Deseret News | Reader comments: Utah hit with 9% increase at stores

Reader comments
Utah hit with 9% increase at stores

Anonymous | 1:05 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

What's happening to our food supply that we've had such a drastic increase? Is it all related to the increase in energy costs? If so, then people should think twice before electing a president who refuses to consider off shore drilling. We can all cut back on our driving habits, but it's not so easy to do with food.

stumblefall | 6:42 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

This goes to show how ridiculous the government's "inflation" estimate is...They are not in the business of reporting the unvarnished truth when it doesn't work for them, and it certainly doesn't here. Employers can talk all day long about how inflation isn't so bad and they don't need to increase wages, but the bottom line is that what a worker made in January won't buy nearly as much as it will now. Ergo, the employers need to raise wages, but then that will further increase the cost of goods. The economy is fast spiraling out of control.

oldman | 6:43 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

What we should worry about is having and electing presidents who are oil men who could care less about the damage to the planet. Bush fixed this country and made the mess. We do not want four more years of this disaster.

Comments continue below

Bob G | 6:46 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

I can't understand this COL (cost of living) program they set up. It's not a very realistic choice of products to track. What would make more sense is if this was compared to income and how much it has declined in Utah. If you add declining income (hourly wages) with cost of products the impact would be much greater than reported. Add a 10% cut in wages and you get a 19% increase in the COL in Utah. These reports are so inaccurate and deceiving they can't be relied on. And who can afford movies and pizza's anymore? Especially families with children. Can't even afford to rent a movie let alone go to the mall and pay $60-$70 a pop after you add in all the overpriced goodies. Then who buys jeans every month? Mine last me several years. Monthly COL's should only be items of necessity and not yearly purchases.

Greed | 7:20 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Sure, food prices are increasing because the cost to get the food into the store increased (ie, rising gas costs) but I suspect that most of what is driving food prices up is greed.

Unfortunately, I fear that what Big Oil has done to gas prices ("Hey! We can raise gas prices over 300% in 7 years and blame it on supply and demand!") will be echoed by a vast amount of businesses.

Making a profit is fine but taking advantage of one another is not, no matter what you're selling.

Not a problem | 7:33 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

There's no problem here people. Just keep having all those kids, driving all those SUV's and vans. Elect another Republican administration that doesn't have the word "conservation" in it's vocabulary, with ties to big oil, and who's policies are dictated by big business. Even though offshore drilling will do nothing to solve the real problems, let's do it anyway just to feel better about things. Don't worry about overpopulation, pollution, destroying the environment. Let's just keep doing what we're doing, and everything will be fine. Just like one of those catastrophe movies where some patriots come through at the last second and save us all. Yeah, that's the ticket, that's what's going to happen. So just go out and buy something and you'll feel much better about things.

Mark | 7:35 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

It's mostly related to transportation costs, but blaming a guy who isn't yet president isn't the answer. The entire economy is in trouble. If you want lower food prices, the entire economy needs to be addressed, energy is just one piece of the puzzle.

Anna | 7:39 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Time to truly access what foods we are purchasing which have the most nutrition. The higher the nutrition in the foods the less food we need to purchase. Learn Cost to Value....Health goes up, medical and dental costs down.

Anonymous Blame | 7:47 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Go ahead, Blame Obama Now!!!! Why wait for the election and his presidency? I am sure the conservative Republicans who've been in control of the free market for the last eight years bear no responsibility in your red eyes. I bet you voted for Bush, Hatch, and Bennett. You get what you deserve. I didn't vote for your dependent-on-oil and deregulation cronies, you did.

Anonymous | 7:48 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

I think we can cut back on our food intake.

GatewayToNevada | 7:49 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Direct energy costs have increased, but in addition, a lot of grain production has been diverted to create ethanol. Thank your congress-critters for that one.

cbk16 | 7:51 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

This is what the country gets when it elects a Democrat congress that does not want to drill.

Re Anonymous | 7:58 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

You people make me laugh. Don't vote for a president that won't drill? Just who in the name of you know what got us where we are today? And don't say the Dem legislators, because they just got a majority about 1 1/2 years ago. Put the blame where it belongs. The controlling party and their president has caused this train wreck, and now people like you want to scare us into believing that a change in administration will be catastrophic to all of us. Get a grip--get the oil mongrels out of office and maybe we will see a different direction for our wonderful country. Just look everyone what the last 8 years has brought us. Now do you want more of the same? How stupid do you think the voters are? This nation will not vote the same as Utah for sure this time.

