RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – A dozen basic grocery items cost an average of $49.63 at three Richmond stores, according to a joint investigation by the On Your Side Investigators and NBC stations across the country, including the Today Show.<\/p>\n
On Your Side Investigator Rachel DePompa purchased the same 12 items \u2014 milk, butter, eggs, orange juice, bread, cheese, cereal, fresh meat, vegetables, pasta, tomato sauce and coffee \u2014 in person, by pickup and by delivery at Target, Walmart and Whole Foods locations in Richmond. <\/p>\n
Store memberships were not used. Local sales tax and bag fees were included.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of a sudden prices have skyrocketed,\u201d said Richmond shopper Claire Marsh. \u201cLike in the last month. It\u2019s obscene.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delivery fees add up fast<\/p>\n
Choosing delivery over shopping in store added between $14.15 and $18.95 per order in fees and tips. At that rate, weekly deliveries over a month could cost roughly $60 in fees alone.<\/p>\n
Pickup orders, however, cost the same as shopping in person \u2014 offering a time-saving option without the added expense.<\/p>\n
Richmond prices on par with higher-income markets<\/p>\n
The Today show divided participating NBC stations into regions. Virginia was grouped in the South alongside Miami, Fla., and southern Texas.<\/p>\n
The investigation found Richmond grocery prices comparable to those in New York and Boston, where incomes are often higher.<\/p>\n
One example: a bottle of orange juice at a Richmond Walmart was priced at $7.96 \u2014 $1.48 more than the same bottle at a Walmart in Fairfax, Va., where it cost $6.48.<\/p>\n
Most shoppers Rachel spoke with were shocked at how much 12 basic groceries cost. Again that average was around 50 bucks. \u201cYears ago that would be a whole week\u2019s groceries,\u201d Claire Marsh said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really can\u2019t believe that \u2014 I thought it would be much less than that,\u201d said shopper Kate McCreery.<\/p>\n
What the stores said<\/p>\n
In a statement, Walmart said most of its stores use the same prices, but that \u201ccertain commodities … can vary regionally due to localized cost and distribution differences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Target said its prices can differ store to store due to local promotions and competition.<\/p>\n
Whole Foods said its prices may vary due to \u201cregion-specific promotions, regulatory compliance, variances in transportation and operating costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Store memberships can provide discounts on groceries and free delivery, but subscriptions can cost $100 or more per year \u2014 a factor to consider when determining whether a membership makes financial sense.<\/p>\n
Today Show report<\/p>\n
Check out the \u201cToday Show\u201d report below: <\/p>\n
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