“30 Slices To 24”: 50 Examples Of How Sneakflation Has Gotten So Bad, It’s Not Even Funny Anymore

Money’s purchasing power decreases over time. It’s why $100 in 2025 does not hold the same value as it did in 2005. This is inflation at work, and it naturally occurs due to several factors, including natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, shifts in consumer demand, and changes in monetary policy, among others. 

Sneakflation, on the other hand, is a subtle way companies raise their prices in a manner that may go unnoticed. It’s through the visibly shrunken toilet papers on the grocery store that come with the same price tag, or the 5% surcharges that suddenly appear on your bill. 

Experts are still working to understand the root causes of the sneakflation phenomenon. However, in the case of the United States, many are blaming the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on imported goods. 

According to an August report by CNN, economists from Goldman Sachs predicted that consumers will eventually shoulder 70% of the direct cost of tariffs. Moreover, they believe that the number could rise to 100% if domestic producers eventually raise their prices. 

In an interview with the publication, Harvard Business School professor Alberto Carvallo forecasts that consumers may see the effects of the tariffs in “over a year.” He adds that within a year or two, the significant amount of tariffs paid will be noticeable, even if the increases aren’t felt right away.

As consumers, how can we combat sneakflation? In an interview with FOX 32 Chicago, finance professor Daniel Roccato shared some valuable tips. One of them is to compare unit prices. 

“Focus on the price per ounce. The price per pound. That’s what we really want to compare, not necessarily the price of that box of cereal, but the price per ounce in that box of cereal,” he said.

Roccato also urges reading the fine print and bundling online purchases to avail of free shipping perks. But another key piece of advice is to pay in cash. 

“I would’ve swiped that credit card at the restaurant until I saw that surcharge,” he said. “It’s easy, it’s safe, it’s convenient. All those things are true, but at the end of the day, you can still save some money using good, old-fashioned cash.”