Grocery price check amid dockworker strike: How prolonged walk-off could impact costs

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) —  While many experts say the dockworker strike won’t immediately impact consumer prices, long-term implications could ripple along supermarket shelves.

Workers at East and Gulf Coast ports began striking at midnight on Tuesday in an effort to protect jobs from automation and receive other benefits.

Dr. Martin Dresner, a business professor at the University of Maryland, told DC News Now that certain grocery prices, including produce and canned goods shipped into now-closed ports, could rise if a strike is prolonged.

“I think we’re going to be ok in the immediate term. If this lasts a long while, in terms of weeks and months, certainly these companies will run out of stock, and consumers may experience shortage,” Dresner said. He also mentioned that many companies say they have a large amount of products available to meet consumer demand.

In a statement shared with DC News Now Monday, a Walmart spokesperson said, “We prepare for unforeseen disruptions in our supply chain and maintain additional sources of supply to ensure we have key products available for our customers when and how they want them.”

Earlier this month , the National Retail Federation warned that “the downst ream impacts on businesses, workers, consumers and the economy at large are too large to see a coastwide port strike.”

Among foods that could see increased prices or possible shipment delays longterm, include
“Bananas, for example… specialty cheeses… some sort of canned goods could come over from Europe or Asia,” Dresner said.

DC News Now continues to log grocery prices at Walmart, Giant and Safeway — three popular stores in the region — to help consumers decide where to save money.

Below are the prices published online as of Tuesday and the price change compared to last Monday.

Brown Eggs (12 ct.)

• Walmart: $4.14 (-$0.64)
• Giant: $4.79 (+$0.49)
• Safeway: $5.99

Wheat Bread (20 oz.)

• Walmart: $1.42
• Giant: $1.99 (-$0.90)
• Safeway: $3.49 (+$0.50)

2% Gallon of Milk

• Walmart: $2.57
• Giant: $3.99
• Safeway: $5.19 (+$0.20)

Broccoli (12 oz. bag)

• Walmart: $1.16
• Giant: $1.89
• Safeway: $2.49 (-$0.01)

Avocado

• Walmart: $0.98
• Giant: $1.88 (+$0.22)
• Safeway: $2.00 (+$1.00)

Russet Potato

• Walmart: $0.92
• Giant: $0.84
• Safeway: $1.19

Boneless Chicken Breast (value pack per pound)

• Walmart: $2.67
• Giant: $2.49 (+$0.20)
• Safeway: $5.99

Boneless Pork Chop (value pack per pound)

• Walmart: $4.64
• Giant: $5.99
• Safeway: $5.99

Ground Beef (1 pound tray)

• Walmart: $5.63 (-$0.30)
• Giant: $5.99
• Safeway: $5.49

Brown Rice (32 oz. bag)

• Walmart: $1.64
• Giant: $2.29
• Safeway: $2.99

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