You can count on corporate America to use any means necessary to screw and mislead the clueless American consumer. Below are a list of common products that you are paying 10% more for without experiencing an actual price increase. They just keep the exact same packaging size while reducing the quantity in the package. Isn’t that precious. The average dolt has no clue they are paying 10% more. They actually believe the BLS drones and Bernanke when he declares inflation is well contained. It is well contained in a smaller portion. You can bet my fat ass that the 45 factor regression model the BLS drones use to fake the CPI figures they spew out every month DOES NOT capture the 10% inflation created by putting less product in the same package. This is how corporate fascisim works. Corporations and the government working together to screw you and then telling you that they were really just making love to you. Do you feel the love?
That shrinking feeling — 10 downsized products
From toothpaste to tuna fish, hot dogs to hand soap, companies have been shaving ounces and inches from packaged goods for years, usually blaming it on rising costs for ingredients and energy.
Eagle-eyed readers provided these examples of weight loss. Customer-service reps provided the reasons.
Read the full report by Consumer Reports, including tips on what you can do to fight this trend.
- Ivory dish detergent
Old: 30 oz.
New: 24 oz.
Difference: -20 percentReason: The 30-ounce product was discontinued in smaller stores, due to increased costs for raw materials.
- Tropicana orange juice
Old: 64 oz.
New: 59 oz.
Difference: -7.8 percent
Reason: Last winter’s freeze in Florida. The choice was to raise prices drastically or drop package size. Based on consumer research, people preferred to keep the same price and get a little less juice to keep within their budgets.
- Kraft American cheese
Old: 24 slices
New: 22 slices
Difference: -8.3 percentReason: The larger 16-ounce package was discontinued because it wasn’t selling.
- Kirkland Signature (Costco) paper towels
Old: 96.2 sq. ft.
New: 85 sq. ft.
Difference: -11.6 percentReason: “It’s a good question. I’ll look into it and e-mail a response.” (We never got one.)
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Häagen-Dazs ice cream
Old: 16 oz.
New: 14 oz.
Difference: -12.5 percentReason: Due to the cost of ingredients and facility costs, it was either change the size of the container or raise the price.
- Scott toilet tissue
Old roll: 115.2 sq. ft.
New roll: 104.8 sq. ft.
Difference: -9 percentReason: A strength improvement increased the amount of fiber by 10 percent. The company also chose to realign the roll to match what other companies are doing. It’s also an alternative to a price increase.
- Lanacane first aid spray
Old: 113 grams
New: 99 grams
Difference: -12.4 percentReason: It was reformulated to provide more cooling and a finer, faster-drying spray. The propellant ratio was increased, and since propellant weighs less per unit volume, the net weight in the same-size can was reduced. Can size was retained to ensure the product would fit in the same space as the one it replaced.
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Chicken of the Sea salmon
Old: 3 oz.
New: 2.6 oz.
Difference: -13.3 percentReason: The company hadn’t provided one at press time, but StarKist, which downsized its tuna pouch, blamed the rising costs of ingredients and packaging.
- Classico pesto
Old: 10 oz.
New: 8.1 oz.
Difference: -19 percentReason: Rising gas prices.
- Hebrew National franks
Old: 12 oz.
New: 11 oz.
Difference: -8.3 percentReason: The marketing department decided to change the packaging, and with that came a change in size.
John Angelo says:
What Admin went shopping for after compiling this list:
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25th September 2012 at 12:30 pm
DaveL says:
The only one that is justified is the smaller package of toilet tissue.
“Since you are getting less in every other food package, we figured you are shitting less.”
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25th September 2012 at 12:34 pm
Stucky says:
Cracker Jack prize when I was a kid ….. REAL metal toys!!
Cracker Jack prize today …………….. goddamned piece of shit paper
BOYCOTT CRACKER JACK !!!!!!!!!!!!
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25th September 2012 at 12:38 pm
Hope@ZeroKelvin says:
Ooooh, that Cracker Jack post takes me back! When I was a kid, going to the movies was a big deal, it costs all of $1.50. It was an even bigger deal to get to buy some snacks, ohhh the giddy thrill of it! To munch those candy popcorn and get a toy while watching a movie!!!! I think the Cracker Jacks were 50 cents/box. The movies seemed, I dunno, better, more real, than movies today but perhaps it was in comparison to the B&W teevee we had at the time, heh.
Now when I go to the movies, usually the matinee cuz I’m a cheapskate, admission for me and my daughter is $13.00.
A trip to the concession stand for popcorn, two drinks and a hot dog is $21.00. Followed several hours later by some Pepto-Bismol and many trips to the bathroom.
And the movies aren’t as good, even with the eye candy of computer generated visuals.
There ya go, inflation in terms easier to understand than all that pesky math and comparison shopping presented above.
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25th September 2012 at 12:48 pm
flash says:
Scott toilet tissue downsized?…sad day for Hopey C.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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25th September 2012 at 1:08 pm
Oscar Mannheim says:
Man, am I glad I turned on, tuned in and dropped out! You folks actually consume that shit? I went native and have a very good life, thank you. Grow top-flight fruits and veggies, buy meat raised by neighbors, don’t buy any processed crap, blah-blah-woof-woof but it truly is a better way to live. I own my time, folks, and I’d much rather own that than a particle-board shitbox in the suburbs.
