Let's face it - groceries have never been cheap.  And prices have hardly (if ever) gone backwards.  But, forecasters are predicting that the summer of 2014 will probably bring all-time high record prices in the meat department of your grocery store.

What's causing the escalating prices?  Primarily drought conditions that have been lingering for the past few years - but seem to only have gotten worse in the last few months.  Lack of water means a reduction in available livestock feed which translates to higher prices in the store for beef and pork.

Pork prices have increased 40 percent in the last year, rib eye prices have increased 10 percent and ground beef prices rose five percent, according to the USDA.

What can you do as a consumer?  First:  buy on sale and then when you do find a good price, buy in bulk.  Utilize your freezer to maintain that you're buying your grocery needs at the lowest possible prices.

Read more here.

 

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