Unfortunately, we really cannot rely on BLS data, Commerce data or general information from the mainstream media to get a pulse on what’s really going on with products and prices on Main Street USA. Factually, your ground reports have consistently been the accurate reflection of what’s happening in the various states and regions around the country.
With that in mind, what’s the latest situation in your area with COVID rules, prices on stuff you buy every day, and the availability of products and/or services in your community?
Specifically, people would be interested to know what the climate is toward the COVID rules, regulations, masks etc. in your city, town, hamlet or local community? How are things overall?
What’s the impact of inflation and supply chain disruptions like around you? Gas prices, grocery prices, home heating or energy prices etc.? Also, if you are having any difficulties finding products that you normally purchase? What are your family, friends and neighbors saying about it.
In short, how are things around you this holiday season? Use the comment section to provide an update on your general area. Your ground reports are always insightful and provide a good & accurate sense of how things are going on Main Street.
#FJB
Everything is too damn high. Gas prices, beef, ribs, bacon, heavy cream, propane fuel for underground tank, dog food. College tuition is sky high in state and private colleges. College campuses are equipped with expensive country club amenities, why? This is ridiculous.
in our local Publix stores Coke products are buy 2 12 packs of canned beverages, get 2 free. I no longer purchase Coke products. Our local Publix no longer stock their house brand of yummy cream soda. There is still a shortage of aluminum for cans. Publix has a Wonderful selection of roast beef, other red meats, chicken,baked goods, good produce but less availability of boxed juice containers.
Kroger had a limited supply of hams and juice drinks and an announcement to wear masks because of Omicron. Bah Humburg!
Our local auto dealer has low inventory, few loaner cars available if you need your car serviced, and long waits for parts.
President Malarkey is doing a piss poor job.
Vegas baby. Gas $3.80. Real estate and rents up 50%+ (thanks California). Labor shortages all over. Locals restaurants are crowded. They say gaming revenue is up, but the strip looks barely half full of normal pedestrians. Local news ran a story on masks. We are mandated by Gov, but no enforcement mechanism. The vast majority wear masks. I carry a mask, but don’t wear it unless asked. Never asked at grocery stores. I live near a high school. I am saddened to report that more than half of those brainwashed nitwits wear a mask while walking alone outside. Geez.
Maybe that corruptocrat Lena’s recent pronouncement that masks are “decoration” will cut down on some of that visible fear-porn.
She’s exactly the type of globalist Communist evil corruptocrat that they all listen to.
I work in a field that uses lots of precision instruments which are made in Japan. Getting parts to repair these instruments now takes longer than it used to and costs about double the expense of a couple of years ago. These delays impact our productivity, add overhead expense, and take technical staff away from other tasks.
In my private life, I had to replace my debit card recently. Normally I could just get one from my credit union office, but their card printer is broken with no ETA on the repair. They can’t get parts. So I had to order one and wait 2 weeks to get it.
As others have already noted, food and fuel costs are also up. I noticed that the quality of food at a favorite local restaurant has also gone down as prices have gone up. People aren’t eating out like they used to, but the expense of running a restaurant in a major city is still going up.
So our quality of life is going down thanks to government incompetence. This is what happens when weak and stupid people take the reins of power.
The real numbers would be good.
Dallas Texas.. Several stores are forcing self checkout on the customer.. Hamburger is down 30 cents a pound however, stew meat is up $1.09 a pound.. We use the stew cuts for everything except meatballs, hamburger is so fatty.. All lettuces are up 45-55%.. bananas are holding at 59 cents a pound but I can’t find an apple under 1.07.. Even cranberries are up.. Had to make my own cornbread then toast it instead of prepared corn bread crumbs, couldn’t find any unseasoned.. Gas is like a rocking chair.. somewhere between 2.82 and 2.96 depending on the day of the week.. Costco still has roasted chicken at $4.99 each, much larger that the pigeons offered elsewhere but are not as juicy or large as in the past..
