It’s not just you. Going to the grocery store is now more expensive than ever.
While the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the price of food has gone up by 3.2% over the past year, many items are now significantly more expensive than they were a year ago. For example, eggs, chicken, and beef are now 10% more expensive than they were last year, per NBC News.
Given this, many Americans are searching for ways to save money while picking up essentials. Sometimes, this means reconsidering where they shop, as one shopper on TikTok shared in a recent video with over 152,000 views.
Why Was This Item At Publix So Expensive?
In her video, TikTok user Katie (@ratedspecialk) explains how a trip to Publix for a single item caused her to rethink her shopping habits.
According to Katie, she went to Publix to get a red onion for salad. Unfortunately for her, the store only had large onions.
“This is the only size they have,” she says, holding up a large onion. “All of them look like this.”
Katie then holds up the receipt, allowing viewers to see just how much she paid for the vegetable.
“I just paid 3 dollars and 82 cents for a f—— onion,” she says before crumpling up the receipt.
“You’re dead to me, Publix,” she states. “Dead to me.”
Explaining The Prices At Publix
Katie isn’t the first to complain about high costs at the grocery chain. Other internet users have noted the rising cost of beef at the store, as well as high prices on items like milk and bacon.
These prices aren’t unique to Katie’s location. The Lexington Herald Reader visited Walmart, Kroger, and Publix to see which chain had the cheapest items. Publix was consistently the most expensive.
The reason for these high prices, some say, comes down to a few factors.
The first is quality. As noted in the Lexington Herald Reader piece, Publix offers fresh meat, fresh seafood, and produce that is often locally sourced. Additionally, its food safety standards go significantly beyond what is required by regulation.
Second, Publix is typically in more expensive areas than competing stores like Target and Kroger, which could result in higher prices.
Finally, the store has less aggressive discount policies than places like Walmart or other competing grocers.
@ratedspecialk This is why I rarely shop here anymore!! #inflation #publix #groceries
Commenters Are Fed Up With Publix Prices
In the comments section, many users said that Publix’s prices have led them to no longer shop at the chain.
“I had to stop shopping there a while ago. They are just so out of control. It’s not funny. It’s Walmart and Aldi’s for me,” wrote a user. “The only time I go to Publix is when I need something real bad that I can’t get at the other two places and that’s not often thank God.”
“Publix overcharges for everything. We can blame inflation but if you go to Aldi, Walmart or Target — they’re charging less. So it’s Publix. Publix is the problem,” declared another.
That said, some were willing to shell out for what they perceive to be a better experience.
“Publix is the best. You get what you pay for. When going to Publix, it’s a clean store, great selection of products. Well staffed,” shared a commenter. “You go into other stores and you get what you get.”
BroBible reached out to Publix via email and Katie via email and TikTok direct message.