shops making hay while the prices go up

Brie

I'm trying to buy as directly from producers as I can.  I've got a guy I can get meat, eggs, bacon, sausages from and prices have only gone up slightly in the last couple of years.  He'll even deliver for free (which was handy during covid)  Likewise I've discovered a farm that sells direct to the public - the vegetable quality is excellent as he's only picking what he can sell so it's spot on fresh.  There's a local network of milk machines which sell a litre of the best milk possible at about 2/3 what the shops sell it for.   There's no extra mark up because there's no "middlemen".

Rosa_Damascena

Brie said:

I'm trying to buy as directly from producers as I can.  I've got a guy I can get meat, eggs, bacon, sausages from and prices have only gone up slightly in the last couple of years.  He'll even deliver for free (which was handy during covid)  Likewise I've discovered a farm that sells direct to the public - the vegetable quality is excellent as he's only picking what he can sell so it's spot on fresh.  There's a local network of milk machines which sell a litre of the best milk possible at about 2/3 what the shops sell it for.   There's no extra mark up because there's no "middlemen".

@Brie - your post intrigued me! To the extent I looked up the network of Milk Machines: https://www.easyfarmshop.co.uk/find-a-milk-vending-machine-near-me/ , and found the closest one to me actually held an open day today to celebrate the farm's birthday! It's a short diversion on my route to work, and as it closes at 6pm gives me an incentive to leave work well before my usual finish.

Brie

@Rosa_Damascena the only problem with the milk machines is that the milk is so very good I end up drinking quite a lot of it!!!

EasyToAssemble01

Farway said:

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Apparently, there's supposed to be a government enquiry into price gouging. Personally, I think it's a bit of both. Supermarkets trying to stay ahead of the curve, whilst the government blames the supermarkets, for a situation it helped create (and also never bothered to regulate food security, before the situation spiralled out of control).

Don't you just love small-state, free-market economics........

Like they say about many things, the alternative is worse

One could try the top down planned approach like the Soviet Union, Zimbabwe or Venezuela

The alternative? What: investment, regulation, and not playing casino economics? That alternative?

Only those with a limited understanding of the how and whys of our current economic malfunctioning think the only alternatives are "good" or "CoMunIzM".

A._Badger

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Farway said:

EasyToAssemble01 said:

Apparently, there's supposed to be a government enquiry into price gouging. Personally, I think it's a bit of both. Supermarkets trying to stay ahead of the curve, whilst the government blames the supermarkets, for a situation it helped create (and also never bothered to regulate food security, before the situation spiralled out of control).

Don't you just love small-state, free-market economics........

Like they say about many things, the alternative is worse

One could try the top down planned approach like the Soviet Union, Zimbabwe or Venezuela

The alternative? What: investment, regulation, and not playing casino economics? That alternative?

Only those with a limited understanding of the how and whys of our current economic malfunctioning think the only alternatives are "good" or "CoMunIzM".

A bit needlessly sneering wasn't it? 

Previous governments tried 'price controls', with predictably dire consequences.. If there is anything useful that government could do it would be to stop policies which cause inflation such as quantitative easing (aka money printing) and suicidal energy policies. 

Rosa_Damascena

There has been a recent recognition that supermarkets HAVE been creaming it off when it comes to fuel at the pump: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65601292

sleepymans

Of course the supermarkets are profiteering…..just concentrate on the increase in prices on what an average low income household NEED to buy….pasta, washing up liquid, toilet rolls, spread, bread, cheese, laundry and cleaning products etc…..all increasing way above the average inflation figure. We are being fleeced….as ever

Bradden

Rosa_Damascena said:

There has been a recent recognition that supermarkets HAVE been creaming it off when it comes to fuel at the pump: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65601292

Just because it's being investigated doesn't automatically mean they've been creaming it... 

If you read the detail in the link you posted:

CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell, said the watchdog recognised that "global factors" were behind many grocery price increases and said it had seen "no evidence at this stage of specific competition problems".

She added due to concerns about high prices, the CMA was "stepping up our work in the grocery sector to help ensure competition is working well and people can exercise choice with confidence".

mac.d

Bradden said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

There has been a recent recognition that supermarkets HAVE been creaming it off when it comes to fuel at the pump: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65601292

Just because it's being investigated doesn't automatically mean they've been creaming it... 

If you read the detail in the link you posted:

CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell, said the watchdog recognised that "global factors" were behind many grocery price increases and said it had seen "no evidence at this stage of specific competition problems".

She added due to concerns about high prices, the CMA was "stepping up our work in the grocery sector to help ensure competition is working well and people can exercise choice with confidence".

Except Rosa_Damascena specifically says when it comes to fuel at the pump. The article does indeed state "an investigation into the fuel market, which has already started, has found some supermarkets have increased margins on petrol and diesel".

Whereas the bit you've quoted relates to grocery prices.

Bradden

mac.d said:

Bradden said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

There has been a recent recognition that supermarkets HAVE been creaming it off when it comes to fuel at the pump: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65601292

Just because it's being investigated doesn't automatically mean they've been creaming it... 

If you read the detail in the link you posted:

CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell, said the watchdog recognised that "global factors" were behind many grocery price increases and said it had seen "no evidence at this stage of specific competition problems".

She added due to concerns about high prices, the CMA was "stepping up our work in the grocery sector to help ensure competition is working well and people can exercise choice with confidence".

Except Rosa_Damascena specifically says when it comes to fuel at the pump. The article does indeed state "an investigation into the fuel market, which has already started, has found some supermarkets have increased margins on petrol and diesel".

Whereas the bit you've quoted relates to grocery prices.

You are right..I was focused on the food pricing as the OP was complaining about that. I  can't argue with the fact that the margins for petrol have increased.although the reasons for this are unclear and are being investigated.