LOL | 7:59 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Anna - obviously you've never fed a teenage boy. Mine has grown 3 inches in the last year - not to mention he's filled out. Better fiber and vitamin content isn't enough - that's a lot of calories.

Re Re Anonymous | 8:12 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Re Anonymouse wrote: "And don't say the Dem legislators, because they just got a majority about 1 1/2 years ago."

We can blame whomever I want. Bush was elected way longer than a year and a half ago but the cost of energy and food has only drastically risen since the Democrats took over.

A president isn't anywhere near as directly responsible for stuff like this as is a congress. Any you people can keep blaming Bush all you want ... he isn't running for reelection. The Democrats who have failed miserably ARE running for reelection.

Remember the headline from just a month ago ... "Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever". That rating was much higher when Republicans were in charge.

Think about it! | 8:18 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Forget about Gold's Gym memberships, or any other expensive type of diets. This is the best time to start a diet!!!maybe thanks to this situation that we are in, people will start looking in better shape.
P.S wake up america, neither republicas or democrats have the answers for this force diet program that we are in!

DH | 8:26 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

There is blame enough to go around to all of us. Yes, including you and me. The price of everything is impacted heavily by oil and this is at the heart of our current jump in all other prices. Our American need to drive larger and more powerful vehicles is a prime example of how Americans have done this to themselves.

However, the blame does not stop there. Many of our current problems were brought on by the mortgage financing collapse in this country. This collapse was caused by the greed of the financing companies but also by the arrogance of the consumers who have to have homes so large when they can barely afford to pay for them. The people put forward the demand and the banking institutions found a way to meet those demands.

So when you want to place blame remember the old adage that when you point fingers at someone else three others are pointing back at you. We do this to ourselves and then look for a scapegoat.

Midwest Member | 8:30 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

My family used to vote for Republicans, until they stopped being conservative in spending and began to peddle religion without being Christlike. I guess the words "greed & selfishness" would apply on both counts. Charity may never fail, except with the GOP. Then we began to support the Dems, hoping for change. Unfortunately, they're impotent at best, and bought and paid for at worst. Now we're voting 3rd party. Nader for us, and before you label him, maybe you should read what he has to say. It's not wasting your vote to vote you conscience, whoever that may be. If everyone did, we'd finally get the leadership that we want, instead of the leaders we deserve. Turn off Fox News and start reading a variety of news sources, including those outside our country. "O Zion ... lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid"

Told you so... | 8:45 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Here is the truth. The government has lied about the real rate of inflation, so that COLAs can be held down and big business goes along with this because they use it to justify lower wage increases (many businesses, especially govt contractors, use the govt numbers to base pay increases off of). They lie to us to keep us "thinking" that things are fine, hopefully we will keep spending and keep corporate profits up.

Energy. Bush is an oilman. Oil businesses are enjoying record profits. No if ands or buts, they are reaping windfall profits. They have no incentive to ask for regulation of speculative futures markets. They have no incentive to see new fields open up because the current supply situation is beneficial to their profit structure (keep supply tight, prices stay up). The oil production and refining markets are oligopolies, they set supply and price is set by that. There is no "free competition" as many of you republicans like to talk about. Alternative energy sources, nuclear, solar, wind, and ultimately HYDROGEN are truly the answer. The current market is broken beyond repair and a new set of companies with alternative energy need to come into being.

Super Idea | 8:49 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

This coming year when the only 2 University's(as most see it) hold their commencement awards wouldn't it be nice too see Cheney switch and go to the "U" and Bush-Wacker speak at the "Y"? That way Utahns could get up close and and personal with their holy Icons(of the petroleum industry).

Liz | 8:59 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Have you talked to a farmer recently? They are barely surviving. There is the cost of fuel, transportation of goods, fertilizer, seeds, ect... It's high for them, and that gets passed onto us. It's not their fault, they are hit with the prices as well trying to survive running a farm.

kathyn | 8:59 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

My 2 cents....the value of our dollar is falling; Prices are rising because the dollar is falling. We've managed to sell our souls to the Saudis for oil because we've tied our dollar so closely with oil. We need to do these things...drill in our own yard for oil, plus build more refineries. This would give us the breathing room we need to develop good alternative sources for energy.

