Inflation/Gas Prices/Rising Prices in General

[Mathgod]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1539593039047528448

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by blankall

Just google flyers from USA grocery stores. The difference in price is massive, and it's that difference that's going to make the difference between some families having to cut back a little vs. not being able to make it.

I usually spend part of the year in California so I'm pretty familiar with prices there. The lowest quality, cheapest of the cheap is definitely cheaper in the US. But if you take your run of the mill groceries from a mid-level store (Costco, Kroger-owned chains, Albertson's, etc.) there isn't a huge difference and things are often cheaper in Canada. The big exceptions for groceries are cheese and beef. But most other things, the prices are comparable. I was actually kind of shocked last time I was there a few months ago, because I was planning on stocking up on some things on my way back. But other than cheese and a few things that I can't get in Canada, it didn't really make any sense because I wasn't saving any more money than I'd just save buying the same things on sale in Canada.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by opendoor

I usually spend part of the year in California so I'm pretty familiar with prices there. The lowest quality, cheapest of the cheap is definitely cheaper in the US. But if you take your run of the mill groceries from a mid-level store (Costco, Kroger-owned chains, Albertson's, etc.) there isn't a huge difference and things are often cheaper in Canada. The big exceptions for groceries are cheese and beef. But most other things, the prices are comparable. I was actually kind of shocked last time I was there a few months ago, because I was planning on stocking up on some things on my way back. But other than cheese and a few things that I can't get in Canada, it didn't really make any sense because I wasn't saving any more money than I'd just save buying the same things on sale in Canada.

Agreed.

I often see the same thing in restaurants - entres, drinks, appies, are all roughly similar costs at places of similar caliber.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Does that happen often? You'd think the up-front costs would too much to move countries for most people unless the quality of life change is huge.

It happens a lot with people in tech and creative fields. The opportunities are just better in the USA. It's very hard to set up a business in Canada and there aren't nearly as many established businesses in those fields. I also know lots of professionals in medical, financial, and legal fields who went down south for better opportunities and lifestyles.

It hasn't been happening on a wide-scale with working class people. My question is that if things continue the way they are in Canada, will that happen?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by opendoor

I usually spend part of the year in California so I'm pretty familiar with prices there. The lowest quality, cheapest of the cheap is definitely cheaper in the US. But if you take your run of the mill groceries from a mid-level store (Costco, Kroger-owned chains, Albertson's, etc.) there isn't a huge difference and things are often cheaper in Canada. The big exceptions for groceries are cheese and beef. But most other things, the prices are comparable. I was actually kind of shocked last time I was there a few months ago, because I was planning on stocking up on some things on my way back. But other than cheese and a few things that I can't get in Canada, it didn't really make any sense because I wasn't saving any more money than I'd just save buying the same things on sale in Canada.

Things like bread, milk, eggs, and pre-packaged foods are cheaper in the the USA.

Also, California is one of the most expensive states to live in (3rd highest behind NY and Hawaii). There's a massive range in cost of living between states in the USA. Comparing Canada to on of the most expensive doesn't make much sense, as moving to one of those places to save money makes no sense.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by blankall

It happens a lot with people in tech and creative fields. The opportunities are just better in the USA. It's very hard to set up a business in Canada and there aren't nearly as many established businesses in those fields. I also know lots of professionals in medical, financial, and legal fields who went down south for better opportunities and lifestyles.

It hasn't been happening on a wide-scale with working class people. My question is that if things continue the way they are in Canada, will that happen?

How is a working class Canadian going to get a US work visa? You can't really compare them to people in the medical, financial, and legal fields who have far more mobility.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by opendoor

How is a working class Canadian going to get a US work visa? You can't really compare them to people in the medical, financial, and legal fields who have far more mobility.

The USA has a lot of shortages in areas like nursing, hospitality, etc... basically many of the same shortages that Canada has, and the shortage in these areas exceed those in professional fields:

https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/...ted-industries

I have a client who is a nurse. She now works for a recruitment company that sends her down for fixed contracts in California. The process was expedited and she was basically given a blank cheque to live and work there as much as she wanted. The USA was totally desperate to have Canadian nurses work there.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by blankall

Just google flyers from USA grocery stores. The difference in price is massive, and it's that difference that's going to make the difference between some families having to cut back a little vs. not being able to make it.

Spoiler!

Even comparing Walmarts, there's a pretty stark difference:

No-name bread in Canada:

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/great-v.../6000196714510

$1.67

In the USA:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Val...Count/10315355

$0.93 or $1.20 CAD

Cheapest milk:

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/dairyla.../6000075688855

$4.29

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Val...fl-oz/10450119

(this is 1.9 litres)

$2.12 = $2.74 CAD = $2.88 CAD / 2 litre

Is there a quality difference?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Val...ount/421705528

These cage free eggs are $2.56 US.

