OCEAN CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) — Many people will be heading to the New Jersey shore this week to start their summer vacation, and while it may seem like escapism, it’s not helping them escape the rising cost of food.
Prices are rising throughout the Philadelphia region, but the Fourth of July holiday weekend is drawing even more people to the coast.
Some restaurant workers said they have been forced to raise menu prices because suppliers are charging them more.
“This is not my fault. We buy high and sell high,” said Ike Shaaid, chef at Literature Food Court.
Shaaid said rising prices have led to fewer customers coming into his store.
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“People are a little tight on their wallets and are price conscious. It’s a great day today but there aren’t many customers,” Shaaid said.
Others said they found it hard on their wallets to buy food to go to the Ocean City boardwalk.
“It’s definitely a lot more expensive than it used to be. I’ve been coming here for a few years now, but the prices have gone up so much that it’s kind of hard to come here,” said Trevor Pierce of Bryn Mawr.
If you think buying groceries will help you save money, you may find that this isn’t the case.
“It’s very, very expensive,” said Mary Walsh of Ocean City.
Walsh said she is preparing to host a Fourth of July party and has been surprised by the prices at her local grocery store.
“You go in and a bag is $100,” Walsh said.
Our 6abc data journalism team found that most holiday food items have increased in price since last summer, with meat products seeing the biggest increases.
The owners of Yianni’s Cafe say they try to keep dining out costs low.
“We don’t charge any credit card fees; they normally charge 3 to 4 percent,” said Yani Ciganos, owner of Yani’s Cafe.
He added that being open year-round also helps stabilize costs.
“We’re open all year round, so even in the winter we’re busy,” Ciganos said.
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