It's not possible to change our entire power infrastructure overnight. So we need some relief while these changes are in progress. In Utah we should have wind turbines since we have so much wind, espeically at the point-of-the-mountain.

It doesn't have to be either/or. Until our wonderful politicians can get out of the Repub/Demo mindset and start working together, we'll all continue to wring our hands while nothing is done.

Let's face it...our politicians on both sides have sold us out.

Enough | 8:59 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Why don't we stop blaming DC and start blaming ourselves? The housing market would not be in dire straights if we didn't insist on buying houses we cannot afford. Also, we could all afford the additional costs that are coming if we didn't insist on credit card debt to buy things we just don't need. Regardless of who sits in the White House, if our own house was in order, we'd be fine.

Now, for the heresey. My wife and I don't have TiVo. We don't have cable. We don't have a home phone (just cell phones). We don't buy expensive clothes. We still eat out whenever we want (which is not often in UT because the food chain options are pathetic compared to what we had in SoCal) and still go on vacation. The point is: everyone still has discretionary costs. Wanna afford your food? Cut back on other things in life. You'll be surprised at how your life improves without it.

KFC | 9:02 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

So very many of you still have it all wrong - blaming one party or the other for our economic condition is futile! When are you going to finally realize that there isn't a two party system? Name "one" campaign promise that either party candidate ever fulfilled. Look closely at what the media and both parties continue to tell us. Look at the history and the path this nation has been on. There are higher powers (secret combinations) in power that make happen, only what they want to have happen. The two party system is nothing but a smoke screen to keep us occupied with blaming one another. And, the news media is in on it. How long has it been since there's really been anything news worthy? The primary goal of the two party system and the news media, is to keep us diverted from what's really important - like the loss of our constitutional liberties!

Both parties are equally responsible for where our economy is today; and, both are responsible for the planned and methodical destruction of our way of life and our inspired U.S. Constitution

Theodore Rosevelt said, "nothing happens in politics by accident". Think about that!

Sara | 9:06 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Not all companies are raising prices. Domino's Pizza actually LOWERED their prices last week. It's now $10.99 for a large 1-topping pizza, 3 dollars less than Pizza Hut.

GO FOOD GO | 9:34 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Raising prices everywhere!!! and please WITH OR WITHOUT HOLES for oil, is going to be the same thing, you dont undertand, we are not short in oil, THEY are making a lot of money,UTAH 4.05 - 4.25 a gallon!!! have you check the rest of the states 3.99 and below!!!transport alternatives...we have the technology, but carmakers made already deals with oil thieves, and pres.bush...please quit!!!

Anonymous | 9:37 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Dearest Sara,

They keep lowering the price but they keep shrinking the pizza.

Sara | 9:57 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Dearest Anonymous,

The large pizza at Domino's is, and always has been, 14 inches. The medium ($8.99) is, and always has been, 12 inches. And no, they are not cutting back on portioning with the price drop.

I'm unclear on the "shrinkage" you are referring to.

Matthew Piccolo | 10:03 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Very interesting story, but I'm afraid it's got several flaws. First of all, the prices are taken from just a few stores in the Salt Lake valley but the article claims that in Utah prices have gone up 9%. In basic statistics you learn that a sample size must be large enough to represent an entire population; this one is much, much too small.

Secondly, the list of items used contains many items that vary because of government intervention, not normal market forces. For example, corn prices have risen a lot because of ethanol subsidies in the Midwest and gasoline prices have risen because of government regulation, both foreign and domestic. These products are not representative of the average product people buy.

Thirdly, some of the prices used (e.g. blue jeans and Oreos) seem to use a discounted price in July. Regular prices should be used with all the products.

I think it's interesting to look at the difference in price for each item individually for people in Salt Lake, but I'm afraid that putting a big headline on the front page saying that prices in Utah have risen 9% based on this survey alone is a bit irresponsible.

200% | 10:15 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

The Real Inflation Rate in Feb 2008 was over 200% It must be quite a bit more than that now. Banks don't even know the numbers and it takes some figuring, but it's true.

Drilling for oil is not the answer. There are hundreds of wells capped right now because the restrictions for refinements are too expensive. It's cheaper to import the cleaner stuff from Persia. There is plenty of drilling for American needs. Costs are actually lower than producing our own. So why such high prices for everything?

