National Retail Report - Jan. 18

Here is the summary graph from the Jan. 18 National Retail Price Report:

Advertised Prices for Fruits & Vegetables at Major Retail Supermarket Outlets 01/12 to 01/24
Retail Themes Varied, Overall Produce Ads Down

A variety of themes were seen in ads this week. Many continued to promote health food, natural, and organic items throughout the store. There were many 10 for $10, 5 for $10, buy -one -get -one -free”, and pantry stocking ads across the country. In addition, there were some ads highlighting football playoff party items such as ribs, seafood, wings, chips, and salsa (both prepared and homemade). Breakfast cereals and frozen pizzas seemed to be featured by the majority of retailers. Overall this week, produce ad activity declined nearly 5 percent. Despite a decline of roughly 9 percent on fruits and a slight increase in overall vegetable ads, fruits were still featured more often than vegetables. In fact, all fruit items either declined or stayed about the same in activity with the exception of grapes, nectarines, peaches, and plums. The top featured items were strawberries, sweet onions, peaches, cherries, and blueberries. Also worth noting was the abundance of other citrus ads this week. These included bagged navel oranges and grapefruits, Cara Cara oranges, and tangelos.

Fruits as Percentage of Total Fruit Ads January 18, 2008
Lemons 1%
Honeydew 0%
Limes 1%
Mangoes 8%
Nectarines, yellow flesh 8%
Oranges, navel 3%
Pears, Bartlett 1%
Peaches 9%
Pineapple 5%
Plums 2%
Strawberries 10%
Watermelon, mini 1%
Grapes, green/red 2%
Clementines 3%
Bananas 1%
Avocadoes, hass 7%
Bananas, organic 1%
Blueberries 8%
Cantaloupe 7%
Cherries 9%
Grapefruit, red 7%
Apples, red delicious 5%

Vegetables as Percentage of Total Vegetable Ads January 18, 2008
Tomatoes 1%
Tomatoes, grape 7%
Tomatoes, organic 0%
Tomatoes, grape organic 2%
Asparagus 4%
Beans, round green 4%
Broccoli 2%
Broccoli, organic 1%
Sweet Potatoes 2%
Tomatoes on the vine 3%
Squash, zucchini 3%
Potatoes, russet 7%
Peppers, bell red 10%
Peppers, bell green 6%
Celery 2%
Corn 0%
Cucumbers 4%
Lettuce, iceberg 3%
Lettuce, romaine 2%
Onions, sweet 11%
Carrots, baby organic 5%
Cabbage 5%
Carrots, baby 9%
Mushrooms, white 5%
Onions, yellow 4%