Grocery Price Watch: Texans paying more at the store
By Amanda Hill
For months now, we at Texas Farm Bureau have been anticipating a rise in food prices as the epic drought of 2011—which lasted, in some areas, through 2012 and into 2013—caused crops to wither and cattle herds to shrink. Texans’ food costs actually declined for a few quarters, but it seems the drought has finally caught up to prices at the grocery store.
According to the first quarter Grocery Price Watch survey, Texas food prices are up about 5.5 percent over last quarter and a little more than 3 percent from this time last year. Here’s a look at the 16-item basket of food staples:
read moreGrocery Price Watch: Steady food prices for Texans
By Amanda Hill
Good news, Texans! On average, food prices are holding steady at the grocery store, according to Texas Farm Bureau‘s Grocery Price Watch survey. Based on the survey’s third-quarter results, Texans paid $44.91—on average—for a basket of 16 staple food items.
Check out the full Grocery Price Watch survey results below, or read TFB’s news release with more information. TFB has been polling grocery prices across Texas each quarter since March 2009.
But good news for customers also can mean trouble for farmers.
read moreTruth in rising food prices
By Amanda Hill
I keep a close eye on food prices—mostly for my own family’s budget, but also for Texas Farm Bureau’s Grocery Price Watch. I wonder, though, how many shoppers know why food prices increase.
If you watch the news, you’ve probably heard stories about how the devastating U.S. drought—a drought that caused billions of dollars in damage to Texas crops last year—will cause you to pay more at the grocery store. The stories make it seem as though you’ll shell out a whole lot more on your next shopping trip, due directly to crop shortages from parched lands.
read moreGrocery Price Watch: Texans celebrate July Fourth for less
By Amanda Hill
This July 4th we have much to celebrate in Texas—our freedom, our families and, though not as important as the first two, lower grocery prices. Each quarter, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) surveys food prices on 16 common items in its Grocery Price Watch survey. For the second quarter of 2012, food prices fell slightly from both the previous quarter and this time last year.
If you’re looking for an affordable July Fourth meal, Grocery Price Watch shows you can cook out for a family of four for less than $20. Less than $20?!? That’s a steal, at least at my house. For just $18.84, you can serve two pounds of grilled pork chops, rice, pinto beans, a salad and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream for dessert. Yum!
read moreGrocery Price Watch: Texas food prices down
By Amanda Hill
Good news, Texans. The latest Grocery Price Watch survey by Texas Farm Bureau reports that we paid less for groceries in the first quarter of 2012. The price of a basket of 16 food staples (including fresh produce, milk, bread, meat and more) dropped by 64 cents—from $45.62 in November 2011 to $44.98 in March 2012.
Texas families saw big savings on the fresh produce items—grapefruit, tomatoes and lettuce—as all three dropped in price. This is a great example of how fresh fruits and veggies can be affordable, especially when bought in season.
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