-19 and other issues, according to
reports. Photo via Getty Images
In order to save money, it’s important
for Heather to plan her budget accordingly,
and to buy items that are on sale
— such as toilet paper and paper towels
— rather than buying in bulk, she said.
“I’m always on the lookout for coupons,
even if I go to a specifi c website
and print on occasion to use at the
grocery store,” Heather said. “I’m not
buying as many things as I normally
would at the grocery store, and it’s unfortunate
what is going on. Companies
are extorting people and taking advantage
of this time. I think in their mind,
they’re thinking, ‘well, the general
consumer already knows prices are
going up; we’ll just knock it up a little bit
more.’ I’ve heard the news that infl ation
is at 7%, 7.5%, but what I’m seeing at the
grocery store is much more than that.”
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), the
most widely followed infl ation gauge,
increased 7% from December 2020 to
December 2021 — its highest rate in
nearly 40 years, according to the Pew
Research Center.
The CPI is a measure of the average
change over time in the prices paid by
urban consumers for a market basket
of goods and services.
The price of food and utilities surged
in January from the previous month,
according to a report from the U.S.
Department Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cereals and bakery products increased
1.8% over the month, according
to the Labor Department. The index for
other food at home increased 1.6% last
month, while dairy and related products
rose 1.1%. Fruits and vegetables
rose 0.9% over the month, while meats,
poultry, fi sh and eggs increased 0.3%.
By far the largest increase was for
meats, poultry, fi sh and eggs, which
rose 12.2% over the year. Dairy and
related products increased 3.1%, the
smallest 12-month increase among the
groups, according to the Department
of Labor.
The increased prices at supermarkets
are due in part to the supply chain
turmoil, worker shortage, COVID-19
and other issues, according to reports.
For families, who have been navigating
the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,
the rising costs of groceries have
been diffi cult, resulting in cutbacks on
spending and omitting certain items
from their list.
One Forest Hills resident, who is a
parent of two children, says for the
most part he and his wife spend only
when necessary.
“I fi nd myself buying cheaper grocery
items and avoiding the expensive
ones — for example, eggs and chicken
for protein, and lots of vegetables and
certain fruits only,” said the resident,
who requested to remain unnamed.
According to another resident, the
price of sweet potatoes at Key Food
on Queens Boulevard at 71st Road in
January was on average 99 cents per
pound. For one week, they were on
sale for 33 cents. Since February, they
have been $1.29, and the cost is similar
at Foodtown as well, he said.
In order to save money, some
residents have switched stores and commute
to other neighborhoods, where
the produce is sometimes fresher and
cheaper.
For Laura Reyes, who is a single
parent raising a teenager, she has now
resorted to shopping outside of Forest
Hills for groceries. Reyes commutes to
Corona, Flushing and Jamaica, and if
she’s in Brooklyn or the Bronx visiting
or just driving through, she’ll make
sure to pick up a few items since it’s
much cheaper.
“I used to pay a total of $25 for three
packs of diff erent types of meats and
now it’s about $65, so I don’t pick it up,”
Reyes said. “I get chicken from Western
Beef which is cheaper and can be
cut into more pieces if I want to make
it last. We eat smaller portions and try
our best to save everything we don’t eat.”
She also clips coupons and shares a
BJs card with her friend and racks up
points, which gives them more money
that they can spend at a later date.
“I no longer get name brand items,
only generic brands especially when
on sale. If I’m in CVS, I get their brand.
If I’m in Key Food, I get their store
brands, and if you use their coupon at
the store and online, you’ll get a cheaper
price all the time,” Reyes said. “We also
go to Walmart aft er September to get
supplies for the kids for next year,
which are on sale and have great discounts
when they want to empty their
inventory.”
Reyes added, “Though it has been
hard, I make it work the best I can.”
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
As inflation is raising the cost
of food items at supermarkets,
some residents in Forest Hills say
they are cutting down their shopping
lists and strategizing on how to save
more money when it comes to buying
groceries.
A few months ago, Heather W. noticed
an increase in the cost of produce and
other food items that she usually buys
at the grocery store.
“I went shopping yesterday, and a loaf
of bread that was $1.99 for quite some
time is now $2.49. I was dumbfounded
when I saw that,” Heather told QNS. “A
bag of tomatoes has gone up from $1.99
to $2.49, and a bag of potato chips also
went up from $1.99 to $2.49.”
According to Heather, who lives with
a roommate and does her own shopping,
her monthly budget for groceries is
more than $200. She goes grocery shopping
at least once a week to buy fresh
produce.
“Depending on what I need, I’ll go
to three main grocery stores: Trader
Joe’s, Whole Foods and ShopRite. My
main staples that I get every week is an
organic bag of salad, tomatoes, carrots
and celery. For other items I’ll change
my weekly list depending on what’s
on sale at Whole Foods and ShopRite,”
Heather said.
Ridgewood Property Owners & Civic
Association, Inc.
“After 90 years of community service we’re still building
a reputation, not resting on one!”
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP & PUBLIC MEETING
Second Thursday
March 10th, 2022, 7 pm
Democra���� Socialists In Albany Propose Laws to Take
Away Your Property Rights
State Senator Joe Addabbo to speak about his ��ght
against the “No Evict” Rent Control Law.
How Will We Fight Property Tax Reform Proposal
That Could Raise Our Property Taxes up to 100%,
State “No-Evict” Rent Control, and Laws to
Override Local Zoning And Floor/Area/Ra��o
“FAR” Limits?
Le��er W���������� Campaign Con����������
Volunteer Commi��ee Being Formed
Free Tote Bag to New Members
Sandwiches, Salads and Co��ee Will be Served
Ridgewood Presbyterian Church
59-14 70th Avenue
Ground Floor Hall Through Parking Lot
Restric��ons Are Li��ed - Free Masks Available
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