I’m sure you too have noticed Trader Joe’s prices continue to creep up. And up. This despite inflation supposedly actually getting better, and even coming down a bit. Almost every time I go to TJ’s lately I notice increases. Some things up 29 cents, some 49 cents. For example the Soy Milk has been $1.99 for a long time The other day I pick it up and notice the sign now says it $2.29. I see the same 29 cents increase on the tofu I regularly, it was $1.99 for a long time. Now $2.29. Jack Cheese that was $4.99 a pound went up to 5.49. These are just a few examples. I could not even begin to list how many products have gone up again recently. Price hikes of 10-15% or more? So it seems like I get sticker shock at the register every time I go recently. Are these increases actually justified? Since inflation has come down a bit and since gas prices have come down. Or are they taking advantage of the situation where people are expecting increases – and get them.
Feel free to share your thoughts about these price increases in Comments.
PS – I just saw one slightly positive – a downward price change on eggs. Egg prices had gone through the roof oer the last six months due to a bad bird flu outbreak among other things. However I noticed some prices moved down a bit recently (TJ’s Jumbo eggs were $4.99. Recently I noticed they went down to $3.99) March 2023
Another update (eggs): One positive I see at least is that prices on eggs are still going in a downward trend! Jumbo eggs: $2.99 April 2023
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
Feb 04, 2023 @ 12:44:41
Yes, you’re right.
But about justification, the difference between TJ’s increases and the increases at Safeway and Stop & Shop during and the pandemic and since is gigantic.
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Feb 04, 2023 @ 12:53:50
No, they are NOT!
I’m with you friend. Sticker shock everywhere on everything. Costco – same thing. Retailers are milking the economic woes to increase their revenues. Supply chain costs have dropped immensely.
It’s really sad . This is one small reason why shoplifting has gotten out of control.
Whole Paycheck for example now charges 8 buck per pound for organic garlic! Absurd.
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Feb 04, 2023 @ 15:03:24
Frozen Brussels sprouts 50% increase from $0.99 to $1.49. Green dragon hot sauce and Soyaki sauce are now closer to $4, they were maybe $1.99 and $2.49. Rustico bread 50 cent increase to $3.49. Will they come down with higher interest rates and layoffs driven by Jerome Powell/Fed Reserve? Once prices go up, they rarely come down.
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Feb 06, 2023 @ 13:43:44
I agree, one prices are raised, they almost never come down.
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Feb 04, 2023 @ 15:05:36
PS inflation is often an excuse to increase profit margins by large companies, via price hikes. The US Fed is pushing policies that increase layoffs and unemployment, so the workforce won’t be able to negotiate salary increases. So as usual the rich get richer and the others get the finger.
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Feb 14, 2023 @ 19:03:36
Sockeye salmon went from $11.99/lb last year (2022), to $12.99/lb late last year, to $13.99/lb early this year (2023), and now to $14.99/lb. I’m done with that.
Also noticed that shaved beef went up from $9.99/lb -> $10.99/lb.
Hopefully the workers are getting a significant piece of those increases. As someone else accurately put it, “the rich do well in good times, and do even better in a crisis”. Just more wealth transfer from middle-class -> rich.
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Feb 18, 2023 @ 03:21:49
TJ’s Organic Steel Cut Oats, 30 oz canister. All last year, 2022, $3.99. Price just increased to $4.49. 12.5%.
At Whole Foods, 365 Brand, same size, first of 2022 was $4.19; mid year jumped to $4.99 and by the end of 2022, $5.79. 38%.
Record profits.
Record CEO compensation — “for providing strategic direction and navigating the business in challenging and uncertain times.” [eyeroll]
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May 03, 2023 @ 21:52:26
This will be my 2nd visit as of recently where I noticed multiple increases to things I buy regularly. For example, granola that used to be 3.29 is now 3.49; a quart of oat milk used to be 2.49 and it’s now 2.79; my favorite extra virgin olive oil popcorn as my favorite snack had the same price change from 2.49 to 2.79. I’m sure there are other increases happening right under my nose, but I just haven’t come across them yet, as I’ve been out of town and haven’t done a major shopping day yet. I even mentioned it to one of the associates at the register and she just acted as if she didn’t hear me. It’s quite frustrating, because I had to stop shopping at Kroger due to their lack of integrity. They would blatant have signage say one price and then when you go up to the register, the price would be significantly different. On too many occasions I’ve had to debate and take photos of sign or they’ve had to simply refund me several dollars after I’ve discovered it later on my receipt.
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Aug 08, 2023 @ 13:43:35
Trader Joe’s used to be my favorite grocery store but lately it gives me “heart palpitations”. Increasing prices on nearly every single items! Inflation has gone down so what is going on? I guess the only solution is to eat less and tighten my belt.
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Aug 09, 2023 @ 14:27:25
I totally agree with you. I’d say increases of 20-25 percent on almost everything (eggs actually went down though)
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Jan 18, 2024 @ 22:08:27
Trader Joe’s 72% Dark Chocolate went up 15% overnight, from $1.99 to $2.29.
Fortunately, Aldi has a comparable and bigger bar, 125g instead of 100g, for $1.79. It is of excellent quality.
Trader Joe’s is 28% MORE EXPENSIVE than Aldi.
Since I eat a lot of chocolate, I am switching to Aldi immediately.
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Jan 21, 2024 @ 14:37:24
There is an interesting connection between Aldi’s and Trader Joe’s….. https://www.tastingtable.com/910536/the-connection-between-trader-joes-and-aldi/
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