LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Check closely on that next grocery shopping trip: packages are getting taller and thinner.
Experts call it "shrinkflation" — a consequence of 40-year high inflation.
A box of Life cereal grew in height, but it lost 2.5 ounces of cereal. That's roughly a bowl and a half missing.
"It's a very sneaky way to pass on a price increase," said Ed Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org, a consumer resource guide that investigates trends. "They know consumers will notice a direct price increase, but they won't notice if the product gets a little bit smaller."
Ice cream flavors that came in half-gallon cartons in 2008 were 64 ounces. Now, they're 48 ounces.
Tillamook Creamery said they chose to cut their carton sizes by 14% to remain profitable and provide customers with the "least disruptive" option at the same price.
It's not just edible products. Toilet paper packages from Charmin may look the same, but Dworsky says the manufacturer chopped at least 30 sheets off each roll.
Even bottles of dish detergent are half-ounce lighter than they previously were.
"It's not easy to spot. We all have to become more net weight conscious," Dworsky recommended. "That means, look at the products you buy every day. And when you go to the store, see if it's changed or not."
While he doesn't believe manufacturers are trying to rip off customers, he predicts many of the changes are here to stay.
"It's not an easy decision … It's actually a costly decision for companies. They have to retool their manufacturing plant, resize the packaging. But even with all those costs, many manufacturers think it's worth it," he explained, noting the size reduction "tends to be a one-way street."
Have you noticed any of your go-to products shrink in size?
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