Go rogue!
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25th September 2012 at 1:21 pm
Jimi d says:
“BREAD and CIRCUSES”
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25th September 2012 at 1:41 pm
Jimi d says:
Regular grade gasoline was $ 2.36 per gallon at a Cumberland Farms in Great Barrington Ma on Holloween day 2010 ! I was with my grand daughter – I write these things down. Also, I noticed food prices for many items I regularly buy in many cases that summer of 2010 increasing by 20% – yes, 20% ! You cannot fool me !!!!!
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25th September 2012 at 1:46 pm
flash says:
Quit your bitching you cheap bastards. You could use some downsizing. My favorite and most used product is still available in “industrial size”
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25th September 2012 at 1:48 pm
Jimi d says:
‘FLASH’ Once the ASS FUCK’N goes main stream your lube will skyrocket in price !
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25th September 2012 at 1:54 pm
flash says:
Jimi d
Are you interested? Bi curious? I’m willing to educate you.
The story of my life, in one picture, or “how I got to be the way I am today”
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25th September 2012 at 2:15 pm
ThePessimisticChemist says:
“Inflation” “package size”
The admin is trying to tell us something, I JUST KNOW IT!
My first guess is that he just bought his first penis pump and is very pleased with it.
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25th September 2012 at 4:22 pm
Administrator says:
TPC
You’ve been hanging around Stuck and AWD too much.
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25th September 2012 at 5:07 pm
ThePessimisticChemist says:
I’ll take that as a compliment.
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25th September 2012 at 7:44 pm
Muck About says:
Honestly, there is nothing new under the sun.
I was working in Great Britain for several years back in 1979-80. My sweetie and I noticed then the “miniaturization” of packaging there – and that was 20+ years ago. At the time, inflation was rampant in the USA – so bad I had to write a “inflation rider” into my contract with John’s Hopkins that reviewed my per diem (at that time they had taken away the income tax break for overseas work, so I just worked for little pay and big per diem which was still not taxed) every 6 and adjusted it appropriately as the dollar sank against the pound.
The Brits, at that time were probably paying at least 1/3 more for 1/3 less product than in the USA.
Same old, same old. Inflation by another name. Get over it and get used to it.
MA
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25th September 2012 at 7:50 pm
oleguy says:
This has been going on more and more since the crash in 2008. Commodities have risen we all know that. Look at fuel or basic ingredients for the most part they have risen in price. We pay for it with smaller quantites for the same price. Go check produce or cereal or just basic items it is happening everyday. This is to stop the sheeple from realizing what is actually happening to them.
Most do not read labels, I do.
There is a reason why food and fuel is not counted as part of the inflation in this country, people would riot or would demand accountability for whats happening. Wait until QE kicks in you will see more and more of this. After the elections this could get ugly.
There is a reason the government is taking our private rights away more and more each day. They know whats going to happen and they preparing for it. The sheeple will just be herded to the shearing!
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25th September 2012 at 8:39 pm
Al X says:
The worst is cereal boxes, these motherfuckers are skinnier than an anorexic model, and a higher price. Swear to god if not on special most brands are 4.50-4.99 for these tiny boxes. And you can see the sheep peering out at them, dimly aware they are being fucked somehow, but they just can’t put it together. Probably will take these misunderstood feelings of shame and fury out on the spouse, kids. Well, O sure was funny on the view, and he says he cares for me, and look, bumping fists with David Letterman! Well he must be OK! He saved GM, after all! How this cocksucker has a shred of a chance of reelection (and that the other “choice” is Mittsy) tells me we are beyond doomed (I know singing to the choir). But I’m oddly not worried about social unrest, these people are too far gone to care, to have the dignity to fight. When the EBT cards go dead I think they’ll just curl up in front of the E channel and die.
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25th September 2012 at 9:50 pm
ThePessimisticChemist says:
I get a sack of the off brand corn chex cereal.
Or say screw it and just drink the sludge that passes for coffee at work all morning.
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25th September 2012 at 9:52 pm
Dave Doe says:
Muck is right – there is little new under the sun.
Problem is – this tactic works. Been used by large Consumer Products Corps (like P&G and Unilever) for a very long time.
Nothing to see here – move along.
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25th September 2012 at 10:21 pm
ThePessimisticChemist says:
I think the thing that has me the most worked up is that they don’t bother to add things like this into their inflation calculations.
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25th September 2012 at 10:25 pm
Cahuitabeachbound says:
The condoms I buy are getting smaller….but they still slide off.
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25th September 2012 at 12:08 am
Ron says:
The size of Hot Chocolate containers and Coffee,its rediculous.We call it Obama sized.
Milk and eggs seem to stay cheap.Our local store sells Oatmeal for 3.99 a can for two weeks and then two cans for 5.00 for a week.Kind of odd.
