Shrinkflation: Difference between revisions
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinkflation --> | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrinkflation --> | ||
'''Shrinkflation''' (from | '''Shrinkflation''' (from "shrink" and "inflation"; Dutch: ''krimpflatie''), additionally referred to as '''package downsizing''', '''weight-out''',<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Milligan |first=Brian |date=Jul 24, 2017 |title=More than 2,500 products subject to shrinkflation, says ONS |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40703866 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724104410/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40703866 |archive-date=2017-07-24 |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |website= |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> and '''price pack architecture''',<ref>{{cite web |author=J. Edward Moreno |date=2024-05-31 |title=What's a fancy name for shrinkflation? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/business/what-is-price-pack-architecture.html |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |publisher=[[NY Times]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250930180629/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/business/what-is-price-pack-architecture.html |archive-date=30 Sep 2025}}</ref> is a corporate strategy where manufacturers reduce the size or quantity of a product while maintaining an equal or higher price. The packaging often remains unchanged, making the reduction nearly imperceptible to consumers. | ||
Related to shrinkflation is '''skimpflation''', where the ''quality'' of a product or service is reduced instead of its size or weight, without a corresponding drop in price. Both practices are considered forms of “hidden inflation” that affect consumer purchasing power.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Adrian Ma and Darian Woods |title=Skimpflation is hitting your favorite services |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/19/1047035078/skimpflation-services-prices |work=NPR |date=19 October 2021 |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> | Related to shrinkflation is '''skimpflation''', where the ''quality'' of a product or service is reduced instead of its size or weight, without a corresponding drop in price. Both practices are considered forms of “hidden inflation” that affect consumer purchasing power.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Adrian Ma and Darian Woods |title=Skimpflation is hitting your favorite services |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/19/1047035078/skimpflation-services-prices |work=NPR |date=19 October 2021 |access-date=14 August 2025}}</ref> | ||
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These incremental reductions (“shrink upon shrink”) often go unnoticed by consumers. | These incremental reductions (“shrink upon shrink”) often go unnoticed by consumers. | ||
In one attempt to distract consumers from rising shrinkflation, Cadbury stated “Our Eggs Aren’t Smaller, You Are Bigger”, and after consumers were reporting progressive shrinkage year-over-year for the eggs,<ref>{{Cite news |date=Apr 8, 2007 |title=Cadbury: Our Eggs Aren't Smaller, You Are Bigger |url=https://consumerist.com/consumer/cadbury/cadbury-our-eggs-arent-smaller-you-are-bigger-250559.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510205939/https://consumerist.com/consumer/cadbury/cadbury-our-eggs-arent-smaller-you-are-bigger-250559.php |archive-date=May 10, 2007 |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |work=The Consumerist}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TheMuggler |date=Apr 7, 2007 |title=The Cadbury Creme Egg Conspiracy |url=http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2007/04/the_cadbury_cre.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510074810/http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2007/04/the_cadbury_cre.html |archive-date=May 10, 2007 |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |website=Yes but No but Yes}}</ref> an episode of ''Late Night With Conan O'Brien'' demonstrated that these eggs were in-fact shrinking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Conan |date=Apr 1, 2021 |title=B.J. Novak Proves Cadbury Eggs Are Getting Smaller - "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlXLCrzpToo |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | In one attempt to distract consumers from rising shrinkflation, Cadbury stated “Our Eggs Aren’t Smaller, You Are Bigger”, and after consumers were reporting progressive shrinkage year-over-year for the eggs,<ref>{{Cite news |date=Apr 8, 2007 |title=Cadbury: Our Eggs Aren't Smaller, You Are Bigger |url=https://consumerist.com/consumer/cadbury/cadbury-our-eggs-arent-smaller-you-are-bigger-250559.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510205939/https://consumerist.com/consumer/cadbury/cadbury-our-eggs-arent-smaller-you-are-bigger-250559.php |archive-date=May 10, 2007 |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |work=The Consumerist}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TheMuggler |date=Apr 7, 2007 |title=The Cadbury Creme Egg Conspiracy |url=http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2007/04/the_cadbury_cre.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510074810/http://www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2007/04/the_cadbury_cre.html |archive-date=May 10, 2007 |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |website=Yes but No but Yes}}</ref> an episode of ''Late Night With Conan O'Brien'' demonstrated that these eggs were in-fact shrinking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Conan |date=Apr 1, 2021 |title=B.J. Novak Proves Cadbury Eggs Are Getting Smaller - "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlXLCrzpToo |access-date=Aug 31, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=TlXLCrzpToo |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
==Consumer response and complaints== | ==Consumer response and complaints== | ||