Do people recall when we first saw “shrinkflation” at our grocery stores? When the number of bagels in the bag were decreased from six to five, yet the price stayed the same? When toilet paper rolls became smaller? And we saw this with groceries throughout the store. We knew what was happening. Since our groceries are produced by only a few companies, they could all shrink products while keeping prices the same, and all rake in – and boast about – their profits. And we had little choice. We need food.

Well, that was just the first step. Once the pandemic arrived in 2020 and the supply chain was interrupted, many items we bought went up in price, and we understood that this made sense. But now, when we are four years out from supply chain problems, can’t we expect food prices to decrease? No. As food companies see that Americans are still purchasing their products, regardless of the high prices (we have to eat!), they see no reason to decrease prices. This is “greedflation.” Today, corporate profits for food companies are at an all-time high.

Biden’s policies did not create greedflation, food corporations did. What can we do about this? Spend time researching food prices to find the items that cost less. Buy food from local farmers. Work to break up the monopolies that control so much of our food production. Most importantly: Challenge anyone who is calling this inflation. It is greed, pure and simple.

Margo Donnis
South Portland

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