DeWitt, New York (WSYR-TV) - Packages are shrinking at the grocery store, but you're paying the same, if not more.
A lot of people aren't noticing the hidden way manufacturers are passing cost increases onto us.
Hellmann’s mayonnaise went from 32 ounces to 30, Tropicana shrank its orange juice from 96 ounces to 89 ounces, and both General Mills and Kellogg’s sliced a few ounces away from their cereal boxes.
It’s also prevalent in ice cream; what once was a half-gallon – or two-quart – box, many ice cream makers are selling 1.75 quarts, or even 1.5.
Toiletries aren’t immune; Bausch and Lomb decreased the size of its contact lens solution by half an ounce, and hair sprays like Aussie Scrunch spray dropped from 12 ounces to 10. Experienced shoppers say they're not fooled.
”Definitely I'm seeing smaller packages... I've noticed it primarily with detergents. I think they're adding less water. They say less plastic to do it, but who knows?,” says shopper Ann Lamprey of Manlius.
No matter how much prices go up, it looks like many central New Yorkers are paying less than full price by using coupons.
Scarborough Research Company says the Syracuse market area, which includes Rome, Oswego, Cortland and Ithaca, ranks ninth in the entire U.S. for coupon use.
The study found 35 percent of the households in our region use coupons at least once a week; by comparison, Rochester ranked second, and Buffalo tied for third place. Albany follows right behind us.
To see the full report, CLICK HERE.