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25th September 2012 at 1:19 am
Leobeer says:
Bill Holter posts some good stuff. I recommend bookmarking milesfranklin.com
http://blog.milesfranklin.com/180-degrees-backward-inflation-caused-it
180 Degrees Backward… Inflation Caused It
Author : Bill Holter
Published: September 25th, 2012
If you go back in time 50 years ago, nearly everything was 180 degrees backward to what we have today. We had an economy that “made things”. In fact, we made more things and made them with better quality than any other country in the world. “Made in Japan” meant that the product was cheaply made and would break easily. Now, can you imagine working on your car with a typical ratchet set made in America? Good luck if you have a frozen bolt. Cars made in Detroit were the envy of the world, now if you want real quality, it is a Japanese, German or South Korean car you’ll be looking at.
A good job, one where just the father of the household could support the whole family meant working in a factory, driving a truck or working a trade. A weekly salary could provide the basics for a family of 4. “Food stamps?” What were those? Do you remember the stigma attached and the embarrassment? Unemployment? Back then, unemployment meant a chance at finding a better job than the one you left. Money was “real” (sort of) and it went far enough to just barely finish out the month with enough left over to put some away into a coin jar so the family could take vacation in the summer.
Now we have families where husband and wife both work (or collect a benefit) to make ends meet. Rarely is there much left over at the end of the month so a small balance gets added to the credit card or home equity loan. 50 years ago, if you went into your bank and asked for a credit card or home equity loan, your banker would have looked at you like you were a bit queer or something, now, “don’t leave home without it.” What once was the entire mortgage payment including the taxes, insurance, principal and interest is now no longer enough to just pay the taxes alone. People who saved their entire lives and paid off their houses, now face taxes higher than what their total mortgage payments were years ago and have bank accounts that pay them virtually no interest.
So, is this just another piece where Holter waxes reminiscent? No, all of this “happened” because of inflation. Slowly but surely, the cost of living grew faster than Dad’s salary so Mom went to work. Then after another 10 or 20 years, Mom’s salary couldn’t plug the gap anymore so the balances on credit cards and home equity loans came into focus as a “third worker” and here we are in the midst of another and far greater Great Depression.
Many have proffered that we “just became lazy” which may be true to some extent. Many have said that the “social programs” have offered too much incentive to not work and instead stay home and game the system, also very true to some extent. But, the real problem has been the inflation caused by the fact that our money is not real. Not that many really understand this concept but they do understand “it is not as real as it used to be.” Meaning that a hamburger, fries and a coke where you got change back for your Dollar, now costs $6 or more so how “real” to the average person is a $1 bill?
This outcome of course was carved in stone back in 1971 when we went off of the Gold standard completely. The temptation to over spend, over tax, over borrow and thus OVER PRINT in a fiat regime is greater than the apple was for Adam and Eve. The ultimate results were known then and are known now. Which is why the system must be “reset” now. Inflation has made the system untenable because life has become “too hard” for too many. We have reached the point where 50% of our population collects benefits… which means that the other 50% are paying these benefits, this has been well publicized. The obvious problem here which doesn’t get publicized is that more and more middle class families, BECAUSE they are paying these benefits while being paid in inflating Dollars are getting “pushed” into the status of HAVING to collect. There is not enough left for them to give… so they take. I am not saying this is a bad thing for a family that cannot make it anymore, I am just saying that they are being “forced” and thus swelling the rolls of “takers” and thinning the rolls of “payers.”
Of course, the crooked politicians won’t change anything until they have to. Well, NOW they pretty much have to because the standard of living has so eroded away that “average” is no longer enough. Something must, and will change because there is no longer the ability of politicians to hide the cumulative effects of inflation. Inflation has so gutted the system that we now face a system wide “reset”. It is THE only option left that can right the cumulative wrongs. At the core of all of these “wrongs” is inflation. This has always happened in the past and will always happen in the future. Whenever a false currency that is controlled by the rocket scientist bankers is introduced… they will abuse their power and position. It is no different than giving a bottle of whiskey to an alcoholic or a tomahawk to an Indian!
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25th September 2012 at 7:08 am
TeresaE says:
My favorite is Lanacane and how nobody noticed what the company said.
The INCREASED propellants, which means they HAD to have DECREASED active ingredients.
I first noticed this trend (replacing quality components with cheaper fillers) in body lotion a couple years ago. I have (really had) extremely dry skin and have been quite picky about what lotion works for it. All of a sudden my lotion didn’t seem to work as well, I initially thought it must be my skin then I happened to have an older bottle in my hands. The ingredient list had totally changed and cocoa butter had moved down the list.
My dad was bitching about his foot spray not working anymore, bet it’s the same thing.
The sheep will just go and buy more as long as their plastic keeps working.
And, I agree with Muck (nice to see you!), get used to it, it surely ain’t going to get any better.
Oh yeah, for us bacon lovers, go forth and buy today, it freezes well and I’m sure even without an actual shortage, prices are going up and packages are shrinking again.
Ain’t it fun living in a centrally controlled world?
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25th September 2012 at 11:08 am