Pigeons! That there is funny! They really are – when I was sick with the virus one of my friend’s food deliveries included one of those, sort of dried out, hardly any meat. The same store (Hannaford) actually has excellent rotisserie chickens at a decent price, or at least they did 3 weeks ago. I’ve have to take another look now…
Western NC, just north of Asheville. Gas ranges from $3.15 to $3.29 and that is a direct comparison between only Ingles gas stations..weird. Shell is always at least 10 cents more. Shelves have been semi empty since the whole fraud pandemic started. Was in Walmart yesterday; shelves half empty. Was in local Ingles; shelves half empty. The Dollar Tree always looks like it was ransacked..no product. Ditto Dollar General. Whole Foods seems to be well stocked. Harris Teeters lots of empty shelves and that has been this way since it all started.
In terms of prices; I have not noticed much change in fresh produce and I buy a lot of organic. Head of organic Romaine lettuce is $2.29 now and it has been that way for a couple of years. I think cauliflower and asparagus, non-organic or organic, is grossly overpriced…I saw a head of ordinary cauliflower for $5 at one point. Now this is surprising, Walmart carries some organic products and I can get a pint of organic grape tomatoes there for 50 cents less than anywhere else; regular asparagus for 50 cents to $1 less than anywhere else; organic Romain hearts $1 less than anywhere else…on and on.
So worth checking out Walmart for fresh produce.
Yesterday at Ingles I saw shredded soy cheese (cheddar) 8 oz for $5!!! Totally outrageous; the sliced was a dollar less but that was 50 cents higher than it used to be…other flavors were less. No idea what the thing about cheddar is but it’s the only one I like. I am lactose intolerant so this is what I use. I hate to complain because this company stopped making product for quite some time so I wrote the company. Got an immediate response. They said they were having financial difficulties but had hired a new CFO and were going to start production again soon. And they did…it took awhile but they are back in business.
I don’t eat a ton of red meat but I have noticed in Ingles the prices are high. Chicken seems about the same as usual. Another Walmart tip; they sell this organic, grass fed ground beef that is the best burger meat I have ever had! It is always pricey but well worth it….$6 a pound. Now keep in mind I am only buying for myself and I am not a big person. I made four patties out of it and freeze. It lasts a long time as like I said, I don’t eat that much beef, but when I do eat it, I want the best.
Anyway, the organic food prices are about the same with a few exceptions. I admit I spend a lot on food but I really believe in eating good quality.
I forgot about masks. We still have a mask mandate here in Buncombe County. Many people still wearing them. Best place is Walmart where majority are not wearing them; notice they do not have even a sign on their door anymore. Employees still masked there and everywhere. Venture down to Harris Teeters in Asheville and 98% hiding in masks; frequently I am only one maskless, maybe a two or three more show up. But, no one cares anymore whether you wear one or not…oh, and tourist fall foliage season was packed…really packed with people so people are traveling.
I wonder if anyone is touring the Biltmore House this Christmas season. The already-high admission price must be in the stratosphere now.
I don’t know but I do know the admission price is ridiculous. I can’t believe anyone would pay that. The fall foliage tourism is about leaves…they were late this year and the tourists just would not go away. It is overbearing at times but in other ways great because they are not into masks…most come here to enjoy themselves not wear masks. I guess they wear them to get into stores, but otherwise no go…certainly don’t wear them to go hiking our seeing the leaves. And nearby in Transylvania county I was in a lowe’s and absolutely no one other than the employees were wearing masks.
I was out and about this afternoon to do some shopping:
Ross’s : 95% without masks. Lots of Hispanics shop here, they know a bargain, and all without masks.
TJ Maxx: I couldn’t believe it; last time I was there I was only one without a mask. Today, 50% maskless and I said something to the checkout clerk about it and she said if she didn’t have to at work she would not wear one and then said something like it’s all about government control. I was shocked…this is Asheville!
Whole Foods: once again complete about face since last week when I was only one without a mask. This week, similar to TJ Maxx…about 50% mask free…this is shocking!!!!
Is it Christmas or tired of the fear?
SW OH. ground beef $4.50/lb.
Me too. I am seeing $6.99 lb. for organic, but steaks have climbed a lot. Vegetables still seem to be pretty stable but quality can be variable. I am seeing regular unleaded for $2.85 per gallon, but diesel is $3.70. A hamburger at 5 guys is pushing $8. Some empty shelves, but only reduced inventory not completely out of stock. Paper products, packaged juices, lots of frozen stuff. Bacon is way up, about 25-30%, eggs too but sales are available.
Glendale ca. If one station here had regular gas for that price the line would be a mile long. Average is $4.59 a gallon. I’m glad I’m not Uber driving.
