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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Commiting Random Acts Of Journalism: The Cost Of Milk, Bread, And Eggs

(originally published on Northamptonist.com on Oct 1 2007

The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC Public Radio is doing a great crowdsourcing project with their listener audience. The latest project called on listeners in the NYC area to go out to their local bodega, supermarket, or grocery store and record the price of three specific items, leaving their findings in the comments at the page. Encouraging their listeners to commit random acts of journalism.

In that vein, Northamptonist went out and did just that on a recent Friday morning. The price of three food staples were recorded at stores in the immediate downtown area. A half gallon of non-organic whole milk, a loaf of white bread, and a dozen white eggs. Only stores that sold all three products were included in the survey, so that means that CVS on Main St was not included, because they do not sell bread. Cornucopia was not included because they do not sell regular non-organic milk. (unless I missed it) Admittedly, I would have preferred to note the price of espresso, but there are like 82 places you can get espresso in the immediate downtown area, and that seemed a bit daunting. But rest assured, I hope to do to that next. Please feel free to note the prices of these items at your own neighborhood store, and leave the findings in the comments.

The following prices were recorded on September 28, 2007.

Cumberland Farms, 134 King St.
Half gallon of milk - $2.55
One loaf of bread - $1.19
one dozen white eggs - $2.59

7-11, 60 King St.
Half gallon of milk - $2.79
One loaf of bread - $1.29
one dozen white eggs - $2.29

Serio's Market on State St.
Half gallon of milk - $2.49
One loaf of bread - $2.29
one dozen white eggs - $2.29

State St. Market
Half gallon of milk - $2.89
One loaf of bread - $2.09
one dozen white eggs - $1.49

Millennium Liquors, 243 Pleasant St.
Half gallon of milk - $3.29
One loaf of bread - $1.99
one dozen white eggs - $1.99

Northampton Market, corner of Old South and Conz St.
Half gallon of milk - $2.59
One loaf of bread - $2.49
one dozen white eggs - $2.09

Highest milk price - Millennium Liquors, 243 Pleasant St. $3.29
Highest bread price - Northampton Market, corner of Old South and Conz St. $2.49
Highest egg price - Cumberland Farms, 134 King St. $2.59

Lowest milk price - Serio's Market on State St. $2.49
Lowest bread price - Cumberland Farms, 134 King St. $1.19
Lowest egg price - State St. Market $1.49

Commenting on this post, someone noted the highest and lowest price totals:
Highest: Millennium Liquors, 243 Pleasant St., $7.27
Lowest: Cumberland Farms, 134 King St., $6.33

Related stories:
The Republican reports on high milk prices in the area. [The Republican]
Greg Saulmon noted the price difference for 14 household items at Wal-Mart and local stores. [Life On State]