Your Grocery Bill Is Only Going To Get Worse
By: Marie Williams, Editor in Chief
What is causing prices to skyrocket, and how is it affecting the academic careers of students?
The stereotype of college students living off hope and ramen noodles has never been more true. In a time of massive supply chain disruptions, troubling climate change, and the deadliest bird flu in U.S. history, Top Ramen is about all students in the country can afford, and many are suffering because of it.
This increase in everyday items is hard to ignore; eggs are now on store shelves for a steep 60% increase. At this time last year, a carton of eggs sold at roughly $2.00 a dozen, but now sell for nearly $5.00. Overall, the cost of groceries rose 13.5% in the past year – the largest increase we’ve seen in 43 years.
“A lot of [this] has to do with increased cost of production and transportation, but also increased demand for these things like butter […] where people go out and buy things like eggs, butter, and flour for their cooking, so there’s also a demand story here as well,” says David Ortega, an agricultural economist and professor at Michigan State University.
The culprits behind these price increases stretch beyond mass layoffs and transportation. Climate change is bringing heat waves and droughts to California, a big player in produce. Brazil, a coffee producing hub, has also been struck with frost and a drought within the last year. With crops worldwide yielding less due to heat stress, there’s less fruits, vegetables, and coffee available in grocery stores, putting upward pressure on prices due to supply and demand imbalances.
The Russo-Ukrainian War is another major factor. This overarching region under attack is often referred to as the “breadbasket of Europe,” and is a large supplier of wheat and sunflower oil, which is used in many processed foods. The war brings rising prices on a global scale, sending wheat products up 20% year over year. This is reflected in the price increases in cereal, bread, and other grain-based products, with a drastic 15.6% increase from January 2022 to January 2023 according to the Food and Drug Administration’s annual Consumer Price Index report.
Things aren’t looking so hot in the meat department either. Over 40 million birds have been affected in the second largest outbreak of avian flu in modern history. This has struck mostly commercial operations, causing poultry and eggs to skyrocket in price with a 40% year over year increase. With the extreme winter weather patterns, many companies are gritting their teeth these next few months. Coupling this, there’s a stark lack of competition in the pork industry. Pork providers have been majorly consolidated, and companies are driving their profit margin up and keeping prices high.
College students across the country are feeling the effects of these price hikes. In the face of rising breakfast item prices, key protein item prices and more, many are turning to cutting or skipping meals altogether.
“I feel like I can’t keep my head on straight,” Says Alyssa M., an Independent Studies student here at HVCC, “I’m so spaced out in class because I can’t stop thinking about how hungry I am. I’ve had to start skipping lunch and cutting back on breakfasts and dinners to make things stretch, too.”
Other students, like Justin H., who work in the food industry, are outraged.
“It’s ridiculous. Corporations have seen record profits over the last three years, but because the profit forecast isn’t what they want, inflation hits the common man. How are students – some of which are parents – supposed to survive and thrive if they can’t afford to eat? Where is the outcry for our struggles? Don’t get me started on the food prices on campus…” He said.
The USDA’s Food Price Outlook also shows that food prices are expected to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022, but will still stand above historical average rates. Ortega states that while supply chain disruptions are starting to ease from the pandemic and prices have come down significantly, it takes time for that to be fully realized at the grocery store.
Resources are available for students who are struggling. Student Activities, located in Siek 210, can give you access to our campus food pantry. For other local pantries, visit foodpantries.org.