Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, it feels like we’re hearing about a new circumstance leading to discontinued or out-of-stock items every day. And lately, it’s due to a whirlwind of factors—from natural disasters to COVID-19 spread to political unrest to unmet consumer demand.
It’s inevitable that shortages in these grocery products will also lead to higher prices. Inflation in grocery stores is becoming worrisome, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for March 2022 finding an 8.5% increase in the index for all items, the largest 12-month increase seen since May 1981.
