Huh, this bag feels lighter...

I've noticed a disturbing trend at the supermarket over the last couple of years, and I'm wondering how many of you have seen the same thing happening with the items you buy. The price that you and I pay for food is skyrocketing, but the way this change is being implemented is moderately deceptive. Here's how they do it:

-They keep the price of the item the same

-They keep the appearance of the packaging the same

-They cut the amount of food in the package down to a fraction of what it was previously, in some cases going so far as to double the cost of each unit of food

Apparently, that's all they need to do to drastically raise the price without freaking out the consumer. They make the (correct) assumption that most people will either not notice a difference, or will notice it - but for some reason, won't be too upset about the change as long as the package looks the same and the price stays the same. What does this say about us on a psychological level? Is our perception just that bad? Do we cling to the familiar so tightly that we're satisfied as long as something looks the same?

I'm sure some of you are thinking "This is just something in Pete's head that he's manufacturing by looking at one or two obscure products." That is not the case. I have specific examples. Off the top of my head, here are some changes I've seen in the groceries I buy:

Product                                               Price change             Packaging change           Old amount         New amount

Tyson grilled chicken breast               none                           none                                10 pieces              6 pieces
Nature's Promise banana chips         none                           none                                12 oz                     6 oz            
Golden Blossom honey                      none                           none                                12 oz                     8 oz
Emerald Mixed nuts                            none                           none                                12 oz                     9 oz
Nature's Promise sesame sticks       none                           none                                12 oz                     6 oz
ICBINB Buttery spray                          none                           none                                12 oz                     8 oz
Kraft Singles American cheese          none                           none                                24 slices               22 slices


There are more examples I've witnessed that I can't recall at this moment, but it's certainly not my imagination.

Here are some other specific examples of this phenomenon:


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/business/29shrink.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-06-11-shrinking-sizes_N.htm

http://modernsurvivalblog.com/survival-kitchen/food-price-inflation-hidden-in-packaging/

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/04/u-s-companies-shrink-packages-as-food-prices-rise/


How many of you have noticed the same thing happening with the food you buy? Do you have a strategy to deal with it? Do you think I'm blowing this out of proportion? Would you be more angry if they raised the price the equivalent amount, rather than doing this change with the amount of food in the package? If so, why do you think that is? In your opinion, is this simply corporate greed, or is it a matter of finite food resources?

Practices like this make me feel that even if minimum wage is raised, people in full-time, low-paying jobs will still be struggling exactly like they are now. Even if you are working a steady job, performing well, and getting raises periodically, you may be falling even further behind as your cost of living outpaces your increase of income. I just wonder how this situation will look in 2 years...in 5 years...or in a decade. At what point will people have to turn to some other means of survival, and what will that be?