Joy is in the news. But what is joy? The dictionary describes joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.”
I decided to look for joy at the grocery store. I have experienced happiness there in the past. I was employed at a grocery store my senior year of high school. It was hard work, but we managed to make it fun. Later, as we raised our 4 children, I would take the kids to the lobster tank in the seafood section. I taught the kids how to talk to the lobsters. Everyone involved was happy and having fun.
But now, there is no joy at the grocery store. No joy at all. Why? Because you can’t afford to buy much. Just like you, I have watched prices go up and up and up.
While walking through a local store, I made a list of grocery items that common Americans (that’s us) are struggling to afford. I’m sure you could add more.
Here is my list:
Steak. Ground beef. Bread. Cereal. Bacon. Sausage. Deli Meat. Peanut butter. Flour. Coffee. Any brand of cracker or cookie or chips. Beef sticks. Sugar. Ice cream or ice cream novelties. Milk. Pizza. Seafood. Frozen fruit. Eggs. Vegetable or Olive oil. Spices and seasonings. Salsa. Molasses. Any pie filling. Watermelon. BBQ sauce. Olives. Tabasco. Vanilla. Chocolate chips. Maple syrup. Parmesan cheese. Soda pop. Nuts. Creamer. Orange juice. Brats. Frozen pies. Pet food (which is expensive!) Charcoal. Toilet paper. Kleenex. Paper towels. Laundry soap. Dish soap. Diapers. Baby formula. Candy bars. Saltines. Greeting Cards. Deodorant. Razor blades. Halloween candy. Motor oil.
These are items where the cost is noticeably higher, like over the last 3+ years or so. In some cases, the cost is the same, but we get less. Candy bars are smaller. Your saltine sleeves are shorter. You used to order 100 checks. Now you only get 80. Have you noticed?
I had an interesting discussion with a convenience store cashier. I asked, “Have you noticed a reduction in sales?”
The reply set me back. “Sir, these items are not being purchased with real money.”
Wow.
A lesson from Economics 101: “Anything that is subsidized will go up in price.” That applies especially to food, rent, and the price of used cars.
An article in Yahoo News (sorry, those two words together make me laugh) said that prices will go down when consumers refuse to buy high-priced items. No, companies that make these items will close. They can’t make up for losses with more volume.
In just a few weeks, America will make a decision to either live with inflation for four more years, or to fight inflation with the free market. To be honest, I am not optimistic. There is always hope, but there definitely isn’t joy.
Steve Patton lives in Cedar Rapids.
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