Inflation is slowing overall, but food prices are falling even further.
To combat high prices, some people search for the best deals at different stores.
We went to three stores to find the best price for our family of four.
Inflation has come down considerably since its peak in June 2022, but one place Americans are still being hit hard is the grocery store.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a Dec. 6 interview with CNBC’s “Squawk on the Streets” that food prices have not rebounded as much as other regions over the past year. said.
“Pricing in the general merchandise category, the non-food category, is currently down about 5%,” McMillon said when discussing store pricing compared to 2022. “However, processed foods, which are dry goods and consumables categories, have fallen significantly.” There will be some stubborn inflation for some time. ”
I shop for groceries for my family of four at home, and like many others, the current economic climate has made it both stressful and a little bit of fun. It has become. Finding the best deals is a constant battle and often involves going to multiple stores.
And even when something is on sale, it’s not always easy to know when it’s a good deal.
To find the best price, I went to three large but different stores that sell groceries. Warehouse Club Costco. HEB is a major grocery chain in Texas.
We compared the prices of 13 daily necessities at each store. I paid more at Costco due to the larger quantities and limited selection, but at about $65 per piece, it was the best deal overall.
On the other hand, the prices at HEB and Walmart were almost the same at about $73, and the prices of some items were also exactly the same. This was a surprise, as I generally consider Walmart to be a cheaper option, but also disappointing, as they have far fewer choices in various categories.
Let’s compare the prices of groceries at three stores.
If you need a lot of eggs, Costco was cheaper.
I started shopping with eggs. Price per 12 eggs: Costco, $2.35. HEB, $2.52. Walmart, $2.58.
I want to save as much money as possible, but I still have scruples and some guilt. So pay a little extra to support cage-free options.
As with many items at Costco, you have to weigh the value against the amount you need. For eggs, you only have two dozen options. You won’t save money if you don’t use it quickly enough and throw some away. And believe me, my 13-year-old daughter’s freshness inspector doesn’t cheat on expiration dates.
If you don’t mind storage, Costco is also a great choice for ground meat.
Price per pound: Costco, $3.89. Walmart, $4.48. HEB, $4.59.
I found it at HEB and Walmart for around £2.50. It was an option at Costco for £6. This is a little easier because we have a vacuum sealer and a large freezer so we can store it and save money.
But if size isn’t an issue, here are some popular Costco hacks. Ask the butcher for 10 pounds of “chuv.” This way, the meat is delivered to the store before being packaged. They often sell this for an even lower price per pound, and are even slimmer than what’s on the shelf.
I was surprised that Costco didn’t have a better deal on macaroni and cheese.
Price per box: HEB, $0.88. Walmart, $1.44. Costco, $1.46.
We have two teenagers, so macaroni and cheese is a must. When I go to Costco, I always buy Annie’s Organic Macaroni and Cheese, and not only do they stick to variety packs, but I find that the price per box is cheaper than at Walmart.
But we’re also big fans of the HEB Store brand. HEB store brands are almost always as good as the big brands, like Costco’s Kirkland brand. This is the advantage of his HEB. Not only can you choose exactly what you need, but it’s also much cheaper.
Just a reminder that Costco has its limits when it comes to soy milk.
Price per .5 gallon: HEB, $3.86. Walmart, $3.86. Costco, none.
Our favorite Silk brand soy milk was exactly the same price at HEB and Walmart.
On the other hand, Costco does not sell soy milk. There’s Kirkland’s Dairy-Free Soy Beverage, which he says is cheap at $2.67 per half gallon, but you have to buy three gallons.
Bread was also the same price at HEB and Walmart.
Price per loaf: Costco, $4.75. Walmart, $5.98. HEB, $5.98.
Bread is another area where I don’t mind splurging a little to be a little healthier. I love Dave’s killer bread with eggs and avocado in the morning (*chef’s kiss*), but I digress.
Again, Costco was the cheapest, but I had to buy two loaves. I don’t mind freezing the bread, so this is a good option for us.
The prices were the same at HEB and Walmart.
Some agricultural products had the same price.
Price per pound: Costco, $0.50. Walmart, $0.58. HEB, $0.58.
Again, bananas are the same price at HEB and Walmart.
Costco on the other hand is a little cheaper again, but you still have to buy 3 pounds. That’s too much for one family, unless you’re freezing it for summer use.
Frozen pizza reminds me of the limited selection at Costco.
Price per pound: Costco, $2.97. Walmart, $6.96. HEB, $6.96.
With restaurant food prices still soaring, people are increasingly eating frozen pizza on Friday nights.
Costco has the cheapest frozen pizza, but the selection is limited. Kirkland pizza is also an acceptable alternative, but the girls prefer DiGiorno’s so-called “fluffy pizza” with raised dough.
Again, these were the same price at HEB and Walmart.
If you like deli meats and cheeses, your local grocery store is the place to go.
Walmart and HEB prices were about the same at the deli, but the former had much more limited selection. On the other hand, the only sliced meat and cheese options available at Costco are pre-packaged.
If you can find your favorite beer at Costco, it’s a great success.
Corona Premier Price per 12 cans: Costco, $13.33. Walmart, $14.73. HEB, $14.73.
You can find beer brands like Coors and Corona at all three locations. If that’s your poison, it’s cheaper at Costco and the same price at HEB and Walmart.
But if you’re like me and picky about the taste of your beer, Costco can be hit or miss. I’m a big fan of Sierra Nevada’s seasonal beers, so I was excited to see a 12-pack at the warehouse he was selling for $14.
At HEB, the same thing will set you back $20.54.
I found the best option was to combine Costco and HEB and skip Walmart.
It wasn’t worth going to Walmart just to buy groceries for my shopping needs unless I had a coupon or knew a certain item was on sale. Prices are the same as HEB, but there are far fewer options and varieties.
On the other hand, Costco is often a better deal, especially if you don’t mind stocking up and not wasting food. However, please be careful. Don’t make the mistake like I did of thinking it’s always cheaper to buy in bulk. Sometimes it’s not.
The best deals and options for our family are a combination of shopping at HEB and Costco while avoiding Walmart groceries unless we already have plans to go there for something else.