On 5/19/2011 2:17 PM, Dave Smith wrote:

> Food prices could get scary this year. We have some serious
> interruptions in the food supply due to rain or lack of rain, depending
> on the location. Most of the productive areas in North America are
> experience record rainfalls and floods. Fields are too wet for farmers
> to to get out and work their fields, too wet to plant. Much of western
> Europe is facing drought conditions. They have had little or no rain
> during the critical sprouting and initial growth periods. China is also
> experiencing severe droughts. It seems that there is either not enough
> water, or there is way too much.

This quote is based on a single search engine hit that I looked at, but
it makes sense.

"At the other end of the spectrum, Wal-Mart and others under more
pressure to get their financially squeezed shoppers to spend, are
offering more discounts and pushing smaller packages at the end of the
month when shoppers have less money."

"CVS Caremark Corp. announced Wednesday it was offering a new program
for its loyalty card members to earn free $10 gas cards for every $30
they spend on certain items from Sunday through Aug. 28. Eligible
offerings, from soda to household cleaning products, will be listed in
an advertising circular and highlighted on store shelves with a gas tank
logo."

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=2388166&nid=

So maybe the best time to shop is the end of the month. Do all your big
shopping then, and supplement just small purchases at other times. And
look for offerings that get you gas for spending in their store. I've
been only grocery shopping at Giant to get gas discounts at Shell.

This demands more research.