The impact of inflation has been reflected in the Costco food court with price hikes in two-key items.
Insider reported that Costco’s Chicken Bake, the doughy chicken-filled dish that oozes with cheese and caesar dressing, is now priced at $3.99, compared to its former price of $2.99, and the store’s classic 20-ounce soda is priced at $0.69 when it was formally $0.59.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of chicken increased by 17 percent over the previous year. Pandemic-induced interruptions have also caused several rounds of price increases among Pepsi products, which are carried at Costco food courts.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated in its most recent consumer price index (CPI) for all food yielded a year-over-year increase of 10.1 percent in May 2022 compared to last year. The year-over-year price of food at home, or groceries, increased by 11.9 percent.
Despite these price changes, Costco intends to maintain its beloved hot-dog soda combo at $1.50. According to NPR, Costco executive Bob Nelson took a moment during an earnings call in May to address a rumor circulating social media that the chain was going to increase its price.
"The price, when we introduced the hot dog-soda combo in the mid-'80s, was $1.50," he said. "The price today is $1.50, and we have no plans to increase the price at this time."
