Market Basket Survey Shows Lower Prices for Groceries in Wisconsin
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 -- 8:11 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -It appears that consumers are starting to see the effects of the lower commodity and energy prices while shopping at the grocery store.The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation released its latest Market Basket Survey on Monday, which showed that the average price of 16 basic food items in 28 communities totaled $49.70 during the first three months of 2016. That was down $3.67 from the previous report issued last October, and $2.26 less than year-ago price averages. WFBF Spokesman Casey Langan says most food items were consistent in price, but had some upward pressure on products like meat, milk and eggs.
Unlike the poultry business, which can repopulate its flocks with a relatively quick turnaround, Langan says the beef industry is slowly growing in size after a period of reduced supplies. The Farm Bureau says only three items have seen consecutive price increases, including Cheerios, boneless chicken breast and orange juice. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's Marketbasket report was about $3.58 less than the American Farm Bureau Federation's national survey of the same items. AFBF's report rang in at $53.28. Some communities surveyed included Eau Claire, Marshfield, Medford, Thorp and more.
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