Rising food prices keep hitting Oyster Bay hard

Everyone going to the grocery store recently have noticed the steep rise in prices, whether buying essentials, like meats and dairy, pet food or seafood. The question is, why is this happening, and what are people doing to combat it?

Rising inflation has been a serious problem across the nation for the last few months. According to the Consumer Price Index, which measures the change over time in the prices of consumer goods, this inflation has largely been driven by wide-ranging gains in energy, food and shelter across the country.

“I’ve definitely noticed the rise in prices, both at the supermarket and at the gas pump,” Sandra Graham, president of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, said. “Even before Covid, I noticed the cost of a week of groceries just kept creeping up, and now it’s even worse.”

Although prices across the board have been on the rise for a while now, it’s really been in the last year that it has truly intensified. Overall, the average cost of food increased by 7.4 percent from January 2021 to this past January, according to the CPI. The price of some staple foodstuffs, like meat, fish, poultry and eggs, went up by as much as 12.2 percent, a record number which people couldn’t help but notice.

“Meat and eggs cost way more now,” Paula O’Rourke-Bracken, an Oyster Bay resident and retiree, said. “If we had teenage boys right now, I can’t even imagine.”

The cost of pet food has also dramatically increased, causing consumers to stock up on it, leaving shelves bare.

“Cat food has been impossible to find,” Jennifer Karow, of Oyster Bay said. “And when you can find it, the prices have basically doubled.”

“It’s out of control. I just passed through the cat food aisle, and it was empty,” agreed Bayville resident Joanne Hutchins. “I have a dog, and I can’t find my Rachael Ray Nutrish. I literally just grabbed the last one.”

These rising prices have had a major impact on the hamlet. After two years of Covid, the last thing people say they needed was a food price increase.

“This is really going to affect the blue-collar workers … and small businesses,” said Peter Karras, of Oyster Bay, who works in the beverage industry. “Delis — places that have to buy from distributors like Lays or Boar’s Head … sandwiches could go from $5 to $8. Then it will be like people are buying an extra two sandwiches a week.”

“With these rising prices, there’s going to be less money going into the mom-and-pop shops, which have already dwindled,” Kathleen Warren, a longtime Oyster Bay resident, said. “This could push people out of the town, or even the state, which is terrible for the community.”

The high cost of goods has led many people to seek creative ways to save money, from online shopping to eating leftovers more often or even changing their diets entirely.

“I usually do the online pickup now, so I know what prices are before I buy them, rather than impulse buying what’s on sale,” Karow said.

“I’ve had to stop buying dog food and started making my own,” she continued. “We’ve been cooking at home way more … not buying anything in excess and making sure nothing goes to waste.”

“I try to make food that lasts longer,” O’Rourke-Bracken said. “I’m making more soups, meatloaf, things that last for a few days. We’re not buying lamb chops or any of the more expensive meats.”

Hopefully, the Federal Reserve will find a way to curb inflation and the subsequent food price increases, soon. Until then, shoppers will have to keep buying smart, saving money, and do their best to get through these troubling times.