We’re all dealing with inflation at the supermarket. Sometimes the price increases are obvious; sometimes they’re not.
Faced with higher costs, some manufacturers boost prices. Others downsize their product a little – it’s called Shrinkflation.
“That’s kind of a sneaky way of passing on a price increase because they hope most consumers are not going to catch it,” said Edgar Dworsky, who publishes the website ConsumerWorld.org.
Dworsky has been tracking this trend for years: Fewer sheets of toilet paper per roll, and less coffee in the same size container.
Here’s how he deals with Shrinkflation.
“If you find your products has downsized, see if a competitor maybe hasn’t changed yet. Or try a store brand. Store brands usually are the last ones to downsize,” he advised “Use unit pricing. That’s the price on the shelf that tells you the price per ounce of a product. That way, you can easily compare one brand to another, one size to another. It really is the great equalizer.”
More Info:
Here We Downsize Again – Spring 2022, Part 1
‘Shrinkflation’ tactics companies use to avoid sticker shock (video)
