Pinching dollars instead of pennies? A sign inflation is taking over dollar stores

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Dollar store products for many households are the only reason some families can get by, but now, they’re getting more expensive.

With inflation on the rise throughout the years, some can’t keep up with their previous prices. Dollar Tree raised prices to $1.25 at the end of 2021, with a small section of the store dedicated to items priced even higher.

Here at home, Bakersfield 99 Cents Only Stores have prices far different than what they used to, with some doubling what they used to be.

Being that dollar stores are usually built in areas that need financial accommodations, this concerns consumers who used to look to the 99 Cents Only Store as a safe haven.

“It says 99 cents and everything else is not a dollar,” said Bakersfield resident Tyler Means. “It’s over five dollars, six dollars — it’s just insane.”

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Looking around the 99 Cents Only Store, there are a lot of items listed as if it was a normal grocery store and not a discount dollar store.

One consumer told 17 News that the real challenge is to find something that is still 99 cents within the store. Though those options are still available, they are outnumbered compared to the rest of the inventory.

“If you were to go back to the 1950’s and adjust for inflation, the one dollar that you would be spending there today, you would have to have $10 to buy those very same items,” said Moneywise co-owner and managing partner Dave Anderson. “So, it’s really hard for the dollar store to adjust for inflation because the price is literally in the name.”

Times are changing, and it may not be long until there are zero items for 99 cents at the 99 Cents Only Store.

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