041016 Consumers Concerned About Rising Cost of FoodOctober 8, 2004Bluefield, WV - The rising cost of food is making life difficult for some area consumers. Major staples -- beef, poultry, and milk -- have seen sizable price increases this year, pinching household budgets. Through the first half of 2004, overall food prices have risen at a rate of 3.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "I'd be rich if I could stay out of the grocery store," Barb Spicer, of Bluefield, said, as she left a local retail food store. "The milk prices, I think that's sad. I have a lot of grandbabies and they drink a lot of milk." Emily Hawkes, a senior citizen from Bluefield, said this year's higher grocery costs have been worrisome. "Frankly, it's been a burden," she said. "With higher gas prices and heating and hospital bills, all the necessities going up in price has us worried. We're retired, living on a fixed income and we don't know what to expect in our future." John Ashton, of Bluefield, said he had stopped buying ground pork because of its higher price. He said one way he copes with higher prices is buying in bulk. "I buy family packs, so it'll save some," he said. Rosemary Wiles, of Pocahontas, Va., said she's noticed that milk and meat prices have gone up the most. "I think the gas prices are responsible for much of it, transporting the food. I buy the same things but buy more of them and travel less to go get it." In 2003, U.S. consumers spent $832.5 billion on food, $500 billion of which was spent at retail food stores, according to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It seems likely consumers will spend considerably more in 2004. Food inflation in 2003 was 2.2%, but ERS expects the overall food inflation rate for this year will be closer to 4%. This year's rate is expected to be the highest food inflation rate since 1990, when food prices rose 5.8%.
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