The Cost of Living

The Times monthly survey of the cost of goods and services commonly purchased by Southern California residents found little change in October. Notable changes include a sharp increase in the price of broccoli and a drop in the price of potatoes. Sales accounted for a big drop in the price of a single loaf of wheat bread. The Times surveys the same five Southland markets at the end of each month to compile a snapshot of consumer prices in area grocery stores.

Highlight: Autumn hit the nation’s farms in October, bringing in expected seasonal shifts in the price and availability of produce. Potatoes dropped 14% in price, because of the advent of the harvest season, said Mike Henry, spokesman for the California Farm Bureau Federation. “We’re getting a larger volume of supply, not just here in California, but out of the state. The national market is getting a lot of potatoes into the channels. They’ll be in good supply until June.” Broccoli prices rose 27%, as the weather cooled down. Henry says shoppers should expect high prices until at least April. Although Imperial County usually has a good harvest in early winter, the whitefly has stunted the crop’s growth.

September October % Chg. Groceries Chicken (per lb., $1.62 $1.59 -2% best of fryer cut up) 13 oz. can of coffee $2.41 $2.30* -5% 1 dz. eggs (grade AA large) $1.82 $1.88 +3% 24 oz. Wheat Bread $2.03 $1.79 -12% 1 lb. pinto beans $0.50 $0.53 +6% 10 lb. bag of potatoes $2.04 $1.75 -14% Navel oranges (per lb.)*** $-- -- 1 gal. homogenized milk $2.50 $2.55 +2% 1 lb. broccoli (fresh) $0.62 $.79 +27% 8 oz. package $1.72 $1.78 -3% of chocolate candy Six-pack beer $4.14 $4.21 +2% (12 oz. cans) 1 doz. corn tortillas $0.46 $0.45 -2% 10 lb. bag dry dog food $6.39 $6.59 +3% Super $6.97* $7.55 +8% concentrated detergent (30-load) Toilet tissue $1.70 $1.56 -8% (4-roll package) Eating out Fast-food cheeseburger $0.89 $0.89 unchg. Other goods and services 1 gal gas. $1.08 $1.035 -4% (unleaded self-serve) 3-pack, boys $3.96 $3.96 unchg. Size 12 cotton briefs Dry $7.34 $7.34 unchg. cleaning man’s two-piece suit Professional $44.56 $44.56 unchg. drain cleaning Manicure $7.60 $7.60 unchg.

* Includes at least one sale price.

*** Out of season.