E-mail this pageMarket Basket
The Market Basket is a monthly report based on a survey of 41 food items commonly purchased by consumers. Four major supermarkets are surveyed in the Plattsburgh area. It is a community service jointly sponsored by TAC and the Office of Insititutional Advancement at SUNY Plattsburgh. The data is compiled monthly by the Office of Insititutional Research at SUNY Plattsburgh.
2006
September's Market Basket Down From Last Year
September's Market Basket came ins at $82.77, up slightly from August's cost of $82.48, but down from last September's cost of $83.10. Prices were up on produce, drinks, meats and miscellaneous. Prices fell on frozen foods, canned goods, breads, cereals and grains, and dairy. For the year, prices are up on produce, canned goods, drinks, breads, cereals and grains, and miscellaneous. Prices have dropped on frozen foods, meats, and dairy.
Meat prices were up on ground chuck, bottom round roast, sirloin steak, center cut pork chops, and whole frying chickens.
The biggest increases in the produce department were on bananas, carrots, onions, and whiite potatoes. Iceberg lettuce dropped to $1.60 a head in September. However, last year's cost was just $1.39.
Drink prices increases on store brand coffee, but remained steady on Tetley tea bags and Budweiser beer.
In the miscellaneous category, prices were up on Oreo cookies, and constant on vegetable oil.
Prices fellin the frozen food category on haddock and spinach. Fresh spinach is back on the market and safe for consumers, but do check the expiration date on fresh bags of spinach.
Breads, cereals and grains saw prices drop on Kellogg's Corn Flakes, flour and spaghetti.
Dairy prices are down for the month and year on American cheese slices, large eggs, and whole and skim milk.
Seasonal Reminders: This is pear season and the start of the short cranberry season. Sweet potatoes and winter squash are in peak supply and good sources of beta carotene, from which our bodies make Vitamin A. Brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower are all in peak season and good sources of Vitamin C. Don't forget to pick up a Halloween pumpkin.
August Market Basket Up 1%; Down 3% Overall for the Year
In August, the Market Basket came in at $82.48, up from $81.40 in July, but down from last year's figure of $84.98.
Dairy and drink prices dropped in August, while produce, frozen foods, canned goods, meats, breads, cereals and grains and miscellaneous all posted peicw increases for the month. For the year, meats, miscellaneous and dairy products are down in price; produce, canned goods, drinks, breads, cereals and grains are up in price.
Drink prices fell on store brand coffee and Tetley tea bags.
Dairy prices dropped on store brand butter, Parkay margarine and whole and skim milk.
The biggest price increase was in the produce department. Apples, bananas, onions, potatoes and Iceberg lettuce ($1.67 a head) were all up in price in August.
Breads, cereals and grains saw price increases on sugar, flour, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, white bread and spaghetti.
In the meat department, hamburger, bottom round roast, Oscar Meyer bacon and whole frying chickens all increased in price.
Frozen haddock and orange juice concentrate saw slight increases while canned goods saw prices increase on Del Monte fruit cocktails, tomatoes and Star Kist tuna.
Seasonal Reminders: The local harvest of all apple varieties is well underway. There will be local corn, tomatoes, snap beans, summer squash and cucumbers until the first frost. September is the top month for grapes and the first month of the pear season. Honeydew melons and cantaloupes are still in good supply.
July's Market Basket Drops 1%
In July, the Market Basekt came in at $81.40, down from $82.37 in June and $83.47 last July, making this July the second lowest month of the year.
Prices fell on canned goods, meats, breads, cereals and grans, miscellaneous and dairy. Produce, frozen foods and drinks all increased in price for the month. For the year, prices are down on produce, meats, miscellenous and dairy. Prices have increased on frozen foods, canned goods, drinks, breads and cereal and grains. The biggest increases in July were in the produce deparment on bananas, Iceberg lettuce ($1.55 a head) and carrots.
Drink prices increased on store brand coffee and cola.
Frozen food prices were up on green beans and store brand ice cream.
Meat prices fell on bottom round roast, sirloin steak, pork chops and whole frying chickens.
Bread, cereal and grain prices dropped on sugar, Kellog's Corn Flakes, flour, white bread and spaghetti.
Dairy prices are down for the month and for the year on butter, American cheese slices and skim milk.
Canned good prices fell on Del Monte fruit cocktail, tomatoes and Star Kist tuna.
Seasonal Reminders: Local strawberries, blueberries and corn are all available. Cantaloupe and honey dew melon season continues through August. Apple picking is in full swing with Paula Reds and Jersey Macs on stands now. McIntosh picking starts the first week in September. The Champlain Valley region was hit hard with heavy rains in May, so the region's apple crop may be down this year. New York State ranks second in apple production in the U.S.
June's Market Basket Down 1% From Last Year
The Market Basket in June came in at $82.37, up slightly from May's cost of $82.01 but down from last June's cost of $83.19.
For the month, canned goods, meats, breads, cereals and grains, and miscellaneous increased in price. Prices fell on produce, frozen foods, drinks and dairy. For the year, prices are up on frozen foods, canned goods, drinks, breads, cereals and grains and miscellaneous. Prices are down on produces, meats and dairy.
