Inflation has been in the news a lot recently and I’m really noticing it “in action” in supermarket prices including, or is it especially, at Trader Joe’s. Certainly you have noticed TJ’s prices on many items creeping up all the time? I am getting small sticker shocks now on a shopping run at TJ’s. Then when you hit Checkout and they all add up, a big sticker shock. All those “small” increases add up. I’m sure you are noticing in your food budget not going as far. I sure am. I’ve noticed price increases at TJ’s on so many products. Here are a few:
Ground turkey, which was $2.99 a pound for some time, was now $3.49. Another kind of ground turkey, which was $3.99 a pound, went up to $4.29. A pack of Pita was $1.29 for many years. Now it’s $1.59. Peanut Butter: $1.99 since I can remember…now $2.29. The always great deal on the Pane Italiano bread for 99 cents? Its now $1.29. Isn’t that about a 30% increase on this one item? The inflation rate supposedly in the US is around 5 per cent. So why a 30 per cent increase on this particular item !?!
TJ Peanut Butter – it was $1.99 forever. Then raised to $2.29. Then raised again to $2.49 (price as of aug 2021)
Organic Carrots – were 99 cents forever. Now $1.49 – a 50 per cent increase?! Wow.
We are seeing raises followed by raises in just a few months. So even what seem like “small increases” of 30-50 cents on many items add up by the time we get to the cash register to quite a few dollars. And we had already had some increases during Covid-19 due to shortages and supply chain issues….. As we know unfortunately it’s quite rare once something goes up in price that it ever goes down in price. What if anything can we consumers do? Do we have to just grin and bear it? Unfortunately I don’t have an answer or any magic solutions. All I know is it’s harder for us consumers at an especially bad time for many people. Are companies like Trader Joe’s taking advantage of inflation being in the news so much, and being opportunistic now about raising prices? Anyway I just thought I would put this out there if anyone wants to Comment about price increases at Trader Joe’s.
At least you can vent here, so feel free to do so in the COMMENTS section (please just keep them PG).
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
Aug 20, 2021 @ 21:32:43
Prices have gone up a lot & you say ” grin & bear it”. Peoples paycheck have not increased so why should everything else go up? When stores start loosing money because people canmot & will not pay these inflated prices. Big companies again only concerned about how much more they can keep raising prices not thinking of how much more business they will loose.
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Aug 24, 2021 @ 21:13:21
8 oz sunflower seeds $2.29 (was 99c)
3lb organic potato $3.29 (was 2.49)
Tortilla Chips – Chili & Lime $2.69 (was 2.49)
Prices compared to last week.
32nd street in Manhattan
They are playing with prices to see if they stick. Some items went up by a lot while others haven’t so i assume on average it went up with inflation which has gone up this year.
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Aug 30, 2021 @ 20:58:38
I understand that prices may have to increase but I REALLY resent the amount that TJ’s have increased! What about $.10 or $.20? Why so darned much!!!
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Sep 05, 2021 @ 19:47:54
Their “Just the Clusters” Maple Pecan granola went from $2.99, which it had been for years, to $4.49. That’s a 50% increase.
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Sep 06, 2021 @ 11:35:55
Outrageous!
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Sep 24, 2021 @ 19:23:54
I STOPPED shopping at TJs recently because of the massive greedy price increases. TJ’s is more expensive than Pavillions on many items now. They are actually out pricing WholeFoods.
You can have it, cause I have had it!
Try Sprouts, even Ralph’s is more economical.
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Oct 16, 2021 @ 16:00:29
Trader Joes “Reduced Guilt” Potato Chips were $1.99/8 oz bag, then they “reduced” the size to 7 oz. Now price is raised to $2.29 for 7 oz bag. And they’re not even good chips, extremely salty.
I started my exercise & diet regimen 3 months ago and removed chips, crackers, etc. from my diet. So Thank You capitalists Trader Joes. You helped my diet by jacking the price way up. I definitely won’t buy them again.
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Oct 27, 2021 @ 20:53:23
The prices in Meyars goats Milk went up from, $4.75 to $4.99.
