The sight of a fox, a box, a mouse, and a house might not be enough to get Sam-I-Am to eat some green eggs and ham, and Thursday’s inflation data won’t help either.
The most expensive foods were eggs and ham in December, but overall food prices continued to rise slowly, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Food prices were up 0. 2% on a monthly basis, matching the rate of increase seen in November, CPI data shows. For the year, food prices are up 2. 7%, remaining below the overall inflation rate of 3. 4%.
The food at home index (aka groceries) ended December up 1. 3% from the previous year, which is the lowest annual growth rate since June 2020 and a far cry from the 2011 increase of 8% increase registered in December 2022.
Prices at the grocery store are still lower than prices for meals and snacks at restaurants, vending machines, and other places. This is up 5 2% annually.
“Food away from home’s increase is down from March’s multidecade peak of 8. 8%, but it was still faster than at any other time in 2019–2020, according to a letter written Thursday by Bill Adams, chief economist for Comercial Bank. “Wages for low-paying jobs like restaurant work are rising faster than the US average. This puts pressure on prices, which restaurants pass on by charging more.” ”.
He also said, “But the big picture is that the pandemic’s effects on the economy are wearing off. Economic growth is returning to a more normal level, and labor shortages are becoming much less of a problem, which is helping to bring inflation back to normal.” ”.
The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without a beautifully glazed ham as the centerpiece of the meal. But walk down the deli aisle at your local grocery store this year, and you may notice something missing – the hams! With the holidays fast approaching, many shoppers are wondering why they’re having such a hard time finding hams in stores. Is there really a shortage this year? This article will investigate the reasons behind the apparent ham scarcity.
Why Does It Seem Like All the Hams Are Gone?
If you’re scratching your head wondering where all the holiday hams went, you’re not alone Multiple factors have created a perfect storm this year impacting ham supplies
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Increased demand – More people are looking forward to larger holiday gatherings compared to the past two years during COVID That means more ham purchases for family meals
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Supply chain issues – Ongoing bottlenecks like trucker shortages make it tougher for ham producers to keep up with demand.
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Labor shortages – Understaffing at pork processing plants due to COVID impacts and other factors reduces production capacity.
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Packaging shortages – Scarcity of materials like plastics and aluminum cans hinders ham packaging and distribution.
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Disease outbreaks – Illnesses wiping out pig populations in certain countries affect the global pork supply.
Unpacking What’s Causing the Ham Shortage
To better understand the forces leading to the lack of holiday hams, let’s take a closer look at each factor:
Spiking Demand for Holiday Hams
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Holiday ham purchases declined the past two years due to smaller gatherings.
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With more large family meals planned, demand is spiking – up 10-15% per some estimates.
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Even non-traditional ham consumers are adding it to menus as a special dish this holiday season.
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More meals at restaurants and event venues featuring ham also drive up orders.
Persistent Supply Chain Disruptions
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Trucker shortages mean it’s harder for ham companies to deliver products to stores quickly.
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Other transportation snags like congested ports lead to delays in ingredients and packaging materials.
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Ongoing labor shortages, materials scarcity, and COVID impacts continue to stress the supply chain.
Staffing Struggles at Pork Processing Facilities
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Inadequate staffing at slaughterhouses and packaging plants slows output.
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Many facilities still haven’t recovered jobs lost during the pandemic.
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Outbreaks among workers exacerbate labor issues and force temporary closures.
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Without enough employees, processors can’t keep up with demand.
Shortages of Key Ham Packaging Materials
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Aluminum used for cans is becoming more scarce and expensive.
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Plastics used in packaging are also facing supply constraints.
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Paper and other products used in labels and packaging are impacted too.
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This restricts the packaging needed to get ham products to retailers.
Disease Impacts on Pork Production
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Illnesses like African Swine Fever have killed pig populations in China and Europe.
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With lower global pork output, it’s harder to source enough pork for US ham production.
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More pork is also being exported from the US, leaving less for domestic ham production.
Potential Solutions for Increase Ham Availability
With ham supplies tight this holiday season, what can be done to get more onto grocery store shelves? Here are some potential remedies:
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Streamlining packaging to rely on more available materials.
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Boosting wages and adding benefits to attract more workers at processing plants.
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Securing alternate international suppliers not impacted by outbreaks.
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Contracting additional cold storage to expand ham inventory capabilities.
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Adding extra shifts and increasing overtime to maximize production.
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Partnering with retailers to forecast demand more accurately.
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Allowing emergency pork imports to fill domestic supply gaps if needed.
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Launching targeted ham promotions outside of peak holiday demand times.
