NEWSLETTER
The holidays are approaching, and while it may seem like people are spending more money than ever, that’s not exactly true.
According to the most recent consumer spending report, people actually spent 0.2% less in October, a critical change from September’s cheerful 0.7% increase.
Related: Walmart Adds Convenient New Store Feature Customers Will Love
The most recent Consumer’s price index (IPC) does not paint a much more optimistic picture.
CPI data for October 2023 shows that the price of many goods and services is higher compared to previous prices. Below is a breakdown of how different items increased over the last 12 months:
- Food: +3.3%
- Food at home: +2.1%
- Food away from home: up 5.4%
- Energy: down 4.5%
- Electricity: 2.4% increase
- New vehicles: +1.9%
- Clothing: up to 2.6%
- Healthcare products: 4.7% increase
- Accommodation: up to 6.7%
- Transportation services: +9.2%
Throughout 2022, food prices soared 10.4% overall. It’s too early to see how much food prices could rise in 2023, as we still have another month left, but it’s safe to assume they probably won’t decline much.
The fact is that life has become more expensive in recent years and it can be difficult to find a good deal anywhere.
Enter the Trader Joe’s unit of the privately held German discount grocery chain Aldi. Trader Joe’s sources extend and overflow from other retailers, repackaging items and offering them at affordable prices.
Trader Joe’s launches holiday products
Trader Joe’s is beloved for its cheaper products, but it also offers a litany of holiday items that keeps people lining up, especially in December before the holidays. And the grocer has already started to stop selling some of those products.
Every week, the store publishes its Fearless Flier newspaper, promoting some of its most interesting and innovative products. Some of the items returning this week are old favorites, while others are completely new to all of us.
Here are some of those articles:
- Jingle Jangle Christmas Chocolate Mix
- Dark Chocolate Star Cookies
- Candy taste test
- gingerbread house kit
- Candy Cane Peppermint Joe Joe’s Sandwich Cookies
- Pretzel Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce
- Candy Cane Shimmer Body Butter
- Crumbled apple pie
- Belgian Cookies Collection
- Something refreshing drink for the holidays
- Organic Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Bun Inspired Pancake and Waffle Mix
- Mint creams covered in dark chocolate
- Gorgonzola Dolce Style Cream Cheese
- Italian cheese with truffle
- Fried Olive Bites
- Spicy Snack Bar Mix
- Shrimp Dumplings in Bags of Many Colors
- Organic Italian Pasta Panapolio
- Mini Duo Quiche
- Cookie Cup Hangers
“The bells are ringing, the halls are decorated, and on the rooftops, the reindeer hooves are clicking, clicking, clicking, which can only mean one thing: Trader Joe’s Christmas Guide has arrived!” Trader Joe’s writes on the flyer about it.
Many of these items are seasonal, meaning they will be available on a limited basis, while supplies last. Trader Joe’s typically stops stocking them around the first week of January (if not sooner if their location is popular and people are purchasing extremely popular items like Jingle Jangle mix for the holidays).
