A month ago my ex-coworker mentioned that there was a rice shortage and prices had sky-rocketed in the Philippines and his wife family was very lucky they had a rice plantation.  We joked that his wife’s family was probably responsible for the higher prices because they control the production.  I didn’t really think much of it at the time and then my mom talked about how expensive rice is when i talked to her two weeks ago.  Last night, I asked the Uncommon Male how much the bag of rice (2 lbs) cost at the Safeway in DC and was shocked to hear it’s $3.  Back in January/February, I had gotten a 5lb bag of rice for $2.50 or $3.00.

Not everyone eat rice in every meal but for those who do, most Asian and Spanish/Mexican cuisine uses rice in most main dishes.  What about substituting with other grains?  I haven’t surveyed everything but based on what I have purchased recently, the price of pasta has gone up 80-90%.  What I used to be able to get for $.60 is now over $1.00.  The price of meat has gone up but not so much to shock me maybe with the exception of ground meat/hamburgers.

We are a household of 2 and I am already conscious of the price increases.  I can’t imagine how a family with children and multiple cars manage over $4 a gallon for gas, $3 a gallon for milk and everything else.

The Uncommon Male has always said to me that Americans had it cheap compared to Australians who are used to paying $6 a gallon for gas and $13 for a kilo of bananas ( ~ 2 lbs) at one point last season.  Have we always had it too easy and is now just experiencing what is considered just normal in many parts of the world.