Products Are Shrinking

Tools

Story Published: Jun 12, 2008 at 5:40 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 9:35 PM MST

By Jennifer McGraw

Video

There's a reason why you may be returning to the grocery store more often.

Ever wonder why that bag of chips didn't last as long, or why packaging seems a little bit smaller. It's because it is.

Jennifer McGraw: Beware of shrinking sizes. Two years ago this bag was actually 12 ounces, now reduced to nine and three-quarters. So you are actually getting less for what you are paying for."

Sticker shock makes people spend less, and forces companies to get a little more creative, change packaging.

Donna Higley, (Broulim's Store Manager): "As far as some of our chips, as far as butter, different areas that they have increased as far as ounce size."

Although the cost remains the same, you're actually not getting the same quantity.

The driving force behind down sizing is that costs are way up.
Egg prices rose 44 percent from last year, corn rose 69 percent, and wheat topped it off by rising 96 percent.

Heather Bowcutt, (Shelley Resident): "It's expensive to buy groceries. Really expensive."

Here are some items to look out for:
Breyers ice cream has downsized from 1.75 a quart to 1.5.
Hellmann's mayonnaise was 32 ounces and now it's only 30.
Dial soap bars were 4.5 ounces down to 4 ounces.
Even your paper towels aren't stretching as far because they held back on eight towels.

Even with the increase in food, people still need to eat.

Deanna Kremin, (Basalt Resident): "A lot of times the only thing I buy is what's on sale."

Consumers are even saving money on gas by carpooling to the grocery store.

Rochelle Campbell, (Basalt Resident): "I think we are more careful of what we buy. We use a list instead of impulse buying."

Companies say they are not hiding anything, just trying to keep costs down.

Here are some tips:
The next time you go to the grocery store, bring along a list, coupons and price out those ounces.

Current Weather

Current Temp 31.0 °F

Fair

Video

More Weather

Current Weather

More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.