Here in Henderson NV prices across the board are raising. Gas is $4.00 or more at most gas stations. My gas supplier Southwest Gas has more than doubled. Delivery fee of $8.77 went to $21.56. Gas cost of $11.22 went to $27.58. Our City water supplier City of Henderson has also raised prices claiming drought protection. Food prices have gone up but not as bad as I thought it would, but in our Kroger/Smiths stores there are empty shelves especially in the frozen section. Name brands as well are spotty. Unfortunately most people wear masks although I’m not the only one anymore refusing to wear them inside stores.
n.w. iowa.gas 3.02 but 80 miles east i got it for 2.76 last week.one thing missing in the stores is mushrooms of all things,we haven’t found any in over a month.as for masks,you still see the occasional idiot driving around by themselves with their mask on but otherwise none to speak of.even the few libs i know are turning red.
High desert, Southern California: I am surprised at the scarcity of Christmas decorations. Usually, the big building supply stores have lots of decorations but this year they have next to nothing. I was in a Target on Dec. 12 and all their ornaments and decorations were already gone. The shelves looked like the after Christmas sale tornado had hit early.
Local grocery store has some empty spaces. Some items I like to buy aren’t always available.
Took 3 weeks for dishwasher repair company to get a part and it still isn’t fixed. So much for “protection policy.”
Maybe people anticipated inflation prices and stocked up on decorations early (they don’t perish!). I actually had almost everything I needed already – invested time in planning and storage last year…
I was very glad that I got ahead of my outdoor decoration – got it all done the day before the virus struck. While ill, it was a small pleasure to look outside the windows and see my lights… Also my neighbors across the street have beautiful lights that I can enjoy from most vantages.
It was a nervous time, so this really helped. That and about a dozen silly romantic Christmas movies!!
The 25% increase in food stamp payouts, made permanent last fall, has been fully consumed and digested by inflation.
Baton Rouge is a war zone with over 150 murders and many more injured. The danger isn’t confined to what we used to call the ‘bad parts of town’ but are now in every nook and cranny as the violent no longer fear repercussion for their lawlessness. Covid no longer has the grip on our consciousness that it did last year which is a good development as more and more realize the vaccines don’t work and have to rely on prevention and not merely good hospital care. We ordered everything early online and were done a week ago so no supply chain issues in our home. We’re ready for four great days of celebrating our Lord and Savior’s birth and the hope of mankind. Bless you all from Baton Rouge.
Phoenix, AZ – hard to pin down specific item increases at the grocery store, but for the same basic loads of groceries – mostly canned/dried staples and dairy – our totals are 20 to 25% higher than they were six months ago. Gas fill-ups have gone up more – always fill at a quarter tank, and that’s gone from 30 something to 50 something.
One anecdote is the store brand Kroger diapers, they just recently in one swoop changed the package style, reduced quantity, and lowered product quality; while increasing the bulk boxes a few bucks in price. They’re now flimsy and poorly absorb/ seep into the babies’ clothes much more easily. Thanks for nothing, Brandon.
Missouri: gas $2.79, 2.5 pound roast $15 (manager special, otherwise $34), price hikes of $1 to $10 on most goods, plenty of food in stores,but getting more expensive all the time…
Western suburban Chicago area, gas was 3.25 last fill-up. Grocery prices are all higher. Have had to shop larger retailers for some items as our local family owned store has a difficult time getting product, been in business since the 1950’s.
Restaurants here are busy. Most have slimmed down menu offerings and raised prices accordingly. We support mostly locally owned restaurants and understand their dilemma.
Companies here are competing for workers with sign on bonuses. One sign says $2500 and across the street the slightly bigger sign says $3000. Makes me chuckle every time I drive by.
Merry Christmas to all!
Update: The bonus was increased to $3500 from $2500 when I drove by today. I wonder how high it will go as there are help wanted signs are everywhere.
Is this around Rowland, etc.?
Cat food is hard to find. Gatorade also seems to be tight supply. Weird given it is a Coke Cola product, and soda is stocked to the gills. Other then that the shelfs of my local grocery store became mysteriously well stock after Thanksgiving. My local grocery store finally had Ball canning lids for the first time in over a year. I bought a bunch for next year. I’m likely being nuts here, but this newfound supply chain success is making me apprehensive. We really are in an abusive relationship with the government.