Breads, cereals and grains prices increased on sugar, flour, Kellog's Corn Flakes, River rice and white bread.
Meat prices were up on bottom round roast, sirloin steak, pork chops and whole frying chickens.
Canned good saw prices rise on fruit cocktail, Star Kist tuna and vegetable soup.
Produce saw the biggest drop on Iceberg lettuce, down to $1.31 a head, from $1.42 a year ago; yellow onions and white potatoes also declined in price.
Dairy prices were down on Parkay margarine, large eggs and skim milk. For the year, prices are down on all items in the dairy category.
Drink prices dropped on cola, Budweiser beer and store brand coffee. Prices remained steady on Tetley tea bags for the month.
Seasonal Reminders: Strawberries are available locally and are sweet and delicious! Local sweet corn will be available around July 20th. Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melons are in season. Plums, apricots, peaches and nectarines will be at full peak in July and August.
May's Market Basket Down 2%
May's Market Basket came in at $82.01, down from $83.37 in April and $83.45 last May.
Produce, frozen foods and drinks increased in price in May. Canned goods, meats, breads, cereals and grains, miscellaneous and dairy prices decreased for the month. For the year, produce, frozen foods, canned goods and miscellaneous are up in price, while drinks, meats, breads, cereals and grains and dairy are down.
Frozen haddock (unbreaded) increased in price in May. Drink prices rose on Budweiser beer and Tetley tea bags (100). Coffee prices remained stable at $2.25 a pound, but are down from last May's cost of $2.38. Produce prices rose on Iceberg lettuce and white potatoes (10 lbs).
Meat prices fell on ground chuck, bottom round roast, chuck and sirloin steak and whole frying chickens. Dairy prices were down on butter, Parkay margarine, American cheese slices, large eggs and whole and skim milk. In the breads, cereals and grains category, prices fell on sugar, flour, white bread and Kellogg's Corn Flakes. Canned goods prices dropped on peas, tomatoes, vegetable soup and Star Kist tuna.
Seasonal Reminders: Asparagus is growing in locals gardens, and strawberry picking begins in late June. Peaches, nectarines, Bing cherries, mangos and pineapples are available at the supermarket.
April's Market Basket Up 5%
The cost of April's market basket was $83.37, up from $82.24 in March and $79.49 last April.
Prices increased on produce, canned goods, drinks, meats, and dairy. Prices fell on frozen foods, breads, cereals and grains and miscellaneous. For the year, prices were up on frozen foods, canned goods, meats, and breads, cereals and grains. Prices have decreased on drinks, miscellaneous and dairy.
The biggest price increase for the month was in the dairy department. Prices were up on Parkay margarine, American cheese slices, large eggs, and skim milk. The price of a half-gallon of whole milk dropped from $1.45 in March to $1.35 in April.
Canned goods increased on peas, tomatoes, Star Kist tuna, and vegetable soup.
Produce prices were up on bananas, Iceberg lettuce, and white potatoes.
Drinks saw price increases on store brand coffee and Tetley tea bags.
Meat prices were up on ground chuck, chuck and sirloin steak, bottom round roast, Ocsar Mayer bacaon, and whole frying chickens.
Frozen foods and breads, cereals and grains saw prices drop on green beans, spinach, ice cream, orange juice concentrate, and canned fruit cocktail.
Seasonal Reminder: Pineapple, mangos, and Vidalia onions are at their peak. Watermelon season has begun and other melons come later in the summer months. Rhubarb is pushing up in local gardens. The Farmer's Market opens for the season May 12th.
Market Basket Prices Drop 2% in March
In March, the Market Basket came in at $82.24, down from $84.18 in February, and $84.45 last March.
Produce, frozen foods, and miscellaneous prices increased in March. Prices fell on canned goods, drinks, meats, breads, cereals and grains, and dairy. For the year, prices were up on all product lines except miscellaneous and dairy.
The biggest increase in March was in the frozen food department, followed by miscellaneous and produce. Prices were up on frozen vegetables (green beans and spinach), and ice cream. Produce posted increases on carrots, yellow onions, and white potatoes. Iceberg lettuce fell to $1.25 a head from $1.49 last month and $1.39 last year.
Prices declined in dairy, breads, cereals and grains, meats, and drinks. Dairy prices fell on American cheese slices, eggs, and whole and skim milk. Breads, cereals and grains saw a drop in the price of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, River Rice, and spaghetti. Meat prices were down on ground chuck, bottom round roast, chuck and sirloin steak, and pork chops. Whole frying chickens remained constant for the month at $1.04. Coffee and Tetley tea bags dropped in price for the month.
Seasonal Reminders: Artichokes and asparagus are coming from California and are at peak season. Fresh strawberry and pineapple supplies will be plentiful thru the summer. California long white and new red potatoes are coming into season. Oranges and grapefruit are still at their peak, but tangerines are moving out of season.
Contact Information
For more information about the Technical Assistance Center at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact:
E-mail: tac@plattsburgh.edu
Phone: (518) 564-2214
194 US Oval
Plattsburgh, NY 12903