If you have been following the news lately, you’ve probably seen that panic buying is hitting U.S. grocery stores again, and many essential products are facing bare shelves as consumers rush to hoard basic supplies. For instance, rice shelves have been hit by panic buying in recent weeks after U.S. shoppers heard that another import ban would hit supplies in the coming weeks, worsening shortages not only in America but globally.
The pantry staple is another item that has already faced a significant price hike, according to the CPI. In the first quarter, the cost of rice has risen by 14%, and further increases are expected due to a tighter commodity market and supply chain disruptions. In July, India announced it would ban rice exports, and earlier this year, China and Pakistan placed import limits citing environmental factors like flooding, droughts, and heat waves as the causes of lower production.
On top of all this, demand for rice has risen due to the Ukraine crisis, as people are looking for alternatives to Ukranian wheat exports. This means that the product will not only become harder to find, but shoppers will have to pay even more for it from now on.
Similarly, the U.S. dairy shortage is still going and causing a lot of products to disappear from grocery stores in recent months, and yogurt is one of them. Prices are going up at a brisk pace, too. According to CPI data, since January, yogurt prices rose by 19%, almost as much as milk, and butter, which rose by 21% and 23%, respectively, If that’s a staple you can’t live without, maybe it’s time to learn how to make your own. With temperatures dropping, food makers will have less incentive to boost the output of the product, which may only see the same supply levels next year.
On top of that, if you like to bake, then you are surely feeling the pinch of inflation in 2023. Two of the most basic ingredients for baking are surging in price right now. The average cost of flour jumped over 28% since last year while the average price of sugar increased is nearly 22% higher than last August. At the same time, eggs are almost 40% more expensive than in 2021, and chocolate is pricier too, up 16.4% since January.
One predictable result of the rising cost of these baking supplies is higher prices for chocolate chip cookies. Today, they cost nearly $5.18 per pound on average, surging nearly 25% since last year. The lower availability of each of those ingredients is also squeezing supplies and can lead to bare shelves in the second half of 2023.
Those who’ve got a sweet tooth should definitely look for sales and maybe put an extra box of cookies in their carts next time they go shopping. The change in seasonal demand can make this product sell out at stores faster than most people realize.
This trend is expected to accelerate during the fall as shopping demand peaks,and seasonal shifts cause inventories to shrink nationwide. It’s time to get ready for grocery shortages and chaos at stores as more and more people start stocking up on their favorite foods.
As temperatures drop and consumer demand picks up, stores are likely to run out of many of our favorite products in the next few months. That’s why it’s so important to think ahead and prepare for the potential disruptions that can hit our food systems. Today, we compiled some items that are likely to face major price hikes and may disappear from supermarkets before you even notice it.
Here’s the List:
- Rice
- Champagne
- Ketchup
- Bread
- Ham
- Spaghetti
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Ground Chuck
- Yogurt
- Potato Chips
- Soup
- Hershey Candy
- Instant Mashed Potato
- Hard Taco Shells
- Red Wine
Article and video cross-posted from Epic Economist.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
I remember when we were suppose to have a Diesel fuel shortage ,never happened
Rice is the only thing on that list that is worth buying. Get yourself 200lbs per person before it’s gone.
OMG. You mean all that gold and silver you now own will not be able to buy any of these things??? God help us. Gold and Silver is a scam The Govt will never allow it to replace their fiat or digital currency. Not to mention the premiums will take half your savings right up front. Who’s falling for this?
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.” James 5
Sooner or latter one of the major holders of Gold and Silver will be forced to sell. The crash will happen right after that. Perhaps flooding the market will be intentional by the US to destroy BRICS or simply to bring us into heel. If all of that fails, they will outlaw the possession of gold and silver and will confiscate it all. Precious metals for exchange are obsolete in the modern world
Taco shells, how will we survive?
What will happen to Taco Tuesday??
I don’t like saying this and I might just be plain stupid, but if the world gets to the point where only gold and silver are used as currency, your biggest problem won’t be having enough gold and silver.
If there’s a famine and no food available what will your gold and silver buy? Perhaps, you can
eat your precious metals.