Buy every lid you can find! I am going on the assumption that they will become non-existent next summer. Putting an end to self-sufficiency is a critical element of The Great Reset.
The problem would mostly be those fleeing cities like NYC, Albany, Rochester, etc where the “Liberal” Pathogen is most pronounced and wide spread. Not just NY cities, but all state major cities as they prefer the “ordinances” against their neighbors “for the greater good” and for their “safety” while they have to wait hours for a police officer or force to come and take notes after the facts as they are too busy filling tickets for cash revenue through fines for non-offenses or pre-crime possibilities.
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – C. S. Lewis
It’s code for tyranny when stupid rules are enacted “out of an abundance of caution”.
Looking forward to reading this thread, but in the meantime, in blueMA:
So far, RINO Baker has stopped elective surgeries, and issued an indoor mask “advisory.”
And so far, everyone who was already ignoring his mask nonsense seems to be ignoring this “advice” as well. But it’s probably only a matter of time before my mostly woke suburban town does its own decree. 😤
I fear losing access to my gym again but I suspect it will just be back to the stupid face shield. I need to rebuild muscle mass after my CCPBioweapon bout, so this is pretty crucial to me.
As for prices, my latest gas bill jumped alarmingly – I haven’t compared but I believe it did indeed double as sundance predicted. Electric too! Can’t be my Christmas lights because I switched to all LED. 🤣
One big music event tentatively planned for March has now announced passport only. The small but defiant unjabbed cohort among us think they just shot themselves in the foot and the event will fail miserably.
I am going to invest $$ soon to get a Tcell result from t-detect.com proving my natural immunity. It’s pricey ($150), but I think it will be handy to have in 2022. Either Dr. Malone or Dr. McCullough recommended it. I have an unjabbed friend who did it but it came back negative for her because she had not really been sick ever. Proof again of the myth of asymptomatic spread!
Our local lab does antibody tests for $65. Mine came back positive so I’m protected after 11 months. When GD got covid, my son got a letter from the Health dept saying that he was quarantined for 24 days and an antibody test would not work. KS 2021.
California, need I say more?
$4.59-4.99 a gallon in LA County. Masking everywhere and passports indoors in the LA city regions. Neighboring cities are not as strict but Herr Garcetti sets the tyranny bar for many towns here.
I can’t afford living where unchecked foreign money drives up prices on every single thing.
Way, way out in Eugene OR masks are required to enter any place of business such as a store or restaurant.
Gov Kate Brown wants us in masks until the end of June!
Haven’t seen shortages of items- yet.
Stores are open. However, I still see signs asking for help.
Prices on groceries are insane. Especially Costco. Meat prices in the $30’s and up. Fish is about in the same range.
Gas is in the mid $3 range to $4 range depending on type you use. Typical regular gas $3.69-$3.89.
Others are just over $4/gallon.
Lots of empty commercial property available for both lease and for sale in downtown and west Eugene.
Apartment buildings are going up in both the downtown area and near the U of Oregon campus.
Oregon has embraced Agenda 21. Don’t see them fully occupied though.
Got an email from health plan in Santa Clara County. I am considered fully vaccinated from J&J to the end of Feb. Got the shot in May. I have no idea how the determination was made but the expectation that is implied is that I will need a new vax to keep my status.
I volunteer on occasion at the local food bank. To volunteer I need to be fully vaccinated. I work part time for the city of Cupertino. To keep the job I expect I will I need to keep my status intact.
Sad. I’m sorry you got the Jab. You’re permanently altering your DNA. Not to mention the side effects if you are one of the many experiencing them but being shut down to alert others. I don’t recommend another jab, Russian Roulette with your health. Boost your immune system with supplements, quit eating processed foods, cook from scratch with as fresh as you can find 😉 veggies , exercise, stay clean, and live your life. Find another job. There are openings EVERYWHERE just look for small business owners, and buy from them too!
Somewhat expecting a “disinvite” from my In-laws for Christmas Eve.
I don’t think they will, but it’s something I’m sure they’ve discussed.
Other than that, things are looking up here in Southern Oregon.
Id say at least half the people in stores aren’t masked, despite a mandate from our handsome governor.
Happy Festivus!
So there is still hope for part of Oregon. Great news, that!