Shopping Strategies to Help Find Ham This Season
Determined holiday hosts searching for ham have options even with shortages. Here are tips to improve your chances:
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Check stores first thing in the morning when inventory is freshest.
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Ask the butcher counter if they have any extra ham stock in the back.
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Watch for specialty ham products like ones smoked in-house or spiral cut that may be less popular.
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Consider alternatives like turkey, roast beef, or lamb if you can’t find traditional baked ham.
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Search warehouse clubs, butchers, international grocers, or online mail order companies.
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Be open to bone-in and half hams if the typical spiral cut is unavailable.
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Buy a large uncooked ham and cook it yourself instead of a pre-cooked one.
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Talk to your grocery manager – they may be able to special order cases if you request ahead.
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Check the freezer section for fully cooked hams you just need to thaw and heat.
Adapting Your Holiday Meals to Grocery Uncertainty
With supply chains still unpredictable, finding certain holiday ingredients may require some flexibility. Here are tips for navigating ongoing grocery challenges:
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Have backup meal plans just in case key ingredients are unavailable.
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Take advantage of seasonal sales and stock up on hard-to-find items when you see them.
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Join store loyalty programs for early access to holiday promotions and sales.
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Scale back portions or sides if certain meats or ingredients can’t be found.
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Get creative with substitutes like using alternative proteins or swapped sides.
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Shop small local grocers who may have better luck with specialty holiday foods.
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Check product dates and freeze extras if you do find hard-to-locate items.
While out-of-stocks can be frustrating, remember the joy of the holidays comes from togetherness. Even if everything doesn’t go according to plan, embracing flexibility and adaptation will help you make treasured memories.
The Outlook for Holiday Hams in Coming Years
Will ham shortages persist in future holiday seasons? Here are some predictions based on current supply chain trends:
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Gradual improvement expected over 2022 if staffing and materials shortages ease.
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Additional production capacity and updated processes could stabilize supply.
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But seasonal demand spikes will likely still lead to temporary shortfalls around holidays.
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International disease and pork industry factors remain variables out of US control.
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Cost pressures from inflation could further constrain production and consumer pricing.
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Environment and animal welfare issues may also reshape supply and demand dynamics.
The path toward dependable holiday ham availability still has hurdles to overcome. But being prepared with backup plans and shopping flexibility will help you roll with whatever comes. With some patience and creativity, you can still plate up a memorable holiday meal this season.
Where prices went higher
Prices of eggs (the standard, non-green-yolked variety) shot up 8.9% from November, marking the highest monthly increase since January of last year as bird flu has once again struck the industry. For now, economists believe this latest avian flu won’t be as severe as the one in 2022 that devastated flocks and sent egg prices sky-high (at one point rising 70% year over year).
For the 12 months that ended in December, egg prices are down 23.8%.
Also in December, those Christmas hams saw some inflation as well. Ham prices rose 2. 6% for the month (2. 9% excluding canned ham), BLS data showed.
Fats, oils and peanut butter products saw a similar increase of 2. 6% in December, while raw beef steak prices picked up 2. 4%.
The prices of frozen noncarbonated juice and raw beef steaks have gone up the most over the past year, going up 19% and 18%, respectively. 1% and 11. 2%, respectively.
Crackers (+7. 7%), baby food (+7. 3%) and sugar (+6. 9%) also are seeing some of the highest gains from a year ago.
CNN talked to Wendy Edelberg, who runs The Hamilton Project and is a senior fellow in economic studies at Brookings. “I think people get really mad when they go to the grocery store and see the high prices,” she said. “But a lot of these prices that we see every day could just fall right off the charts.” ”.
Will The U.S. Face A Food Shortage?
Why is there a ham shortage in Jamaica?
A similar ham issue is happening in Jamaica. According to Jamaica Observer, the combination of import restrictions as well as higher costs for domestic production looks to have caused a ham shortage. While improvements have been seen over the past several months, the pork bounty isn’t quite as robust this year.
Is there a pork shortage?
Jim Monroe, the Assistant VP of Communications for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) organization told CNET that there’s not a pork shortage, and “the issue is on the farms where hogs are backed up due to COVID-related meatpacking plant disruptions.”
Why are Ham prices rising?
The sharp one-day rise in ham prices comes as the omicron variant keeps workers out of U.S. slaughterhouses, hitting meat production. Absenteeism at meat plants has roughly doubled in recent days.
What does a meat shortage mean?
The answer to this questions is a bit complex, so we’ll break it down below — what is a meat shortage mean, how did the meat supply become affected and could it return. For now, signs indicate that meat production is back in motion and that supplies may be easier to find.