Have you noticed that your grocery bills have been climbing through the roof lately? Well, you’re not the only one feeling the pinch. With prices soaring, it’s tough to ignore the hit our wallets are taking every time we shop. But just how drastic has this increase been? Interestingly, it took a TikTok from Dakota Neifert, aka @sewerlidd (they/he), to put things into shocking perspective.
In a revealing post, Neifert shared a comparison of their Walmart shopping bills that left many followers stunned. They discovered an old receipt from 2022 while scrolling through their Walmart order history. “45 items cost $126,” they recalled, highlighting how affordable their monthly groceries once were. The order also showed a receipt for ’53 items received’ which amounted to $126.67.
@sewerlidd
Curious about the current prices, Neifert decided to replicate the order. The result? “Now? This order of 45 items for one month would’ve cost $414. That is four times more,” they explained in a follow-up video. The price hike left Neifert and many others feeling frustrated and helpless, as Neifert admitted, “I feel like I’m gonna be sick.”
The plight resonated with many, as comments poured in with personal stories of skyrocketing food costs. “I used to spend $180 for two weeks for my family of four and the dog. I am now spending upwards of $430 and trying to figure out what else I can cut. Sorry kids, you don’t get barbecue sauce,” one user lamented.
Another thankful user added, “Thank you for sharing this. Now I feel a little less gaslit about the grocery prices because it HAS gone crazy and it’s NOT just me!”
Neifert also theorized that companies might be exploiting the public’s distraction during the pandemic to incrementally raise food prices. “They’re making it worse and worse, but just so subtly that you barely notice, y’know. Freakin’ frogs in the pot of boiling water,” they commented, suggesting a gradual but relentless increase.
But what do the official figures say? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there was an average increase in food-at-home prices by about 5 percent last year compared to 2022. This might seem mild compared to the jump from 2021 to 2022, which saw an increase of 11.4 percent.
The USDA explained the reasons behind the recent hikes, noting on their website, “Food prices rose partly due to a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak that affected egg and poultry prices, along with the conflict in Ukraine, which compounded other economy-wide inflationary pressures such as high energy costs.”
So, whether it’s flu-stricken chickens or broader economic turmoil, the reality is biting—our grocery bills are not what they used to be. And while the reasons may be complex, the impact on everyday shopping is simple and harsh. How much more can our budgets stretch? Only time will tell.