Northern Arizona. The dairy is always out now. Certain items are missing, but it’s just random. For example, egg noodles are empty, rice. But the dairy is the obvious one. Gas prices are up, masks are not enforced. A lot of people are fleeing to our area so there is a population boom so maybe inventory is having a hard time keeping up. Workers don’t seem to care. There is definitely a feeling in the air of just not caring anymore.
Forgot to mention our water bill nearly doubled. It hovered around $30-40 f or three years and the last three months it is over 60$. Our usage has not changed.
Flyover country NW/In.
Why the he!! are people wearing masks again? Gas groceries supplies all way up compared to a month ago. Things are all mucked up. FJB and the puppy he rode in on.
Cute reference there, Thomas… thanks.
Non-reservation area of NE Arizona. No Covid restrictions. Some people still wearing masks. Prices are up across the board for food. Distilled and drinking water (1 gal jugs) are in short supply. Everything else I usually purchase are available with no limitations on the amount you can purchase. Gas prices seemed to have stabilized after a rapid run up for $2.30 a gallon to $3.67 a gallon. Walmart in the local area isn’t giving coin change if you use cash (this from a neighbor since I don’t frequent China Town). No changes in store hours
There are three rail lines that run through my town. One line is by itself and then I don’t know maybe 1000 yards north sit the other two lines. It seems to me the rail traffic is down. I have noticed some of the trains are longer as they have been sticking a locomotive into the middle section of the train to help the two engines in the front pull.
I would say that they have never really done the engine in the middle trick very often just until recently. Even though the trains are longer the traffic is way down from pre pandemic.
Kansas. No masks mandate in the largest city in the state (or in all or nearly all other cities). Major chain stores have mask suggestions and automated mask reminders. Masks are required in all medical facilities, but I have seen a few people without masks, and nothing is said. We note more people wearing masks in stores, movie theaters and other indoor and outdoor public venues since all the media scare tactics for Omicron. As of Dec. 23, we have had one reported case in the entire state. I do not believe I have heard one local or national news report about season flu cases or deaths. Same for 2020. Odd. Gasoline hovers around $2.90. Gas decreased to a low of $2.84 for about three days about three weeks ago after Biden announced tapping into emergency reserves. I have not noted increased heating costs or increased electricity costs, yet. Our weather has not been cold much more than a couple of days with highs in the 30s. It’s mostly been in the 50s/60s for highs. I believe the state Covid vax rate is about 70 percent for those who have gotten at least one dose. Thankfully, we have Democrat Governor Kelly, who has publicly stated she does not agree with vax mandates. Prices in grocery stores have risen shockingly. I estimate, overall, a 30 percent increase. The main problem area is with meat, but also paper and canned goods. I have not noticed many supply-chain issues that have affected us except that we had an eight-month wait for new furniture. Restaurants and other small business have closed in our city due to a lack of employees. Service is even worse than normal for in-person contact and phone contact in many businesses but not all.
My basic contact lenses went up 25% at Costco. 25%. (Not a heavy item for shipping.)
That 25% matches the Dollar Store 25% increase.
Costco kept the high-qualirt Orvis heavy weight flannel shirt, with 2 changes:
– went from 100% cotton to 70% cotton.
– no $5 discount period.
Ozarks, Northwest Arkansas, where the quiet is beautiful.
Food prices have steadily risen. Beef at $7 to $8/lb for brisket. Steaks $10 to $14/lb.
Milk and eggs are fairly stable since we buy organic. They have always been high.
Gas is over $3/gal or about a 20% increase.
Housing pricing has skyrocketed. This area has maintained stable prices for about 15 years. Then last year houses started increasing in value about 30%. We have seen an invasion of refugees from Cali and Texas. That’s the most shocking aspect.
My son lives in Austin. A regular ranch style house is going for about $800,000. Not many local young couples can afford to do anything but rent or lease. Austin may be an anomaly since high tech has swept in and taken over.
Wisconsin, around the greater Madison area: It sounds like we’re luckier than most in terms of prices and supply, although prices have been skyrocketing ever since FJB was installed.
Gas prices will vary quite a bit depending on the specific locale (and even vary quite a bit within the same city), but regular unleaded gas is going at or around $2.77 on the low end currently (which is what I’ve been buying it for), but some areas around here are seeing prices in the $2.90s and even a bit over $3.00, so it depends on where you get it from and your knowledge of where the lower prices are at.
