Americans’ concerns are shifting from the pandemic to inflation, according to a new poll.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that just 37% of Americans say the virus is one of the top five priorities the government should work on in 2022. This is a significant decline compared to the 53% who said it was a leading priority last year, reported SF Gate (Jan 10).
At the same time, 14% say inflation is a top-tier concern, compared with 1% last year. With consumer prices jumping 6.8% for the 12 months ending in November, a nearly four-decade high, twice as many Americans now mention their household finances as a governmental priority—24% vs. 12% last year.
With inflation looming, food brands are taking action.
CONAGRA PREPARES FORE MORE INFLATION
Packaged food giant Conagra predicts more inflation, and demand for food at home, during fiscal 2022, reported Meat + Poultry (Jan. 7).
Like many food and beverage companies, Conagra’s second-quarter performance was impacted by inflation. The company raised its outlook for gross inflation in its fiscal year 2022 to 14%, up from an earlier 11% forecast, and said it plans additional price increases on products.
“There is a lag in timing between the impact of inflation and our ability to execute pricing adjustments based on that inflation,” said Sean Connolly, president and CEO, during a Jan. 6 conference call to discuss second-quarter results. “As a result, the incremental price increases will go into effect in the second half of the year with the most significant impact during the fourth quarter.”
ALDI COMMITS TO LOW PRICES
Following its “best ever” Christmas, discount supermarket chain Aldi has committed to offering shoppers the lowest grocery prices throughout 2022 amid cost-of-living and inflation concerns, reported The Independent (Jan. 10).
The company said sales increased 0.4% in December compared with the same month in 2020, and claimed that figures from research firm Kantar show it was the “only major supermarket” to increase sales last month.
