Going through my 20′s and 30′s, as I began fending for myself, I thought perhaps the difference I was noticing in products iefrom yesteryear was in my own mind.  I could remember biting into a coconut cream snack pie as a kid and having the filling just ooze out from all sizes. Mom used to pack them for my lunch and they were so good and filling. Now, it seems I bite into the pies of today and all that oozes out is air. I’m left with a mouthful of dry crumbs and maybe a teaspoon of coconut cream goodness.While all this time I was thinking it was just nostalgia gone awry, I find out it is becoming increasingly popular among many companies to provide less product for more money. With the difficulties the average consumer is already facing trying to keep the refrigerator filled and still have some money left in their wallet, this shrinkage is really disappointing. Cereals, candy, paper towels, toilet paper, and similar merchandise are all affected by this ploy by top-named companies. There is no formal warning that the mayonnaise you are purchasing today used to be 2 ounces bigger just a few months ago or that you are still paying the bigger price. Packaging may note there has been some “reformulating” going on but that’s pretty much all you, as the consumer, will see until you begin to realize that cereal is not lasting as long as it used to in your house.

Unless you are aware of the weight of your favorite products, you may not have noticed the difference. Consumer experts advise that in order to judge the true cost of what you are buying, you should always read the labels on the packaging and read the unit cost for each item which can be found on the price label on the shelf. For example, the unit price of paper towels will tell you what you are paying for each individual towel. It is a better gauge to determine what you are really paying than just looking at the total price, especially if you haven’t noticed the size decrease. Saving at the grocery store is difficult enough and with less product for more money it is now more important than ever to read labels and really understand what you are paying.

Of course, each company has their own reasoning and defense when asked about why the size of their products has become smaller. Most cite “keeping up with the competition”. The reality for the consumer is that you may be glad the prices aren’t increasing without knowing about the differences in product size. Do not be afraid to take a little notebook along to the grocery store with you and jot down different product information that you can review later. It will also help you to monitor prices in the future.