It’s breaking my heart. I did some online searching and found walmart sells that same milk at $4.14
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Oct 27, 2021 @ 20:56:37
I also wanted to add the price of eggs, chicken, beef have also shot up. Previously whenever I shopped at the Joes in my area it was affordable and I could get a weeks worth of food for a decent price. Now with the increase its having me worried. When you see milk and eggs go up you know you have to worry.
Also interestingly enough, I tried searching google on this topic to see other ppls experiences or check if there were any official statements, but it was a miracle that I even found this blog article on the topic!
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Nov 17, 2021 @ 01:14:03
Likewise have observed inflation on several TJ items in LA. Indian Fare 1.99 for years now 2.29, vegetable gyoza 3.69 now 4.49. Unsure what’s driving the 15-50% price increases. Fortunately not on all items but hopefully not a new and permanent trend
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Dec 05, 2021 @ 00:31:36
I would recommend calling TJ’s customer service line and asking them (ask your local TJ’s for the number, it’s not on the website. You may also get a decent answer from a long-time or general manager at your store). You’ll get ‘the official line,’ but it may shine some light also (I’ve been meaning to do this myself). Other costs may have gone up substantially for them, like shipping — I’m just guessing here.
Also, certain things may get a price jump because of things going on with that industry or harvest, like huge flooding or droughts wiping out crops. But I also suspect that some of it is, “We should have raised the price on this years ago, let’s do it now!” — in other words, opportunistic.
Personally, I’d rather see most things go up 5% a year, instead of having these big price jumps on something you depend on.
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Dec 05, 2021 @ 13:27:38
Thank you for you comments. I so agree with all of your points, especially the “opportunistic” factor.
But I also suspect that some of it is, “We should have raised the price on this years ago, let’s do it now!”
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Dec 19, 2021 @ 20:48:55
I think no one is seeing the big picture here. Prices shoppers paid for groceries climbed 1% in October from September and were 5.4% higher than at the same time last year, according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Costs for rent, cars, utilities have also shot up. This is not just a TJ’s thing. It’s the pandemic, stupid. Food manufacturers and grocers have faced higher costs for commodities, labor, transportation and other expenses during the pandemic. Those costs have escalated in recent months, leading manufacturers to pass off some of these costs to their retail customers, who in turn have passed on a portion to consumers.
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Dec 19, 2021 @ 20:49:39
I think no one is seeing the big picture here. Prices shoppers paid for groceries climbed 1% in October from September and were 5.4% higher than at the same time last year, according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Costs for rent, cars, utilities have also shot up. This is not just a TJ’s thing. It’s the pandemic, stupid. Food manufacturers and grocers have faced higher costs for commodities, labor, transportation and other expenses during the pandemic. Those costs have escalated in recent months, leading manufacturers to pass off some of these costs to their retail customers, who in turn have passed on a portion to consumers.
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Jan 01, 2022 @ 16:20:51
Pandemic or not, increased prices in everything are here to stay.
Case in point…Remember when airlines had to impose a $25/bag fee for luggage due to the extreme increase in oil many years ago ($110/barrel)? Price per barrel practically tanked and also stayed in the low $40s/barrel for the past couple of years until recently. Airline baggage fees didn’t disappear, neither will the return of low prices on some your favorite TJ items. Buy less. In fact, don’t buy the gimmicky stuff and you will do just fine!
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Jan 06, 2022 @ 16:31:17
Wingman it’s not like milk, eggs and meat are gimmicky things. Those are practically essentials. Junk foods seem to maintain their low prices better than the healthy essential foods.
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Jan 18, 2022 @ 15:35:09
If you voted for Biden & Newsom, you have yourself to blame. Every month the economy got better but that wasn’t good enough, you’d rather have inflation & crime.
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Jan 28, 2022 @ 20:30:20
Inflation is going to happen no matter who gets voted into office.
No one here cares about you blaming everyday people for it.
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Mar 28, 2022 @ 20:59:41
I’m relieved to hear someone else has noticed the 30% price increases despite 5% inflation and is as unhappy about it as I am.
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