The price of butter has increased by 25% recently… from $1.99/lb up to $2.49/lb (ON SALE… it’s much more if you don’t buy it on sale). I stocked up a decent amount of it at the $1.99/lb sale price, anticipating the now-being-realized price increases.
The price of beef, if not on sale, is quite high (it is currently at $5.29/lb for 85% lean), but when I walked over to the beef section to check if any of it was on “quick sale”, I noticed that some packages of it were larger (4 lbs instead of 3 lbs) and were only going for $3.99/lb (which is typically the low-end sale price for 85% lean beef around here), so I grabbed those up at the lower price. 80% lean beef has ran around $3.99/lb lately, but it can be acquired on sale for much less (usually at or a bit under $3/lb) … I also know a local farmer who has been selling good quality beef for $3/lb and have been making my bulk beef purchases from him. —- 90% “ground sirloin” is currently on sale for $4.99/lb, which is the lowest that it goes for. Otherwise, it usually goes for around $5.99 or $6.29/lb when off sale.
EDIT: Mask mandates are still in effect in Dane County (Madison). Everywhere else, hardly anybody bothers with the damn things anymore. An increasing number of people in the Madison suburbs are not complying with the countywide mask mandate, although most Madisonians themselves are still enslaved and wear them around outdoors when alone.
I’m in a suburb of Sacramento, Placer County, Rocklin, CA. The gas this morning was 4.15/ga, at Costco, not bad. I looked at rib roasts and seafood and all over 100 bucks or damn near close. I like my tuna for sashimi, but not available now. Pasta stock running a bit low but nothing out of the ordinary.
Sliced turkey breast was $7.99 a pound this time last year in Broward County, Fl. I moved to Highlands County and paid $12.59 a pound yesterday.
N E GA mountains: About to start building two new homes on contract. Land prices are stable, but building materials are up 20% – 30%, or unobtainable, or both. Electrical wiring is really up; basic blue boxes are not to be found, requiring use of old-school galvanized boxes for light switches and outlets. Bought all the plumbing fixtures and the door hardware in advance and have it stored in my basement until needed.
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The only food item that’s been in short supply is, for some reason, frozen cut potatoes: The french fries, tater tots et al. Even Wally World has had empty cooler shelves for months now. But frozen veggies and meals-for-one are plentiful.
North Central Oregon, I am no longer the only non-masked shopper in Fred Meyer’s. Cost of Beef is outrageous! Three times what it was six months ago. (I only buy the good cuts). Chicken keeps going on sale, $1.99/pound and buy one get one free. Weirdly, other than the cheap brands, or the gallon sized Haagen-dasz , there was no vanilla ice cream yesterday. Big empty spaces in the freezer.
One gas station in town, Dino, is .30-.40 cents less than all the others at $2.97.
I ordered toys from Costco on Monday and they all arrived within 1-2 days.
I was fired in
October, related to “vaccine” non-compliance. Doing very little shopping since.
Wishing you all a blessed and merry Christmas 🎄
The best thing going on in Pueblo County, CO is that all of our restaurants and most of our retail businesses are pretty much operating as normal. The most atrocious thing we are witnessing is that almost every single death in our County is being attributed to COVID19. We have one very large hospital in Pueblo and they are taking full advantage of the financial incentives being handed to them by the Federal Gooberment. They are collecting an extra 13% for each person they admit with a COVID positive indicator of any kind, and they are turning that into about 40% when the Gooberment adds on the death bonus for patients whom they determine were caused by COVID. They are making this determination for nearly all of their patients who die. Pueblo County now has one of the highest rates of reported cases and deaths in the United States for Counties between 100,000 and 250,000 population. Most of us don’t believe the numbers, but most see a gravy train when it arrives from Washington DC!
I am done with COVID and my Christmas wish is for the Federal Government to get the hell out of my health care. Who in the world was ever stupid enough to believe that the Gooberment could ever run anything efficiently? What evidence did they have that such efficiency was even possible? We reap what we sow and we had better stop wishing for free shit from our useless feel good seminar Bureaucrats.
