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Retail Food Price Deflation At Highest Level in 51 Years Through Aug. 1

With July retail food prices as reflected by the CPI for food-at-home unchanged from the prior month, the annualized rate of deflation through the first seven months of 2010 was four-tenths of a percent under the 2009 index. As with last month, this was the first time in 43 year, since 1967, prices have been in a deflationary mode through this time period. Additionally, this was the largest such decline since 1959 - 51 years ago..... Full Story

A Bumpy Road For Food Retailers This Year

The nation's food and beverage retailers saw sales increase just 1.5% from a year earlier during July, totaling $50,.3 billion according to the Census Bureau. Considering the population in the U.S. increases just under 1% annually, that's not much growth even considering prices are in a deflationary state.... Full Story

Some Strength Seen In Eating & Drinking Place Sales

Perhaps consumers are simply tired of watching their pennies at the supermarket checkout and are splurging a bit more for that meal away from home, but whatever the reason, eating and drinking place operators saw a nice bump in business during July. .. Full Story

Club & Supercenter Sales Up 3.5% Through First Half

During the five months ended June 1, the nations warehouse clubs and supercenters saw sales climb just 3.8% from the prior year, with sales during May increasing just 3.3%. ... Full Story

Wholesale Food Prices Turned Up In July But Retailers Continue To Absorb The Impact

Following three consecutive monthly declines in wholesale finished food prices as reflected by the Producer Price Index for "all consumer finished foods" prices increase 0.5% in July over the prior month. Full Story

Consumer Expenditures For Food Decline For Fifth Straight Month in July

Deflation in food prices continues to plague food retailers and only adds to the sluggish demand on behalf of consumers. Two reports, one from the Food Institute and another from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirm the difficulty food retailers have been experiencing this year. The Food Institute's "Real" Sales report, which deflates the retail sales reports from the government each month for grocery store retailers, found that during July, "real" or deflated sales at grocery stores fell 0.2% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, consumer expenditures for food (excluding foodservice) declined for the fifth consecutive month in July according the the Bureau of Labor Statistics, declining 0.3%... Full Story