Did you stop to consider the timing? As soon as we started posturing for Iran invasion the prices broke through the ceiling and they'll be in the stratosphere before we're through.

One of the MANY reasons for high prices is the overseas empire we're building and maintaining. It's quite expensive to invade and occupy other nations. They almost always take exception to it and then we're stuck with the bill.

Patterns... | 10:33 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Everyone is blaming someone else for the current cost of living issues. It is time to stop pointing fingers and start figuring out ways to correct our economy.

I drive a four cylinder Hyundai. I get 40 miles to the gallon and I truly love my car. So those of you yelling that we all drive Vans and SUVs need to take a look aroundï¿½not everyone is.

Just like the depressions of the past the government is not going to claim it. It has nothing to do with political parties. Americans are bread to be greedy, with purchasing on credit and taking out loans we will never be able to afford, our ancestors started it and now we are keeping it going.

Donï¿½t point fingers, because our entire out of control spending habits got us here.

Oh Please | 11:13 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Fuel costs drive the cost of food. What's driving up fuel costs? The Bush deficit. This man has spent us into bankruptcy for his stupid wars and as a result the value of the dollar has nosedived. Oil is traded in dollars. Gas you could buy under Clinton for $2 costs $4 under Bush. Where's the mystery? All you right-wingers are COMPLETELY blind...

KFC | 11:29 a.m. Aug. 4, 2008

re: Oh Please: Please read my post of 9:02am. I'll add just one additional comment. Both parties have been supporting Bush, his war and the economic decisions that have gotten us where we are today; if they "all" didn't want this war, they'd of cut him off a long time ago. Get it?

Anonymous | 12:45 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

A gallon of gas back east here where I live is $3.75 a gallon. It has dropped dramatically in the last several weeks, but still far too high. This is a much higher cost of living area than any place in Utah. I understand that you are still paying well over $4.00. There seems to be local conditions (greed, SUVs, wide open spaces, or whatever) that impact on the price. I've never been able to figure it out.

Sick & Tired | 12:47 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

I am SO sick of seeing the oil companies raise their hand and raise their middle finger at myself and everyone else I could scream. All as if to say tough- what are you going to about it. I just drove down the road I travel daily and guess what- gas at the cheapest place(maverik) is still 4.14, and it hasn't changed since it went up several weeks ago. Do you all remember the mexicans marching and protesting a year or so ago about illegals being removed back to Mexico? Well maybe it's time we all marched about this whole government thing called war, and economy. Lets go.

Liars figure, figures lie | 1:12 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

The reporter attempts to make an apples to oranges comparison between grocery story increases and school lunch prices.

As stated in the story, the grocery price hikes represent a one-year increase. School lunch prices incresed 16 percent over FOUR years.

The second sentence in this story is clearly disingenuous.

Dave in Midvale | 1:44 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Dear "Oldman"-

Are you so "immature" to think that the current oil/energy situation and the economy is "Bushs' fault." The tired old adage. If President Bush and/or the Vice President had ANYTHING to do with this, they would have been impeached and jailed long ago. A bi-partisan senate committee review the whole mess and they couldn't even pin it on the US oil companies. As if you actually think that OPEC raising the per barrel price on seat crude takes their orders from the oval office!!!???!!!

There are plenty of things to do about this, and CONGRESS, yes both houses filled with democrats, could be doing it. . . but they are not. And you're yapin' bout the president. Humff

Cause of inflation | 3:22 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Let's stop wasting our time blaming the other guy's political party for this mess and do a little thinking.

What's the most basic cause of inflation? An increase in the money supply not equaled by a corresponding increase in production! And what't the main cause of that? Who increases the money supply? THE FEDERAL RESERVE! Why? To allow deficit spending by the GOVERNMENT! All the billions of dollars in welfare costs, foreign aid, and wars since 1930 have been financed by BORROWED money. Money borrowed by the government, FED goes out and prints more money, which in injected into the money supply.

When you have more money chasing the same amount of things produced, PRICES GO UP, Guys. Think of an eBay auction--one bidder equals your opening price, but get two folks who want the same thing and the price shoots up to the limit of one of them's pocket.

Same thing is true of all sorts of things--medical care to cars. Then when prices go up, we demand higher wages, even if we aren't more productive--then prices go up again.

A solid gold or silver based currency kept this from happening in America from 1789 to the 1930's!