Checking in from the suburban county due west of Indianapolis- The attitude around here seems to be, ‘Masks? What masks?’ with the exception of wait staff (I’ve not counted but my guess is that 1/2 the fast food outlets have not opened their dining rooms; speculation is most of them will not in the future) in chain restaurants, but not in some, but not all, local joints. Everywhere’s got a help wanted sign out. The big box stores are all masked up. Arby’s seems to have a hybrid mask model. The gal on the cash register is … the rest of them aren’t. Go figure.
Gas just recently drifted below $3 a gallon and was $2.80 at Costco this week. Costco itself was busy, also, well stocked. I made a quick run to the Walmart Neighborhood Market that’s two miles from my house just before lunch today and it was under siege with customers. The shelves were well stocked, with the exception of paper plates and I’d guess the Kellogg’s route driver is late.
I live in an over-55 community that’s to have 400 homes when built out (it’s down to about the last 50 and we were #108). We moved here in June of ’18 and the model of home we own is now $80k more than we paid for it. How much more it would actually be is open to question as no doubt the upgrades (cabinetry, flooring, etcetera) are more as well. This area has seen homes built like nothing I’ve ever experienced in more than 30 years in the county, and they aren’t what we locally refer to as ‘vinyl valley’ housing. I’m not sure who’s buying them but they aren’t sitting around empty.
A couple of mask observations: this year’s been physically challenging for me. I’ve had two eye operations and am having back surgery this coming Monday. In the spring, I also had a follow up on some oral surgery I had done last year. (And yes, I seem to have reached that age where all I’m doing is going to doctor’s appointments. :-)) In this county a great deal of the medical services are organizationally centralized in two different locations and organizations. My group is all masks all the time. I have discussed this with two docs and, although they wouldn’t say it specifically, I think they’re being led around on this by lawyers as they no doubt know, the testing and masking is pointless. My ophthalmologist and oral surgeon are not part of the centralized operation and they aren’t masked. I have adopted the strategy that I’ll mask up when I make a visit to the doc, until you put me in the examining room and then it comes off. I don’t want to get the help in trouble. No one has said boo about it with the exception of the spine surgeon and he actually only just made a gesture I interpreted (after he’d been in the room ten minutes) as meaning, put it on.
A second mask observation: the week of 12/7 my wife and I went to Las Vegas for a week and stayed at Elara. Although the mini-Mussolini democrat governor of Nevada has decreed all masks everywhere all the time, there is wide spread refusal; among tourists I’d say it’s the great preponderance. Ducking in and out of places for a week I was told by security types to mask up four times. Twice I ignored them as they were walking the other direction and nearly everyone in my line of sight was unmasked. A third time, I felt compelled to as I was in line of sight of the guy at the security desk who’d called me out. When he left I took it off. The fourth time, some guy at the Rio was essentially stalking unmasked customers. We bailed. We flew SWA out and back and no one was unruly in an airport or on a plane. In the air, I clutched an open water bottle with my mask pulled down and was left alone about it.
Kansas. I forgot to say that crime is up in Kansas. According to KBI, crime victim chances are 11.92 per thousand. Also, we have noticed a marked increase in homeless and that the city is clearly not making efforts to stop people from living on the streets, parking lots, along the river, etc. Lots of panhandling. Yet businesses, especially chain fast-food places, are begging people to work with increased wages and signing bonus posted on signs outside the businesses. We have also seen on our neighborhood cameras nightly attempts to break into cars and/or steal them. These people attempting these thefts are young and quite well dressed. Very sad. Police are overwhelmed with all types of crimes. It’s a pity that the police do not, apparently have the time to patrol neighborhoods. This isn’t typical for our metro-area, before Covid and the current administration. Regarding masks, employees at all businesses are, sadly, still required to wear them.
Here in South East Texas. Gas prices are high, and everything else in the stores. Much higher than last year at this time. We have no shortages of anything that I have seen. We have a great grocery store chain in Texas called HEB. They run trucks everyday to make sure we are stocked. They do the same after hurricanes and when the pandemic started. we were never out of toilet paper and paper towels like a lot of people were on line. Prices are higher thou, not unreasonably. Merry Christmas everyone and say prayers for all those stuck in blue states.
Central Florida- Covid rules relaxed. we have choice. most establishments no longer wear masks. I find stores are just as stocked as any
other holiday in the past. (empty shelves only popular with hurricanes) prices are 30-50% higher across the board.
