New Mexico No. 8 In High Grocery Bills

If one is from New Mexico and noticed that grocery bills are much higher, it is not your imagination. The truth is, grocery items are much higher than they were four years ago.

New Mexico ranks at number eight of the nation's highest grocery price states. 

Piñon Post reported:

New Mexico has ranked as the eighth-highest state for grocery bills in the U.S., according to a Visual Capitalist analysis mapping how much Americans spend on groceries across all states. Despite New Mexico’s relatively low cost of living compared to more expensive states like California, residents still face elevated food costs, with households spending approximately $286 per week—or around $1,144 a month—on groceries.

Nationally, grocery prices have surged significantly, with costs for “food at home” rising by 20% since August 2020, marking the steepest inflation since the 1970s, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. American households spend about $270 weekly on groceries, translating to $1,080 monthly, based on data sourced from the Census Bureau. Yet, the burden of food costs varies significantly from state to state.

To read more, go here. 

Harris To Announce Soviet-Style Price Controls On Food

As one would expect from someone coming out of the Bay Area (i.e., San Francisco) of Commiefornia would propose, Kamala Harris will be announcing Soviet-style centrally administered price controls on food today.

At least, that's according to Breitbart.

They wrote:

Soviet-style centrally administered price controls on food and grocery prices will form part of the federal economic proposals U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will unveil Friday when she finally delivers an insight into her 2024 policies.

Her address will mark the first time Harris offers a policy focused speech since she was anointed as the Democratic candidate in July and been roundly accused by critics since as being a policy-free zone, as Breitbart News reported.

The Democratic nominee is promising to institute a first-ever national ban on price gouging and price-fixing within her first 100 days in office in an effort to deflect many voters’ low marks for President Joe Biden’s handling of the economy.

To read more, go here. 

Bidenomics At The Grocery Store

Here's what Bidenomics has brought to us (as of January 2024):

In some states, prices are even higher. 

NM One of The Most Expensive States To Buy Groceries

Lately, I've been noticing how high my grocery bills have risen.

I haven't changed my buying habits, but what used to cost me around $70-75 in total, now totals over $100.

Piñon Post has posted an article that what I have experienced isn't a figment of the imagination.

They wrote that New Mexico is one of the most expensive states to buy groceries.

They start with:

According to a recent study from HelpAdvisor, New Mexico is the sixth most expensive state in America to buy groceries.

HelpAdvisor’s study has uncovered a stark reality: the average American’s weekly grocery bill is $270.21, significantly lower than New Mexico’s average of $ 286.39.

“While U.S. inflation slowed in 2023, grocery store cash registers continued running hot. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index for food at home was up 1.7% year-over-year in November,” HelpAdvisor noted.

The only states beating New Mexico’s $286.39 average weekly grocery cost were Florida at $287.27, Washington at $287.67, Mississippi at $290.64, Nevada at $294.76, and California at $297.72.

The sad irony of all this is that New Mexico is one of the poorest states, yet grocers are sticking it to the population.

To read more, go here.

Made It To Gallup and Back

A little while ago, I got back home from a little grocery shopping trip into Gallup.

It was a nice drive except for the windy conditions we are experiencing. The winds are averaging 30 mph with gusts of around 45 mph. I figured I'd best get everything done before we are hit with dust storms this afternoon (at least that's what the National Weather Service is forecasting). 

It might get a little wet around here starting Thursday.

The forecast for today and the next few days:

Today

Patchy blowing dust between 3pm and 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 54. Windy, with a southwest wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Tonight

Increasing clouds, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph.

Monday

Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 52. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Thursday

Scattered rain and snow showers after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night

Scattered rain and snow showers before 11pm, then a slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Camping Grocery List

Above, barbecuing a steak at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Cooking while camping in an RV is something that everyone does, whether it is over the RV's stove/oven or over a campfire. Naturally, planning ahead is essential to get the job done for enjoying a great meal.

Whether it is for home or camping, I always write a grocery list. If I didn't, chances are that I'll end up forgetting something.

RV Life has posted an article with six tips on making a camping grocery list.

They start it with:

Making a camping grocery list may sound like a bit of a no-brainer, but getting what you need for a trip is an important step in getting ready. This is particularly important if you plan to camp in a remote area or are boondocking.

Be sure and ask yourself some important questions before you begin your planning. Are you wanting to cook complicated meals while you are in your RV? Is there a specific day you might want to go out to dinner or lunch or need something really simple? Do you want to cook over the campfire every night? Once you get some of these answered, it’s time to start planning.

To read more, go here. 

Sharing of Scarcity

Above, the Gallup Walmart pharmacy section last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I was in the local Flying J travel center today, I noticed that some shelves in the grocery section were empty or nearly empty.

I have also noticed that some restaurants are out of some foods. The local Denny's was out of salmon last night.

What's going on? 

According to Supermarket News:

Grocery retailers could be in for another wave of consumer stockpiling as COVID-19 infection rates climb nationwide due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant, new research from Inmar Intelligence shows.

Of 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed, 69.4% said they’re considering replenishing a current stockpile of groceries and other essential products as transmission of the Delta variant increases, Inmar said in the study, released this week. Forty-six percent have created a product stockpile in response to coronavirus, and 12% of those that haven’t done so said they now will stock up because of the Delta variant. Another 32.8% said they’re not sure if they will build up their supplies.

Isn't that just great? We can expect hoarders to hoard grocery goods, not just toilet paper.

This is like what happens in socialist countries where the sharing of scarcity is the way of life.

To read more, go here. 

At The Flying J...

While browsing around the Flying J grocery aisle, I spotted this item where the aspirins and related items are kept:

Yes, it's real!