For people who want to save up on their groceries, knowledge on the top items which are expensive in groceries will go a long way. Despite the decline in gas prices, a recent price index revealed that prices of some items in grocery stores have increased.
In a similar report, Today claimed that grocery items increased by at least 40 percent for the past 10 years as revealed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
"There's always going to be spikes and valleys," said Food Institute president Brian Todd. "The top things that affect food prices are out of human control like severe weather changes, disease among animals and consumer demand for certain products based on what's trending," he added.
Below is a list of some of the items which spike up your grocery bill. Referring to this list will help individuals reconsider what they want to buy.
1. Eggs
According to the USA Today report, this item is one of the commodities that increased its price for the past 10 years, reaching more than 100 percent. It claimed that the highest was attained last in August last year during the avian flu outbreak. Even before the outbreak, eggs already recorded as one of the most expensive grocery items.
2. Tobacco products
24/7 Wall St. added that the prices of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and even e-cigarettes have also spiked from 2005 to 2015 by as much as 92 percent. It said that the highest price was noted in 2009 when the tax for these products was increased by 62 cents.
3. Margarine
On the other hand, USA Today explained that margarine was included in the list because of the low production brought by the recession. The same report mentioned that there was a restricted supply of milk products which caused the increase in the prices of margarine.
4. Uncooked ground beef
The CPI claimed that the price of uncooked ground beef rose to 65 percent for the past decade, this number is said to be double the general increase in food prices.
5. Seafood
Also included in the most expensive grocery items are seafood items. 2/7 Wall St. claimed that the rising prices of feed have lowered the production of tuna and shrimp. It also noted that some fish species like shellfish and salmon have increased demand for the past years.