The effects of inflation seemed to have reached the grocery store this week, as prices of major advertised items were higher across the board when compared to the same week last year. Despite the sting at the register, stores were bustling as shoppers snapped up everything they needed for Holiday get-togethers. Popular vegetable items included Brussels sprouts, green beans, celery, broccoli crowns, sweet potatoes, and zucchini. Well advertised fruits like avocados, tangerines, off-shore cherries, oranges, grapes, and Granny Smith apples were abundant. Onions and potatoes were highly featured. Poinsettias and holiday themed floral arrangements contributed to the festive atmosphere found in store aisles.
Total ad numbers this week were 326,970, a 5% increase from last week's 310,147. Ad numbers this week were 7% lower than for the same week last year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 162,549 (50% of all ads), onions and potatoes 36,724 (11%), vegetables 120,573 (37%), herbs 951. The number of ads for organic produce was 36,653, 11% of total ads.
The following are the prices of major advertised items (3,000 plus stores) this week, compared to the same week last year. Significant increases in price for fruit this week included seedless grapes (red at 38%, white at 11%), raspberries at 23%, blackberries at 22%, clementines at 18%, pineapples at 16%, tangerines at 15%, avocados at 14%, Honeycrisp apples at 11%, apple juice at 11%, and Navel oranges at 11%. Significant increases in price for onions and potatoes included Russet potatoes at 23% and yellow onions at 22%. There were no significant decreases.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov