Inflation Watch: New York City Bagel Shops

Inflation Watch, New York edition has been busy this week. I came across price increases on cat food, and at the Second Ave Deli. Now this: the New York Post is reporting that bagel prices have increased in the past year from 60 cents to one dollar at bagel shops across the five boroughs. It turns out that less wheat is being grown, resulting in higher wheat flour prices - a record high in fact! People are fuming too, and yet the prices keep rising!

Inflation Watch: 2nd Avenue Deli

I have to admit, I was thrilled to pieces that the 2nd Avenue Deli was reopening. I never had the chance to visit before it was unceremoniously kicked out of its (original?) Second Avenue digs awhile back. I planned to make my way over to Murray Hill and take in the experience that everyone seemed to be raving about. Sure, the place is smaller, but the quality remains high, reads all the positive press.

What I hadn't realized is that the move resulted in 20% higher prices...in my book, a sandwich is still a sandwich, and prices that high serve the tourist, not some local excited to get a bite to eat at a New York landmark. Is the price increase a way to pass down to the customer the higher rent in Murray Hill, plus higher commodity prices? Either way, what may have been a monthly experience will instead happen every once in a great while. I don't have that kind of cash, and I don't like that kind of price increase.

Inflation Watch: Petland Discounts

I am launching inflation watch today, and hope to post a daily log about the small to large ways that inflation impacts life in the big city. Those of us that aren't millionaires are already squeezed enough by high rent, expensive utilities, and so these price increases might impact the New York City middle-to-lower classes more than elsewhere. Keep an eye on your receipts, because price increases happen all over the place these days.

My first price increase bulletin comes to us from Petland Discounts, your trusted New York pet store. I stopped by the location closest to my work to pick up more of my brand of cat food, and discovered a price hike from $8.49 to $9.49 (and there was an incorrect price tag for $9.99). I asked the assistant manager why the price went up, and he said it was because of increasing oil costs that are being passed down to the customer. There has been much made of increasing commodities (grain) prices, and my guess that this played a part too.

My poor cats are being impacted by inflation too, as I reduce their dinner by one or two kibbles each!

Happy Anniversary KFC/Taco Bell

Today marks the one year anniversary of this lovely incident. Is this one of those "only in New York" moments everyone talks about?

New York Loses Supermarkets to Gentrification

This sort of thing makes me stinkin' mad and pushes me ever closer to socialism (mostly joking). It seems that all of these new condos that few can afford are destroying yet another key aspect of city living, the locally-owned supermarket. Not every neighborhood can attract Whole Foods, but it seems like every neighborhood can attract the bulldozers, leaving the poorer residents without anywhere to shop, as the fancy-schmancy well-to-do order Freshdirect.com online.

This follows news of the slow-but-steady demise of the laundromat as well - at least in Manhattan. All these negative changes seem to send the message, "you are not welcome" unless you make seven figures and have millions to spend on a new condo. I cannot even imagine what fate will befall Sunnyside, Queens, my neighborhood. Condos are appearing here and there, but the neighborhood remains decidedly old world. I have more than four laundries within five minutes of my house, as well as a Key Food, Associated, and Foodtown. Just 15 minutes away is a large Stop & Shop along with a Pathmark. Not the fanciest neighborhood, but at least neighborhood amenities are still available to me.

This brings to mind something that used to be inherently American: competition breeds vitality. Without competition, New York will become a very dull place, with some bodegas hanging on, plus a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's every few blocks. At least the Freshdirect.com trucks will have to pay congestion pricing. This all makes me wonder: in a few decades, what kind of "city" will New York even be?

February's a Miserable Month - New York's a Miserable City

According to analysis by Forbes Magazine, New York is ranked the fourth most miserable city in America, following Detroit, Flint, and Stockton, California. The primary reasons cited for this high ranking: "But the costs can make all but the super-wealthy miserable. Housing costs are through the roof, and income tax rates are 10.5%, more than twice the U.S. average."

It goes to show how much power the wealthy truly hold in this city if this isn't more of a political issue...I rarely concerned myself with taxes until I moved here. Now I also ask myself: what exactly do these higher taxes fund? If I can't afford to live in Manhattan (and didn't even bother trying for that matter), do I really need to be funding the higher quality of life that the borough has grown accustomed to over the years, when it is also one of the wealthiest counties in the country? Are there benefits for Queens, Kings, Bronx, and Richmond Counties (Staten Island)? Are the wealthiest taxed fairly enough to cover the poorest residents of New York?

This article also vividly illustrates in the clearest manner yet to me, that New York may just be a bunch of bells and whistles.