# Things where prices have skyrocketed during the pandemic **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356 "2021-03-21T17:42:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/41 "2021-04-06T14:45:37Z")
Canned soda is significantly more expensive now ($4-6 per 12 pack now when previously it was $3-4). However 2-liter bottles have stayed relatively stable ($1-2) which makes it seem like aluminum prices are to blame. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/42 "2021-04-06T15:37:04Z")
yeah I noticed this too. also there’s more variety among two liters vs cans ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2021, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/43 "2021-04-09T01:44:13Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Canned soda is significantly more expensive now ($4-6 per 12 pack now when previously it was $3-4). However 2-liter bottles have stayed relatively stable ($1-2) which makes it seem like aluminum prices are to blame. I’ve heard that many people have stopped returning their for-deposit cans, presumably to spend less time in the grocery store. This means the canners have to buy more new aluminum. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2021, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/44 "2021-04-09T01:50:11Z")
actually, you generally have to take them to a scrapyard that recycles the cans the stores here left the recycling biz decades ago (the ones here used a machine that looked like a coke machine ) … although I do wonder how much the state of ca gets to keep of the CRV deposit … ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2021, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/45 "2021-04-09T01:57:23Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > actually, you generally have to take them to a scrapyard that recycles the cans the stores here left the recycling biz decades ago Not in the for-deposit states. At least here in CT most stores that sell cans or bottles of soda must accept them back and repay the deposit. Places that sell singles like gas stations do not need to do so. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2021, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/46 "2021-04-10T04:45:06Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Maine Coon kittens. They were around 750 three years ago, closer to 2500 now. I guess this is like lobster - the closer to the “source” the cheaper they are. My actually from Maine Maine Coon kitten cost me $900 in October (I signed an agreement to neuter him by 7 months old, or he’d of been twice that, ftr), which is $500 less than my other kitten, a traditional Balinese I did not need to agree to neuter though of course I did. There _are_ more expensive Maine Coon breeders in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, but over $1500ish is typically because you’re buying breeding rights to said kitten. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/47 "2021-04-15T06:58:38Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > guess this is like lobster - the closer to the “source” the cheaper they are. My actually from Maine Maine Coon kitten cost me $900 in October (I signed an agreement to neuter him by 7 months old, or he’d of been twice that, ftr), which is $500 less than my other kitten, a traditional Balinese I did not need to agree to neuter though of course I did. how much are they in the animal shelters after they get abandoned ? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/48 "2021-04-15T18:50:36Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > how much are they in the animal shelters after they get abandoned ? What, lobsters? I hardly ever see these in shelters near me. Now I want a pet lobster. I shall call him “Ernie” ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/49 "2021-04-15T19:08:01Z")
Used travel trailers have become hard to find. A dealer told me a month ago he normally has 40 to 50 used on his lot, at that time he had 3. I bought one from a private party and ended up paying asking price for a 9 year old rig that needs a lot of TLC. I looked at some new trailers, dealers are getting full retail, something equivalent to my used trailer would have been over $40,000. That might have been a good deal for me, I will have about $30,000 into my used rig before I leave for my first camping trip next month. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/50 "2021-04-18T20:18:52Z")
My father told me that car rental prices have tripled last time he checked. Apparently with the pandemic a lot of car rental places basically sold off a lot of their inventory to both make money as well as get rid of cars that people weren’t renting because they weren’t traveling. Now a lot of tourist destinations bouncing back with vaccinated travelers have seen rental car prices go through the roof because of the sudden new demand. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/51 "2021-04-19T02:21:36Z")
I just checked, economy cars are starting at $60 a night. I think they were going for $20-30 a night before all this. You can also rent a Chevy Suburban for $500 a night. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/52 "2021-04-19T18:22:25Z")
Electrical supplies have gone bonkers. Common things like Square D’s Homeline circuit breakers and “old work” wiring boxes are simply unavailable. I wound up paying $14 last week from a vendor on Amazon for a box that’s normally three bucks because nobody near me had any. Supposedly, the lumber prices are a combination of the previous administration’s meddling with trade, (particularly with Canada) mills shutting down, and so many restaurants building “parklets” for outdoor dining driving up demand. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/53 "2021-04-19T18:29:20Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Supposedly, the lumber prices are a combination of the previous administration’s meddling with trade, (particularly with Canada) mills shutting down, and so many restaurants building “parklets” for outdoor dining driving up demand. I’ve also been reading that the massive destruction due to wildfires, hurricanes and flooding, have driven up lumber prices in recent years due to needing to rebuild so many structures. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/54 "2021-04-19T18:44:32Z")
Actual log prices are only starting to go up this quarter for the most part. Hopefully that means that everyone along the supply chain has got their shit sorted out and now the actual tree owners can be directly incentivized to put out more wood. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/55 "2021-04-21T16:32:52Z")
Maybe this should be its own thread, but I’ll ask it here. Are these big price increases the warned about inflation from all of the stimulus money being dumped into the economy? Prices go up (in the economics 101 model) because demand is outstripping supply. Is that because there is all of this new money available, and interest rates are nil, so people/companies are spending and competing for resources? (Inflation) Or, is it due to pandemic related restrictions on supply, such as factory closings? (Maybe technically inflation, but I wouldn’t say it is due to the stimulus money.) I’m sure the answer is “both,” but I imagine for most things it isn’t going to be equal. Just as a made up example, roofing materials are much more expensive now because the factories that make most of them are running at a very reduced capacity, and demand is slightly up because some people are spending their stimulus money on roof repair. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/56 "2021-04-21T16:50:29Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I’m sure the answer is “both,” but I imagine for most things it isn’t going to be equal. Just as a made up example, roofing materials are much more expensive now because the factories that make most of them are running at a very reduced capacity, and demand is slightly up because some people are spending their stimulus money on roof repair. For the cans a lot of the issue was the decline in in person sales so less beer was put in kegs and more into can. In some cases small business went from 100% kegs to 100% cans. Which led to a large spike in demand but no ability to increase supply. I do believe there were some covid slowdowns in production as well but most of it was a huge consumption pattern swing. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/57 "2021-04-21T19:52:37Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Electrical supplies have gone bonkers. Common things like Square D’s Homeline circuit breakers and “old work” wiring boxes are simply unavailable. I wound up paying $14 last week from a vendor on Amazon for a box that’s normally three bucks because nobody near me had any. > > Supposedly, the lumber prices are a combination of the previous administration’s meddling with trade, (particularly with Canada) mills shutting down, and so many restaurants building “parklets” for outdoor dining driving up demand. for the lumber issue another factor is supposedly people got bored at home during quarantine so a lot of people attempted building projects in their yard as something to do. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/58 "2021-04-22T09:28:19Z")
coke and most soda… a 24 pack is over 9 dollars and 5.28 for 12 …before the virus I could get 4 12 packs for 9-12 …and a 24 pack for 6.99, and it’s the same everywhere…usually id rotate where id get it from like one week Walmart next week target because of rotating sales but not at the present ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/59 "2021-04-22T18:57:08Z")
do you have Kroger? I still see four twelve packs go on sale for $12 there sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356/60 "2021-04-22T22:46:59Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I’m sure the answer is “both,” but I imagine for most things it isn’t going to be equal. Just as a made up example, roofing materials are much more expensive now because the factories that make most of them are running at a very reduced capacity, and demand is slightly up because some people are spending their stimulus money on roof repair. Congratulations here is your MBA! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DxrlcLktcxU/hqdefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DxrlcLktcxU/hqdefault.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-where-prices-have-skyrocketed-during-the-pandemic/938356.md?page=4)