TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — For many families across the country, the Easter holiday is a time of celebration and tradition, but this year it’s also a time of difficult choices.
Piggly Wiggly is no stranger to Easter. Candy, stuffed bunnies, and ham can all be found stocked on shelves. However, this year, shoppers are finding more than just goodies in their baskets, they are also finding inflation.
“Eggs used to be 50 cents,” said shopper Rod Rutledge. “I can’t tell you the exact price, but I know you can go get 12 eggs now for four dollars. “When I was born in 1988, you could get a dozen eggs for a couple cents. To go from a couple of cents to four dollars is just crazy.”
Some say that eggs are a pivotal part of Easter, whether it be for consuming or coloring. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of a dozen eggs hit a record high of $6.32 in March. Despite high eggs prices caused by the bird flu epidemic, Piggly Wiggly says its egg prices are relatively low.
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“We had our Eggsland Best eggs that never even went up in cost,” said assistant manager Jonathan Richard. “The dozen never went over three dollars. The eighteen pack also stayed in the low four dollar range. Eggsland Best gets their eggs from their own farmers, so they’re not as expensive. When we could get the Eggsland Best, they offered a very affordable selection.”
While eggs may be a top priority for some this Easter, consumers are also interested in other items like peeps, ham, jelly beans, and fun dip. Piggly Wiggly also has a different pricing policy than most other major retailors.
“Our shelf price is what it costs us to get the item to the shelf,” Richard explained. “Then we have an additional ten percent that is our sir charge for our overhead. So, where as other companies don’t tell you what percentage they’re making on the product, we tell you it’s the flat ten percent.”
While Easter is caught in the sights of high prices, some feel that it’s not about the merchandise. Some would say it’s about celebration and the ones you spend it with.
