So I went to the grocery store (a supermart uh-huh) today

[moniss]

and because it is cold weather I thought a slow cooker meal would be a good idea. So I went looking through the meat case for a chuck roast. They had some around 2-3 lbs. They looked more like a 50/50 sort of deal. 50% fat and 50% meat. But I left them in the meat case anyway when I saw that these horrible looking cuts of meat were priced at $10.79 lb. Beef crisis indeed.

So I moved my slow cooker desires to pork and cabbage. The pork section had pork steak at $4.79 lb. which is about $1.80 lb. higher than in the spring/summer time frame. Fortunately there were two packs of pork steak that were 45% off because today was the sell by date. So I have a little over 3lbs. of pork steak I had better eat in a hurry.

But a couple of days ago I was at my local, slightly upscale grocer to get their excellent deals on excellent produce and again their fresh meat and seafood counter was abandoned by customers with only one or two cruising by just looking as they moved along. Last year, and for years actually, this counter was always busy and they are located in an upscale suburb. I know I don't belong there but I suffer the disapproving looks and take my things quickly and leave. But seriously the lack of business at their fresh meat/seafood counter demonstrates pretty clearly that even the upscale folks living in the fancy suburban high 6 figure+ homes are balking at the prices.

It is a great quality and variety at the upscale store fresh meat/seafood counter but porterhouse steak was pushing $24 lb and probably after making the mortgage payment, multiple car payments, payments on multiple snowmobiles and ATV's, payments on the vacation home "up north", tuition payments, alimony payments, child support payments, insurance premium payments on all of the vehicles and toys, payments for a big monthly streaming/phone plan and who knows what else there is no longer room for the price at the upscale really good fresh meat/seafood counter.

Those folks will be over by me pretty quick at my grocery store giving me competition for who gets the 45% off pork first. I may be old and slow moving but I can be mean as hell when I'm going for a bargain.

[cachukis]

1. Nice tell.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Ditto

I keep posting about stockouts, scarcity, but don't get much reply. Frozen fish is 1/2 what it was in the summer. Closeouts you have to know the right time of day. I located a large london broil because of the discount stickers, it was about 2.75 pounds at 50% off and still around $17. Not my cuppa tea unless I chop it into 4 ounce portions.

I did not find any ravioli in national discount chain nor in Walmart. Euro full service had a couple brands but one was house and I generally find their products lacking, and another brand I'd never heard of and it was not cheap. I was really looking for Celantano. I didn't make it to Aldi but I don't like their brand either.

Sardines remain scarce, much reduced brand and shelf space. I bought a giant can of Iberia brand though I am scared that they're not sold in California. I didn't find any of the small frozen dinner items - pot pies and the like. I think everyone has bought out the cheaper products.

To complicate matters in the meat supply, Ketogenic diets are the rage. That helps explain the sardine scarcity, plus a lot come from Europe which is said to be overfished. Moroccan 'dines rocketing in price was a French article early this week.

The fact that premium cuts are on closeout indicates demand is slacking at high price points. And this is the time of year when new harvests of everything should be entering the store. 40% of the store is carbs.

[moniss]

5. Yes indeed and the upscale store

I go to for produce also has fresh made quiche and shepherd's pie. Usually too high priced but if you catch it right it is marked 75% off on the last sell by date. So you get a big 10 inch diameter shepherd's pie for less than $4.00 and it's good for two meals. Broccoli quiche the same. Timing can be everything they say. I agree with you about sardines and King Oscar has been hit or miss in a lot of places. The super discount sardines are just hideous so I never buy those. Good herring is high right now.

I'm connecting my timing more to local harvest and cabbage, squash, carrots, potatoes and apples are all plentiful by me right now.

[Aussie105]

3. Wife is vegan and I'm a reluctant follower.

I look at the meat prices here in Australia, shelves and shelves of it, with no one looking, and when I see the prices I know why.
Even the low value meat - sausages and rissoles - are up there.

Chicken prices are still affordable, but on the up and up.

Eating healthy (vegetables) and saving money. What is not to like?

[Skittles]

7. what's not to like?

eating vegetables

I don't care if you deep-fry the damned things, I hate them

[niyad]

4. Your last sentence is perfect. There are reasons for my sharp claws

and large purse!!!

[joanbarnes]

6. My store is remodeling...again. The markdown aisle is gone. It was always packed with 'browsers.'

[Beckett]

8. Seitan is great in the slow cooker and very inexpensive