12 minutes ago, bbko said:

I started noticing this practice with M&Ms a few years ago, same price/fewer M&Ms.  Then I heard there's a name for this sneaky practice, "Shrinkflation".

 

In economics, shrinkflation is the practice of reducing the size or quantity of a product while the price of the product remains the same.

M&M's? Really? Measure of the Market M&M's?  The world is doomed !

8 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Yes ! Also apparent gaps in supply, its in stock,sells out, them may not be back for weeks with some items.

Made me buy it if you see it with some items  because you dont know when it will return.

 

Totally agree, last week when we went to Makro, ended up buying a 5.3 litre freezer to stock up as we have been doing since the pandemic started, that said Makro is an hour up the road and an hour back.

 

With a large family I found we would be doing the weekly trek, even with 2 fridges, the freezer compartments can only hold so much, but this freezer now is great, I also hear they are cheap to run.  

 

I love Aussie beef mince and its a hit and miss whenever we go, sometimes for a month can't get any, but this time I took the lot, seven packs of a kilo each, and instead of buying two packs of frozen chips for the kids, it's now a dozen and still plenty of room in the freezer, half a dozen loafs of bread, half a dozen pork spare ribs and the list went on, walked out with a 13,000 baht bill and that didn't include the freezer, no doubt will be saving on my future petrol bills.

 

I am afraid the shortages will continue for a good 3-6 months, so stocking up on imports is the way to go and for those who missed out on the Aussie beef mince, what can I say, 1st in best dressed ????

 

9 hours ago, dinga said:

With packeted goods, have also noticed the serves are much smaller when the price remains the same.

 

I remember inflation in the '70s/'80s - fear we're headed there again

 

 

I can remember inflation  in the 70-80s well ,I can also remember the interest rates, in 78 I got my first mortgage, and I  was paying 16% ,but the other side of the coin I was getting 10% on my mega savings in the building society .

As I see it, governments when inflation takes off they put up interest rates ,which I can not  see that happening , as  most governments are reluctant to do that ,it will slow down growth, so we will have to put up with inflation ?

But I would say for most farangs here in Thailand ,where we are more savers than spenders ,a rise in interest rates would be nice,  that about 0.5% on my 800k in the  bank is not anywhere near what  inflation is .

'Tis a wonder why you folks seem to be struggling under a cloud of angst. 

Take a good look at your lifestyle and consumer habits.

It is still fairly inexpensive here but wait until the demand picks up and possible supply issues occur you could see prices double on some foods/goods.  That 40 b noodle bowl could well be 70 or 80 b by this time next year.  

10 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Totally agree, last week when we went to Makro, ended up buying a 5.3 litre freezer to stock up as we have been doing since the pandemic started, that said Makro is an hour up the road and an hour back.

 

With a large family I found we would be doing the weekly trek, even with 2 fridges, the freezer compartments can only hold so much, but this freezer now is great, I also hear they are cheap to run.  

 

I love Aussie beef mince and its a hit and miss whenever we go, sometimes for a month can't get any, but this time I took the lot, seven packs of a kilo each, and instead of buying two packs of frozen chips for the kids, it's now a dozen and still plenty of room in the freezer, half a dozen loafs of bread, half a dozen pork spare ribs and the list went on, walked out with a 13,000 baht bill and that didn't include the freezer, no doubt will be saving on my future petrol bills.

 

I am afraid the shortages will continue for a good 3-6 months, so stocking up on imports is the way to go and for those who missed out on the Aussie beef mince, what can I say, 1st in best dressed ????

 

If you really like your beef mince buy a full topside or outside (rump) and mince it yourself. I bought an amazing little mincer online for under 2000 baht from Central online, 2 year warranty. The mincers they use at Makro are awful for beef. Comes out chewy and stringy. Are you buying pre pack Aussie beef mince? Minced in Australia or by Makro themselves?

I don't know if it is Chiang Mai. But in Makro Australia sirloin used to be 5??/kilo now it is 759/kilo up over 200 baht per kilo since last year. A few other things have double in price also. I was here last month and big C had pork on sale special offer 199/ kilo this week it at a normal price of 139/kilo

Prices always go up and of course short supply and covid big factors but this started occurring about a year before Covid. One of the strengths of Thailand's economy has been its extremely low inflation. I imagine it needs to be this way with low income earners on the basic wage that never seems to increase. These people would be lucky to have 100-200 baht to spend on food a day. When you think about it, a low income workers wage around 8000-10000 a month. 200 baht a day for food is 6000 baht per month. Doesn't leave a lot for rent, fuel etc. No wonder they are so obsessed with money. And in this we must be talking about 60-80% of the population.

