how much groceries have increased in price recently? ~ especially produce? ~ the line here is that the up-tick in cost is due to weather conditions, which I'm sure is at least partially true ~ pasta is a staple for me ~ and I know many who include "craft beers" on their own lists of staples ~ Sooz

Stock Up on Spaghetti: Pasta Prices Are on the Rise
Eater | Khushbu Shah | 2 days ago

This might be the perfect time to test out that low-carb diet you've always wanted to try.

Pasta is about to cost more dough: According to the New York Times, this year's harvest of durum wheat — the kind that is used to make pasta — is the smallest it has been in 13 years. The global durum crop "is down 12 percent from a year ago."

Pasta makers will face their highest production costs in four years, which means consumers will soon have to shell out more for a box of noodles. Italian customers will be hit the hardest: On average, they eat nearly 60 pounds of pasta per person a year. In the United States, consumers knock back around 19.4 pounds of pasta per person per year.

Pasta isn't the only food facing a price hike due to a small harvest. This year craft beer lovers are feeling a pinch too thanks to a small barley harvest in Canada. The country is the world's second-largest exporter of malting barley and this year, it harvested its smallest crop since 1968.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/stock-up-on-spaghetti-pasta-prices-are-on-the-rise/ar-BBdkk3q

On the other hand gasoline is getting cheaper by the day for your trip to the grocery store!

Let me put it this way. 5 years ago, we would spend around $100 every two weeks. Now we spend $100+ every week.

lol jab, good way to look on the bright side!

Market forces or corporatism?

Obama is behind all of this!