Think again | 4:14 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Why don't we vote for McCain so that the Oval Office will be under the influence of the largest beer distributor in the US? That way, big oil can take a vacation...

Re: Cause of inflation | 4:26 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

A solid gold or silver based currency kept this from happening in America from 1789 to the 1930's! Gold futures fell more than $9 per ounce Monday, with a broad decline in commodities led by a tumble in the price of crude oil sending the metal's prices to their lowest level in almost six weeks. Prices continued lower in electronic trading on Globex, and were last at $902.40 as of 4 p.m. EDT. Analysts who had foreseen a decoupling by gold from crude oil got a rude awakening today when black gold dipped to under $120 and augmented the slide in various commodities. And as the U.S. dollar really did not do much ahead of tomorrow's Fed meeting (anticipating no change in stance by the central bank) today's slippage is clearly (in most part) attributable to the goings-on in oil. The plunge in crude has put the key $117 a barrel chart area back in focus and pulled other commodities lower as well, which is giving stocks and the dollar a boost from lows, while putting a floor under yields.

Hello, KFC! | 6:20 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

BRAVO! You got it right --- I couldn't have it said any better!

GWB | 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

Some of you seem to like to blame Pres. Bush for all your troubles. I believe President Bush has been an excellent President. He is right about oil exploration, he is right about terrorism, he is right about activist judges, he is right about family values, (opposing same sex "marriage), he is right about Social Security reform. Because the democrats control congress, they have blocked all oil supply increases= high prices we pay. The war on terror which Demos now oppose has moved to other countries,(GWB has been very effective in keeping us safe). Same sex marriages supported by dems will harm this country. S.S. which Dems blocked any reforms will leave your kids without any. If you don't like the way things are now, you can look to congress for someone to blame! If you think things are bad now, just wait until Obama takes over. You are going to need your food storage after all.

Re: 4:14 p.m. | 7:59 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

If you try to follow logically what these people say, you can tie your brain into a knot. How is it that people like The Messiah, Barack Obama, who tell us that the whole problem with oil prices is the speculators -- they go back and forth, speculators, now we're back to Big Oil being the evil ones. They say, though, that it would make no sense to drill because supplies would not increase until some speculative time in the future, whether it's seven years or ten years or a thousand, it doesn't matter, the fact is they are speculating when they tell us, if we start drilling today, there won't be any oil for X-number of years, they themselves are speculating. Why is speculation only a problem when it involves capitalists making money on predictions about supplies in the market? When speculation, though, involves liberals actually reducing supplies and increasing prices, then speculation is suddenly okay.

Brother Chuck Schroeder | 8:12 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

We don't have proper health care, gas prices climb, food prices sore, can't make it from pay check to pay check, can't really get a VA Pension until Congress will raise up the federal poverty guidelines for a married couple without kid's to $75k (bill clinton vetoed it in his 2nd term also since that time it's on the back burner keeping warm per se), can't get help at the VA, or anywhere else for that matter because the federal poverty wage guidelines (HUD CONTROLS THIS ACT) is $14,600 in 2008 for a married couple, and all THEY seem to care about is "kick backs" from faviors they did for some company out there, in the form of CASH. Why is that?. Talk to your Congress man and US Senator about this will you please?. Thank you.

What's Wrong with Car Makers??? | 8:51 p.m. Aug. 4, 2008

WHY haven't they ramped up production of natural gas vehicles? Everyone is buying beat up Cavaliers and conversions out of Arizona. Make the cars!!

My next new car will be NG but I need something bigger than a Civic and I don't want a conversion.
Ramp up the factory production!

utahboni | 6:10 a.m. Aug. 5, 2008

It just amazes me that so many people can't see the connection between the Iraq war, the decrease in the value of the dollar and the increase in prices. It is patently obvious, and yes, Bush and his oil buddies are responsible. When a team has a losing season, they fire the coach.
The houses of Congress have gone along with the Bush agenda because they are just like us. They are kept in the dark and given partial information. They are afraid, but not of terrorists. They are afraid of you, your lack of education and the fact that you believe any steaming pile of crud that is repeated over and over again. The executive office is using executive privledge and national security to hold back facts and, since the justice department has been compromised, there is no one to stop it.

Even T. Boone Pickens says we can't drill ourselves out of our current situation. Stop blaming the team and look at the coaches.

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