In Canada, the cheapest cage free eggs are $6.48:

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/goldegg.../6000198467272

The regular caged chicken eggs are $3.78:

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/great-v.../6000023483943


Rent/housing is another story all together. Even in small towns rent and real estate prices are out of absolute control in Canada. There are cheap places to live all over the USA.

I didn't want to get into it, and still don't, but the global market pricing on local goods is ridiculous. Egg farm is down the street, but if the egg farmer built a transportation network, distribution network, retail network to Perth, Australia, he could sell his eggs for 150% the price, so we have to pay the price of Perth, because of what he COULD do. Yes, I'm being simplistic, but no one here questions it, whereas in the States they do, and reap the rewards of low transportation costs at the local level.

I also realize this is the effect of large businesses buying out small producers, which is a huge problem in Canada and not in the States. There might not actually be anyone left up here big enough, and independent, to undercut the prices of companies that realistically do have the option of shipping to Perth.

That is a political problem going back decades. Anyway, I'm going to dodge this thread for a bit, because I hate talking to economics chuffs.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by blankall

Things like bread, milk, eggs, and pre-packaged foods are cheaper in the the USA.

Not necessarily. A gallon of milk is about $3.50 USD on the west coast, which works out to about $4.75 CAD for 4L. I pay $4.99 for 4L of milk in BC, though smaller quantities are cheaper in the US vs. Canada.

Eggs are a bit cheaper, but when you're comparing things of similar quality, it's not all that different (free run in Canada are generally pretty different and higher quality than generic cage free in the US).

Bread, yes and no. Like I said, the absolute bottom of the barrel stuff that tastes like cardboard is going to be cheaper in the US. But looking at the exact same brands and sizes that you can get in Canada, bread is usually cheaper here. Comparing stores in Canada to somewhere like Ralph's in California (a mid-tier chain) or Albertson's:

Wonderbread: $2.39 CAD in Canada; $3.86 CAD at Ralph's; $3.86 CAD at Albertson's

Dave's Killer Bread: $5.49 CAD in Canada; $7.09 CAD at Ralph's; $9.29 CAD at Albertson's

Prepackaged foods are often cheaper in Canada in my experience, but it really depends. Things like crackers and cookies seem a bit cheaper in the US, chips are about the same, but probably bit cheaper in Canada, and soft drinks are definitely cheaper in Canada.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by blankall

Things like bread, milk, eggs, and pre-packaged foods are cheaper in the the USA.

Also, California is one of the most expensive states to live in (3rd highest behind NY and Hawaii). There's a massive range in cost of living between states in the USA. Comparing Canada to on of the most expensive doesn't make much sense, as moving to one of those places to save money makes no sense.

I was in Seattle a few months back it was like being in Canada except using USD as currency. Hard liquor was more expensive than here. I was pretty surprised how expensive everything is there.

[Zarley]

Breaking up our dairy / poultry cartel would help consumer prices on these staples.

[Reggie28]

The Canadian Dairy Commission said Tuesday it will recommend that the farm gate price for milk be increased effective Sept. 1 by $1.92 per hectolitre.


That increase, which works out to 1.92 cents per litre, “will partially offset increased production costs due to inflation,” the CDC said in a release, noting the costs of cattle feed, energy and fertilizer costs have risen 22, 55 and 45 per cent respectively since last August.

The CDC on Tuesday separately announced an increase to its support price for butter, also effective Sept. 1, boosting that rate from to $10.0206/kg, up from $9.7923.

“The new farm gate milk prices are to become official on approval from provincial dairy authorities, which is expected in mid-July, the CDC said.

The Sept. 1 milk price adjustment translates to a 2.5 per cent increase on average for the price for milk used in the manufacture of retail and foodservice dairy products such as milk, cream, yogurt, cheese and butter, the commission added.”

https://www.agcanada.com/daily/mid-y...roved-for-milk

If my math is correct, that means the farm gate price is $0.768/litre. I wonder how much a the retail price will go up to compensate for the extra two cents going to the producer.

Edit: my math may be wrong, but my point is a 2 cent increase for the producer is fairly insignificant to the consumer, unless everyone else tacks on an increase along the way.

[lambeburger]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

seriously, though. Our family has already cut out beef, other than the occasional pack of ground beef.
Chicken is becoming rare for us, too.
So mostly pork, tofu or paneer for our dinners.

bacon and sausages are gone from the breakfast menu.

another year, we'll probably be vegetarians.

