Bran prices?

[Danl]

I routinely use wheat and oat bran in the bread that I make. Now, bran of any kind is pretty much dirt cheap, but I was shocked today to see that the price of bran has doubled in the last month or two. I was paying $1/lb for wheat bran in March, and it's $2/lb now. Is this just one store ripping me off, or is there really a global price explosion? Now, I'm not getting wholesale bags, just scooping it in a self-serve counter.

 

[retired baker]

wholesale price is $30+ for 50lb bag.
Last time I ordered rolled oat was $11 for 50 lbs but it was a long time ago.

 

[Norcalbaker59]

I routinely use wheat and oat bran in the bread that I make. Now, bran of any kind is pretty much dirt cheap, but I was shocked today to see that the price of bran has doubled in the last month or two. I was paying $1/lb for wheat bran in March, and it's $2/lb now. Is this just one store ripping me off, or is there really a global price explosion? Now, I'm not getting wholesale bags, just scooping it in a self-serve counter.

Blame it on climate change and right wing politics.

Climate change resulted in change in weather patterns worldwide. Farmers in UK said they experienced the worst weather in 40 yrs.

An unusually wet fall prevented them from planting their normal amount of crops. Then the waterloggeg soil prevented their wheat from producing a good crop. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, they had the rainiest February on record.

Their 2020 wheat harvest, which is in the marketplace now is down about 40% from normal.

Couple that with the failing of UK to reach trade agreements with all the counties following Brexit. Tariffs are between 20% - 50%. With severe shortages, imports of grains and grain-based products are in high demand. But with Covid there’s also shortages and demand for these products worldwide as well. So these pressures have been driving prices.

 

[Danl]

Thanks, that's interesting to know. Really quite striking how large an effect it has caused.

 

[retired baker]

Inflation, pass it on, don't get caught holding the bag.

 

[Danl]

Inflation, pass it on, don't get caught holding the bag.

Uh, no. 75% inflation in one year doesn't quite conform to reality.

 

[retired baker]

Its called hyperinflation, it was predicted.
Gas doubled in price in 6 months and that was predicted also.
Its politics.
Price of my house has almost doubled in 3 years since we bought it.

 

[Mona]

t seems like the price of bran has gone up significantly, which could be due to several reasons like supply chain issues, increased demand, or agricultural factors. While individual store prices can vary, a big jump like this often reflects broader market trends or economic changes. It might be helpful to check prices at different stores or buy in bulk if you find a better deal elsewhere.

 

[Jessie_Roos]

It’s definitely frustrating to see such a sharp increase in prices! It might not just be a case of one store overcharging you; there could be broader market factors at play. Sometimes, fluctuations in supply and demand, changes in production costs, or even disruptions in the supply chain can lead to price hikes.

For instance, if there’s been a bad harvest or increased demand for bran in other sectors, it could drive up prices across the board. It’s also worth checking if there’s been a recent change in tariffs or trade policies affecting grain products.

You might want to compare prices at different stores or check online retailers for better deals. Sometimes, buying in bulk can help you save money in the long run, even if the upfront cost seems higher.

 

[Mona]

It sounds like you’re noticing quite a price jump! While it can be frustrating, it's not uncommon for prices to fluctuate, especially with commodities like bran. There could be a few factors at play here—global supply chain issues, increased demand, or even local market conditions.

Have you checked prices at other stores? Sometimes it’s just one retailer that raises prices significantly. Additionally, if you can find a local mill or health food store, they might have better deals on bulk purchases. It could also be worth looking into online options, as some retailers might offer lower prices for larger quantities. Hopefully, this is just a temporary spike and prices will stabilize soon!