Food Availability

For John, BLUF:  We are facing a number of food issues, from not enough stores, to not enough fresh food, to, in some places, high prices.  However, food providers need to make a profit, to engage in selling food.  With existing margins, there isn't much profit, notwithstanding the concerns of Senator Karen.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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BIG GROCERY?  SERIOUSLY?

From Powerline Blog, by Blogger John Hinderaker, 21 December 2021.

Here is the lede plus two:

I’m not saying that Elizabeth Warren is the dumbest person in public life–there is a lot of competition for that title–but let’s just say she is having the worst week. First she accused Elon Musk of being a tax freeloader, just before he disclosed that he will pay $11 billion in taxes this year, more than any American in history, to Warren’s slush fund the federal government. Next she blamed skyrocketing food prices on “Big Grocery.” Seriously:

Giant grocery store chains force high food prices onto American families while rewarding executives & investors with lavish bonuses and stock buybacks. I'm demanding they answer for putting corporate profits over consumers and workers during the pandemic.

This is almost beyond belief. The grocery store business is notoriously competitive and relatively unprofitable. David Harsanyi writes that “average margins [come] in at a little over 2 percent,” one of the lowest margins of any industry.

I would say, based upon what my wife tells me, Mr Arthur T. Demoulas is not running up prices to pad his bank account.  He is working to help his customers.  I would think Ms Warren should get out of Cambridge and see how things are in the Hinterlands.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff