With gas prices already denting students' pocket books, climbing grocery prices may make the phrase "starving college student" more of a reality than ever.
The Arizona Farm Bureau Federation reported in its informal Marketbasket Survey on April 1 that the total cost of 16 basic grocery items — such as flour, milk and various meats — rose more than 8 percent, or an average of $4.33, between the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008. Of the 16 basic groceries that were purchased in the survey, 10 items increased in price, five decreased, and one item remained the same.
The Arizona Farm Bureau reported that the increase in grocery prices is a result of the increased prices of vegetable oils: More than a third of the foods with higher price tags were oil-based products such as mayonnaise, according to the report.
But mechanical engineering junior Danny Gibson said he has been more affected by the recent increase in gas prices than by the increase in grocery prices.
"I haven't been paying attention," Gibson said about grocery prices. "When it increases, it's not as noticeable of an increase like gas and rent."
Gibson said the difference, though, is that unlike gasoline, he has to buy groceries.
"You have to get it, it's not really a choice," Gibson said. "I try to buy stuff on sale, but you can't force them to lower their prices."
Local restaurant manager Todd Harris said he has felt the impact of rising grocery costs.
Harris manages Sushi 101, located on the corner of Rural Road and University Drive.
"We are doing OK," he said. "But we would obviously like to be doing better."
Though the price of fish is rising along with other groceries, Harris said the restaurant doesn't plan to increase its prices.
"We are just going to hold out," he said. "We want to take some time before we make that move. For now, we are going to wait and see what happens."
Reach the reporter at: ryan.calhoun@asu.edu.
