1 week Ago By Mariah Ellis
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Shoppers across central North Carolina said they're feeling the weight of higher costs.
Joel Robinson, shopping for groceries in Raleigh Thursday morning said he’s spent more time looking for sales and planning before making a grocery list."Prices are going up by," he said. "Milk, eggs especially have gone up substantially.
Even just canned food, bread, meats, and dairy. Everything like that seems to be really going up.""For me as a college student, it makes you wonder what else am I going to have to budget this month?" Robinson said.
Judi Mensah of Fuquay-Varina told CBS 17 News that she’s avoided shopping for groceries, altogether."Honestly, I've been avoiding the grocery store," she said. "This is my first time after three months.
I didn't want to spend money I didn't have."From inflation to concerns over possible tariffs leading to fluctuating prices on foreign goods, consumers are nervous. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported major food groups, including meats, poultry, and fish have increased month-to-month.
The bird flu has also been a major factor driving the cost of eggs up about 60% since last year.RELATED: As national egg prices spike, Raleigh shoppers finding eggs below national costsAccording to Robert Handfield, a supply chain management professor at North Carolina State University, families are feeling the impact."It's very much of a moving chessboard right now, so we don't we don't really know how all of this will land," he said.
"The Trump Administration has put a 90 day pause on the tariffs, except for China. Anything produced in China is going to have a price increase almost immediately."According to Handfield, several factors are putting shoppers and families on a squeezed budget.
Prices are even fluctuating at the pump.“The gas prices are a function of global oil prices," he said. "Those are also a function of the global economy, which is in a state of chaos right now.
"It is hard on the average, working class family," Handfield continued. "Families are already on a stretched budget, even if both parents are working. If the tariffs are going through and I think a lot of them will, it's going to impact theme.
"Going back to school is going to be tough this year because everything's going to be up. Backpacks, pens, binders, all of that stuff is made in China."To help save on grocery items, Handfield recommends buying certain items in bulk (items that won’t go bad quickly), shopping early in the week when shelves are stocked and deals are announced, and purchasing items grown and produced locally.
"If you go to farmer's markets, you're buying local," Handfield said. "You're getting fresh fruit and vegetables and their produce locally. They're going to be priced appropriately.
"Where you start to see the impact of tariffs, anything that is grown in Mexico, like avocados, is a big one," he continued. "Unfortunately, we've already seen an increase in those."A recent report from Wallet Hub said ways to save include the following:Sticking to your grocery listPlanning out mealsUtilizing coupons (could save an average family $5-$10 a week)Buying in-season produceChopping your own fruits and vegetablesChoosing generic products over name brands (can save consumers up to 20%)Buying in bulk (but avoiding items that will go bad quickly)Signing up for your store’s loyalty program for additional discountsAvoiding grocery items at eye level (items at eye-level are almost 80% more than products on the bottom shelf)Handfield said negotiations and fluctuations continue to impact prices.
Being prepared and aware can help families stay ahead."If you're looking to make any big purchases like a vehicle or a house, it's probably better to do it sooner as opposed to later before those tariffs kick in again," he said..