 

In the first 4 or 5 years I lived here the basics were cheap and prices never seemed to change. If you wanted to eat imported food yes it was and always has been expensive, but the staples were cheap and consistent in price. I cook mostly myself and if I went and bought foreign food at a restaurant everyday it would be expensive, but the ingredients are not. As someone mentioned a bowl of noodle soup or plate of Thai food I think now is the same price as it would have been 8 years ago. But most of the ingredients are not. Electricity seemed to jump hugely last 2 years. The price per kw doesn't seem to suggest it but my bills sure do. Cost of fuel. With a disparity between inflation and wages, and the country must be hurting terribly now with this pandemic in every sense.... I imagine something has to give. 

 

I wonder when they discuss Western tourists as a small unimportant part of the pie I wonder if they take into account all of the black money going through the bars, sponsor money back to the villages.....guys indirectly buying vehicles, homes here. Must have left a huge hole in things and lets face it Chinese and Indians aren't considered big spenders

4 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Are you buying pre pack Aussie beef mince? Minced in Australia or by Makro themselves

Yes, and I would assume it's pre packed from Oz. The brand is CAG 100% Australian Beef, best I have had in a long time.

 

What I have found with Makro is that the only have limited amounts of Oz beef, but bucket loads of Thai beef, so I would imagine they try to push their product which I wouldn't give to a dog, if I had one.

6 minutes ago, arick said:

I don't know if it is Chiang Mai. But in Makro Australia sirloin used to be 5??/kilo now it is 759/kilo up over 200 baht per kilo since last year. A few other things have double in price also. I was here last month and big C had pork on sale special offer 199/ kilo this week it at a normal price of 139/kilo

I don't know if you can get it up your way, but there is a Thai/French place in Sakon Nakhon that sends their meat around the country and it is right up there with Australian meat in my opinion, as for the price last I checked it was pretty much on par with Oz as well.

 

Betagro Pork chops in Big C are really good if you can get them, if I can't get them there, I go to Betagro or Lotus.

1 minute ago, 4MyEgo said:

I don't know if you can get it up your way, but there is a Thai/French place in Sakon Nakhon that sends their meat around the country and it is right up there with Australian meat in my opinion, as for the price last I checked it was pretty much on par with Oz as well.

 

Betagro Pork chops in Big C are really good if you can get them, if I can't get them there, I go to Betagro or Lotus.

I live in Chiayaphum I will be back in a few days from Chiang mai. So I will be able to catch and cook my own chicken slaughter my own cows and pigs harvest my own rice and sugar. Sell fish from my pond. Pick fruit from my trees go mushroom hunting on the mountain. 555  I haven't heard a rooster here in Chiang Mai since have been here. PM the link for the place Sakon Nakhon. 

13 hours ago, Olmate said:

Says who

Oh dear, Sherlock

41 minutes ago, arick said:

I live in Chiayaphum I will be back in a few days from Chiang mai. So I will be able to catch and cook my own chicken slaughter my own cows and pigs harvest my own rice and sugar. Sell fish from my pond. Pick fruit from my trees go mushroom hunting on the mountain. 555  I haven't heard a rooster here in Chiang Mai since have been here. PM the link for the place Sakon Nakhon. 

Goodonya.

 

The name of the place is Pon Yang Kham, you can Google it or type their name into your Facebook search engine and it will take you to them.

 

Phone: 042 704 677

22 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

It stinks, but count your blessings.....

 

I left the States 10 days ago. Had been back there for 4 months. Prices have gone crazy. Box of eggs at Walmart was $2.99. Now $7.49. Many of the aisles are half empty. Beef was sporadic and sparse and has gone up at least 20% in this year.

 

It's only going to get worse.....

 

Worldwide.

I mostly shop at Big C in Pattaya. I have noticed regular increases in many products. But the eggs fluctuate a lot.. 85- 105 baht per tray of 30 .yesterday, I paid 87 baht.. Lots of bakery products get regular increases.. I don't ever buy meat or chicken. Some of the fruit is expensive.. 

13 hours ago, Nojohndoe said:

M&M's? Really? Measure of the Market M&M's?  The world is doomed !

First they came for the Skittles, and I did not speak out—
     Because I don't buy Skittles.

Then they came for Hershey Kisses, and I did not speak out—
     Because I don't buy them often.

Then they came for the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was hoping to lose weight

Then they came for the M&Ms—and I was too late, they went from 20 pieces to 15 per bag ????

22 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

It stinks, but count your blessings.....

 

I left the States 10 days ago. Had been back there for 4 months. Prices have gone crazy. Box of eggs at Walmart was $2.99. Now $7.49. Many of the aisles are half empty. Beef was sporadic and sparse and has gone up at least 20% in this year.

 

It's only going to get worse.....

 

Worldwide.

That's odd. I'm always a bit suspicious of people bashing USA or when they claim we are so lucky to live here.

 

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Large-White-Eggs-18-Count/172844767?athbdg=L1200

 

.

14 minutes ago, Pravda said:

22 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

It stinks, but count your blessings.....

 

I left the States 10 days ago. Had been back there for 4 months. Prices have gone crazy. Box of eggs at Walmart was $2.99. Now $7.49. Many of the aisles are half empty. Beef was sporadic and sparse and has gone up at least 20% in this year.

