Malama is back, longs is doing well, and the restaurants are thriving in Pahoa. For various reasons the oil prices have been dropping around the world. We have seen gas prices fall some, not like most the mainland though, now even our helco bills are showing a difference. Why are we not seeing lower prices for food in our markets and restaurants?
The prices of airline tickets and the shipping of vehicles to or from the hawaiian islands really haven't dropped either. Yet these Carrier's always claimed fuel prices were the cause of their rising prices for years. With such drastic price drops for oil, I guess i was really hoping for more savings across the board by now? Sure wouldn't mind seeing lower prices on milk, diapers, and fresh produce.
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Why are we not seeing lower prices for food in our markets and restaurants?
Why should we? For-profit businesses have just been handed "free" margin; they're not "passing it along" because they are going to need that money for a higher minimum wage, employee healthcare, and the inevitable rise in energy prices.
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With such drastic price drops for oil, I guess i was really hoping for more savings across the board
Me too.
I have several vendors who bill "Fuel Surcharges" to their invoices. When I asked them what their base rate is, or the cost of oil and gas when the surcharge is zero, not one of them can quote a price. Which means, they just make it up. Their fuel surcharges are not based on a real world price index, it's just a percent they continue to add onto their bills.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Matson made the largest fuel surcharge "reduction" since 2009. Containers are going for about $100.00 less then a few months ago. It's the retailers here in Hawaii that are not passing on the savings. Same with fuel. The airlines are getting their fuel alot cheaper but their demand is so high that they also do not need to pass the savings on to the consumer. Basically businesses are trying to make up for lost profits of previous quarters.
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I had some work done on my home installing a solar unit. I asked contractor why price was so high. He stated "yeah but you get a tax write off from the government". So my question to him was so by raising your price you are getting the rebate not me. Could this be happening with food in Hawaii since lot of people get government subsidies. Are business stealing those subsidies that should be for the people?
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We do not think that food prices are more costly here,as opposed to any where else.
We do not have a high bill on our heating,as much of mainland has,the state sales tax is low,compared to other places on mainland.
It is all a matter of perspective .
We also raise much of our own nutrition and butcher our own protein,along with fishing and hunting game for smoke meat.We seldom eat out and we shop on coupon sales .
Then of course is the 1st of the month welfare week nation wide,where all vendors raise their prices a few pennies to maximize profits via federal reimbursements.
But to be fair to those that can not raise their own nutrition,or they eat out frequently ,then yes,life here can be more than other places.
In addition Oahu and Maui are much more costly than here,and Oahu you have a higher state and county tax to pay for the fail rail system .
We are lucky here in puna in so many ways,and yes perhaps nutrition seems higher,but add in all the other costs to live healthy and well with in your own budgetary means and it all evens out to about the same.
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quote:
Originally posted by Mimosa...
Then of course is the 1st of the month welfare week nation wide,where all vendors raise their prices a few pennies to maximize profits via federal reimbursements.
My husband said this used to happen in Wichita, KS - Boeing employees (the area's largest employer) were paid on Fridays. Gas prices went up a few cents (or more) usually very early Friday morning and came back down around Tuesday. He said back in the day, he tried to always fill up on Wed or Thur.
What is nice is KTA runs their ad specials Wed - Tues maximizing the social security distributions on Weds throughout the month. Grannies get to save! (New coupon book starts today! through April 7).
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quote:
Originally posted by MBB
I had some work done on my home installing a solar unit. I asked contractor why price was so high. He stated "yeah but you get a tax write off from the government". So my question to him was so by raising your price you are getting the rebate not me. Could this be happening with food in Hawaii since lot of people get government subsidies. Are business stealing those subsidies that should be for the people?
I agree its a scam but at least those rebates are still active...
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I agree its a scam
I watched a crew of 3 install 20 solar panels on my neighbors roof in one day. He said it only cost him $22,000, the other bids were over $30,000. At a wholesale cost of $250 per panel, that's $5000 for materials, and $17,000 for the boss and two crew. Good work if you can get it.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Food prices aren't going down. The only question is the rate of increase in prices. Oil could fall from the sky and it won't make up for the fact that rain isn't falling on California and elsewhere, and hasn't productively fallen in a long time. But don't worry, we're growing corn so that we can turn 1.5 gallons of fossil fuels into 1 gallon of ethanol to add to your gas tank so that you get 10% less MPG. 'Murica!