N.W PA. Traffic lighter the expected..talked to retailers “online crushing us” sentiment. Guessing the soccer moms aren’t into the whole smash and grab scene.
Spokane WA. Area: Still many sheep masking, big box still ‘following the edicts’, but lots of stores ignoring the unmasked (thank goodness). Still lots wearing masks while in their own vehicles. Temperatures going to drop to almost Zero F. about Sunday and Monday, so lthe masks will keep the faces warmer… I understand from friends that Coeur d’alene, Idaho, is pretty ‘open’.
Thanks, Menagerie, for the reminder of the innocent joy of toys that were just that.. innocent.
I get that face-warm thing, living in the New England area. The entire year I always made sure I took the plastic face shield off as soon as I got into open air, except for the months when the temps dipped far below freezing.
It was helpful to keep the face from freezing in windy parking lots…
In Soft Kanada, Barrie a small city 40 miles north of Toronto- Rents are $2500-$3000+for a house. $1700/MTH for a $hitty Basement Apartment. 9/16″ OSB was $9 now $60 a sheet. Gas is $1.45L = $5.50/US gal. Good Times in Marxist Glorious Country Kanada.
Here in central NC ( small town) 44k pop. When to ymca this am it was crowded only a couple of people with masks. Grocery stores and Walmart nobody objects to you not wearing a mask.
About 20% wear masks there. Only one restaurant in town forces you to wear masks ( former carpetbagger Dem mayor owns it. Thank God he was ousted this year. Gas is between 3.15 to 3.25. Wife says groceries have (on average) gone up 15% (low estimate). Saw at least 50 cars lined up at a Covid test site in the middle of town this am. Plenty of people out shopping . Got an email from our local hospital system saying they expect an influx of The O variant and are begging us to get vaxxed and boosted. Seems normal here without listening to the MSM. Let’s go Brandon!
You must be my neighbor. The clue was the carpet bagger mayor.
Brevard FL. So grateful for DeSantis. Gas is $3/gal for regular, BJs member price, 10 cents more elsewhere. I can not get out of a restaurant for less than $15 including tip, coffee, eggs or burger, fries, 1 wine/beer/coffee. I have not bought beef in 6 months at grocery, its all double what it was pre covid. Everything I buy coats more by 25% and up. Sold my beachside ocean view condo in August in 3 days, 14 showings, 7 offers for cash. Bought 20 years ago, sold for twice plus 50K. Saw inspections and big assessments for 30 yo buildings after Sunrise fell in Miami. My SS covers expenses and if I save a year an improvement like windows, but not a big assessment. Buying was difficult as I wanted a 50K buffer after I bought and made essential modifications like plumbing and electrical. I wanted to be on the peninsula instead of an island, tired of evacuating across causeways every time mother nature throws a cat 1 at us. Went through 4 escrows, finally closing Dec 29th on last one possible in PSJ for this year. Too far from my doctors but 5 min from son and 4 grandkids under 8. Was able to live with my gf from HS since September. New home needs a roof and HWH, minor plumbing and minor electrical, which I budgeted for. Its small so roof is 10K. Has wood cabinets, granite counter, laminate/tile floors and impact windows, so, I need to clean, paint and move in. Bailed on other 3 escrows due to termites, 30K in electrical (original aluminum) or 16K in plumbing (original iron). Was outbid on other places. Agent closed 2 early Dec, me late and has a WV transplant mid Jan close. My sellers relocated to Alabama. Almost all sales are cash right now. People who need to finance are many but sellers are not willing to risk lower assessment if they have a cash offer. So grateful to close this year and transfer my homestead.
We live in California, so…..
Pretty much normal life around here, that being NW Tennessee.
People are out and about, shelves seem to be mostly normally stocked. I see more people carrying sidearms these days. Unlicensed carry kicked in back in July and more people are carrying open.
I see this as a good thing. The beer flu is mostly ignored. People are living their lives.
That could change tomorrow. The Karen’s are still wearing masks but they’re quiet.
Poor service in restaurants central coast California. Food costs sky high. Gasoline for work trucks soaring. Already highest electricity rates in the nation
Drove from NC to Western PA via WV… billboards on I-79 in WV instruct Manchin to hold the line and vote no on dem bbb bill. Good to see the people of WV having their voice s heard in DC.
My neighbor had to buy new tires and they cost $1,300 dollars. She drives a regular gas using SUV.