Consumers track inflation by watching the price tags on the shelf. Retailers know that crossing a specific price threshold causes shoppers to abandon a product entirely. To protect their sales volume, food manufacturers employ a subtle pricing strategy known as shrinkflation. Instead of raising the retail price from $4 to $5, the company redesigns the packaging. They reduce the physical volume of the food inside the container while keeping the price exactly at $4. The shopper feels like they are paying the same amount, but the actual cost per ounce increases significantly. This hidden inflation forces families to buy groceries more frequently. Here are 6 foods that feel pricier because packages got smaller.