Was hard enough on a limited income before this. but with utilities, gas, and food going up so much this past year, it's difficult.

It's not a bug, it's a feature of the carbon tax and inflation. The federal government is thrilled that you are cutting out "carbon intensive" foods like meat. They literally want you poorer so that you have to make these tough decisions so that you consume less.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I was in Seattle a few months back it was like being in Canada except using USD as currency. Hard liquor was more expensive than here. I was pretty surprised how expensive everything is there.

Seattle is probably the most expensive city in the USA not located in NY, California, or Hawaii. You're comparing Calgary, a relatively cheap city in Canada, to one of the more expensive cities in the USA. Cost of living in Seattle is 52% higher than the national average:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...ve-in-seattle/

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by gasman

Serious question, because I love Paneer, but isn't that more expensive than chicken? I've always found it to be too expensive to put in heavy rotation.

Chris

Paneer is pretty cheap, I find.
Cheaper than chicken.

I use the Flipp app often, so I can find things on sale and easily compare prices.
you can right now in Edmonton get a block of paneer on sale for $3.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by blankall

The USA has a lot of shortages in areas like nursing, hospitality, etc... basically many of the same shortages that Canada has, and the shortage in these areas exceed those in professional fields:

https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/...ted-industries

I have a client who is a nurse. She now works for a recruitment company that sends her down for fixed contracts in California. The process was expedited and she was basically given a blank cheque to live and work there as much as she wanted. The USA was totally desperate to have Canadian nurses work there.

It has always been easy for Canadian nurses to get hired in the U.S.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by blankall

Seattle is probably the most expensive city in the USA not located in NY, California, or Hawaii. You're comparing Calgary, a relatively cheap city in Canada, to one of the more expensive cities in the USA. Cost of living in Seattle is 52% higher than the national average:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...ve-in-seattle/

But food prices aren't all that different, and often they're more expensive in poorer areas. Just using the bread example, the price of Wonderbread at a Seattle Walmart is exactly the same as it is in California, which is exactly the same as it is in Mississippi. It's $2.72 USD, which is $3.52 CAD, which is 47% more expensive than it is at somewhere like Superstore in Canada.

For milk, a gallon of Great Value 2% milk at Walmart in California is $3.60 USD ($4.93 CAD for 4L), in Seattle it's $3.74 ($5.12 for 4L), and in Mississippi it's $4.12 ($5.63 CAD for $4L). The equivalent is $5.19 CAD in Vancouver.

Eggs are pretty significantly cheaper in Seattle compared to Mississippi as well. They're about $0.17-0.20 per egg for standard eggs at Walmart in Mississippi vs. $0.12-0.15 per egg in Seattle.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by opendoor

But food prices aren't all that different, and often they're more expensive in poorer areas. Just using the bread example, the price of Wonderbread at a Seattle Walmart is exactly the same as it is in California, which is exactly the same as it is in Mississippi. It's $2.72 USD, which is $3.52 CAD, which is 47% more expensive than it is at somewhere like Superstore in Canada.

For milk, a gallon of Great Value 2% milk at Walmart in California is $3.60 USD ($4.93 CAD for 4L), in Seattle it's $3.74 ($5.12 for 4L), and in Mississippi it's $4.12 ($5.63 CAD for $4L). The equivalent is $5.19 CAD in Vancouver.

Eggs are pretty significantly cheaper in Seattle compared to Mississippi as well. They're about $0.17-0.20 per egg for standard eggs at Walmart in Mississippi vs. $0.12-0.15 per egg in Seattle.

Who buys Wonder Bread?? Store brand white bread at our upscale Wegman's in VA is 99 cents. I don't know if this link works outside our area. https://shop.wegmans.com/search?sear...ocomplete=true

Store brand 2% milk here is $3.31 per gallon, and under $3 for non fat or 1%

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by lambeburger

It's not a bug, it's a feature of the carbon tax and inflation. The federal government is thrilled that you are cutting out "carbon intensive" foods like meat. They literally want you poorer so that you have to make these tough decisions so that you consume less.

That doesn’t explain similar or higher levels of inflation in countries that don’t have a carbon tax.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Who buys Wonder Bread?? Store brand white bread at our upscale Wegman's in VA is 99 cents. I don't know if this link works outside our area. https://shop.wegmans.com/search?sear...ocomplete=true

Store brand 2% milk here is $3.31 per gallon, and under $3 for non fat or 1%

I'd posted it on the previous page, but if you take Walmart for example, it was $1.20 (in the USA) vs $1.67 (in Canada) for store brand bread. The exact same product.

Food is most certainly considerably cheaper in the USA. Cheap food is especially cheaper in the USA.