Sticker shock is not only an issue while shopping for a vehicle these days, but Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says inflation and the messed up supply chain is also hitting hard at the grocery store.
“Meat, fish and poultry are up 19 percent, cereal and baked goods are up seven percent and fruits and vegetables are up six percent,” said Strain. And, Strain says that’s compared to year-ago prices.
Strain says, for now, the price hikes seen almost everywhere, are the new normal, but suggests prices are expected to reverse course in the long term as the pandemic eases further and supply chain problems are addressed.
Strain says that inflation has really taken a hit on power alternatives and transportation. For example, he says, “energy costs of up 49.6 percent, and that’s huge. And, the other thing eating into your budget, new vehicle prices, if you can get one, are up 12 percent.” As for used car prices, Strain says they are up a whopping 58 percent.
Strain says there are factors involved, also because of inflation and supply chain problems, that are certain to keep food prices higher for a while. “If you’ve seen the cost of what we call inputs, fertilizer, chemicals, fuel going into next year’s crop it’s going to drive this forward, unfortunately,” said Strain.
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