Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Food For Thought...

You think we are making all this up?

Do you still think that all of the people screaming for others to wake up and start prepping are nothing but wackos ? Think that all is well in this great country of ours? Do you want a good example of what the powers that be are up to now days? Then try this on for size...

Uncle Sam has sent me notification that starting in January, my social security check is going to be increased by 5.3%. Isn't that wonderful? Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

This is supposed to be a cost of living increase, you know? To help keep up with the small things, like buying food for the table...well, guess what? If you look at the government's own predictions for the cost of living for 2008 and 2009, you might be surprised!

Here is an article from the Food Institute that shows just how and where we stand on this issue.

Food-At-Home Price Inflation Seen As High As 6.5% This Year And 4.5% in 2009

Through the first 10 months of this year, food-at-home inflation stood at 6.3%. That's approaching the high end of USDA's projection of 5.5% to 6.5% for the entire year. In 2009, however, prices are forecast to increase between 3.5% and 4.5% for food-at-home, a bit less than projected one month ago, but still well above the minimal food inflation seen earlier this decade. Indeed, if realized, food-at-home prices will rise over 10% in just two years by the end of 2009.

Contributing to the decline in projected 2009 prices were reductions in price forecasts for all major center of the plate items - beef, pork, poultry, and seafood. Red meat and poultry are now seen climbing only as much as 3.5% next year, and seafood only as much as 4.0%. Lower grain and feed prices is a major factor here. Once again, prices for all major food categories are seen advancing again in 2009.

Higher food prices have met with consumer resistance however, as food expenditures in the third quarter of this year fell for the first time in nearly six years. In the third quarter of this year, consumer expenditures for food declined for the first time since 2002, dropping 2.0% from the second quarter. This is also the largest month to month decline reported since records began being recorded in 1947.


Notice the emphatic use of words like "only as much as 3.5%" and "only as much as 4.0%"? Folks, if you don't think the danger signs are everywhere for us to see...just Google a phrase like Food Riots and be prepared to be shocked...

All I can say is I hope you are ready for what's coming over the hill at breakneck speed. Hell, I hope I'm ready for it !!

Well, at least for now I still have some coffee brewing...want to share a cup, my friend?

3 comments:

  1. My first thoght.. or Fear.. was echoed in your closing line; "...for now i still have..."

    how much longer WILL we have such major staples as coffee, bread, sucrose...
    thankfully there are many things self-sufficient folk can raise, reap, or otherwise garner on their own, but MAN the day i don't have access to a cuppa...
    THEN the others will truly know the meaning of 'Food Riot'!!!

    Heaven (apparently don't) forbid...

    Cygnus

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  2. Boy oh boy ... I dunno :(
    Seems everything at the grocery store doesn't go up by a nickel, it goes up in 50 cent intervals.
    And yes, it sure does hurt the pocketbook these days.
    Thanks for the post Jim and of course the coffee :)
    C'ya in a bit
    blondie :))

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  3. Hey Cygnus...I can't imagine having to start my day without a cup of coffee. I'm aafraid that's when I would turn mean...

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Hey Blondie...how true it is that we as average people are starting to feel the sting of higher food prices. And it looks to get worse before it gets better.

    Appreciate the visit this morning...

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