 

It's only going to get worse.....

 

Worldwide.

That's odd. I'm always a bit suspicious of people bashing USA or when they claim we are so lucky to live here.

 

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Large-White-Eggs-18-Count/172844767?athbdg=L1200

 

.

Allow me to allay your unwarranted suspicions from which you derived your false accusation......

 

Note that in my post, I used the word 'box' not 'carton.'

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Large-White-Eggs-60-Count/193637719

 

 

He11, they've gone up since I left there on the 15th......

 

And it's not bashing, it's the listing of factual information. 

7 minutes ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

.

Allow me to allay your unwarranted suspicions from which you derived your false accusation......

 

Note that in my post, I used the word 'box' not 'carton.'

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Large-White-Eggs-60-Count/193637719

 

 

He11, they've gone up since I left there on the 15th......

 

And it's not bashing, it's the listing of factual information. 

 

That box used to sell for 2.99? How are we in any way so lucky to live in Thailand? Even at 8 bucks it's a great price.

I ordered my Butterball Christmas turkey from a small shop in Pattaya that specialises in farang foods way back in mid-September already. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the global supply chain problems don't gobble it up, lol!

13 minutes ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

.

Allow me to allay your unwarranted suspicions from which you derived your false accusation......

 

Note that in my post, I used the word 'box' not 'carton.'

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Large-White-Eggs-60-Count/193637719

 

 

He11, they've gone up since I left there on the 15th......

 

And it's not bashing, it's the listing of factual information. 

Four months ago you were getting a box of 60 eggs for $2.99?  

On global level, the price of oil has risen as producers scaled back in line with demand from a covid shrunken economy and have currently not returned to pre-covid levels. 

On a local level, migrant workers are in short supply.

Seasonally, it is a difficult, and still largely, unrewarding time to grow vegetables, the increased prices profit those further along the supply chain than the farmer.

Lastly, no one will thank me for saying it but in general terms food prices are too low. Governments, particularly China and the USA, know this which is why they heavily subsidise them. A hungry population is an discontented one, which no government wants.   

1 minute ago, bbko said:

Four months ago you were getting a box of 60 eggs for $2.99?  

.

 

No, I think when I got back to the States they were in the $4 range. 

 

But, when I left the States in December of last year, however, yes, they were $2.99. 

 

The thick applewood-smoked bacon I liked that went with the eggs was $7 a pack last December, and Publix regularly had buy-one-get-one sales. That pack, this month, is $13. And I don't see any specials on those.

 

The specials I see are numerous, but are on non-essentials: TVs, etc.....

 

22 hours ago, toofarnorth said:

I did notice lettuce has gone up and I think that is just the tip if the Iceberg.

Do you think it will romaine expensive?    Cos I think if you leaf it alone it will just find its own  price level, and in the endi've an idea that people will still pay whatever for it because salads are so healthy..????

On 10/25/2021 at 11:00 AM, clivebaxter said:

waiting for the tax reduction on wines spirits, when is that meant to happen?

waiting for that, have gone teetotaling 

What do you expect now, this is predicted after the CP-group owns everything in LOS, even the Makro, long time ago Dutch owned, but now also belongs to the CP.

Believe me, they get richer and richer on your and my back.

21 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

waiting for that, have gone teetotaling 

waiting for the tax reduction on wines spirits, when is that meant to happen?

 

I have given up on that supposed price reduction on wines, and now I'm just about to celebrate my 74th birthday, I decided to treat myself from here on in and buy only good quality wine, with just the occasional swigger thrown in!!!

 

After all the saying is, "life is too short to drink bad wine".

 

On another subject mentioned above somewhere, my local Makro here in Patong does have promotions on Aussie tenderloin beef (Harveys) and it is exceedingly cheap (and delicious), and I've also found that the Thai/French minced beef is great for chili con carne and similar.

 

1 minute ago, Peterphuket said:

What do you expect now, this is predicted after the CP-group owns everything in LOS, even the Makro, long time ago Dutch owned, but now also belongs to the CP.

Believe me, they get richer and richer on your and my back.

 

 

Stop whining and just stop shopping there.

 

 Makro Siam was never fully owned by SHV, Siam Makro Holding was a joint venture between CP/SMV with CP buying out SHV's holding in 2013.

 

 

They have been getting rich for many years  - I doubt that offended when you were buying cheap meat and dairy producys from MAKRO.

Shop st your local market easily half price from Big c etc . Still lots more expensive there too .Balcony hydroponic farm ? 

Thai Baht is decreasing, your currency goes up. Do you think, things get cheaper here?

32 minutes ago, bbko said:

First they came for the Skittles, and I did not speak out—
     Because I don't buy Skittles.

Then they came for Hershey Kisses, and I did not speak out—
     Because I don't buy them often.

Then they came for the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was hoping to lose weight

Then they came for the M&Ms—and I was too late, they went from 20 pieces to 15 per bag ????

And still you have not come to understand "they" were working in your dietary interests? Oh shame ! lol