The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 156, No. 91, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 14, 2010 Page: 7 of 18
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Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wni JBastrop Hdncrtiscr • Page A7
ECONOMY
' exas Farm Bureau checks grocery prices
BY DENIS MCGINNESS
Special Correspondent
According to the Texas
Farm Bureau, food prices
have dropped over the
past year and grocery
costs might be less of a
concern n the New Year.
The bureau conducted its
first statewide grocery
price comparison in 2009,
called the Texas Farm
Bureau Grocery Price
Watch, and found that
shoppers saved, on aver-
age, almost $2 compared
to what they paid for the
same items at the begin-
ning of 2009.
Farm Bureau
spokesman Bobby
Horecka said the bureau
sent out two shoppers in
each of its 13 farm bureau
districts across the state.
"Shoppers went into
large chains in metro
areas like Houston and
San Antonio, as well as
smaller communities
where they shopped at
their local mom and pop
grocery stores," Horecka
said.
The shoppers bought
the same 16 items across
the state and reported a
cost of $50.29 in the final
quarter, with prices
falling 17 cents on aver-
age over the last quarter.
Prices fell $1.68 on aver-
age from the first quarter
of 2009.
"This has definitely
been a tough year for all of
us, farmers, ranchers and
consumers alike," Texas
Farm Bureau president
Kenneth Dierschke said
in a press release.
Mother Nature tossed us
one of the worst droughts
ever. But even in hard
times, our farmers and
ranchers in this great
state continue a grand
tradition of growing the
best possible food and
fiber in ways that ensure
they remain the most
affordable in the world."
Shoppers bought items
that many families buy on
a weekly basis, including
cheddar cheese, ice cream,
whole milk, turkey slices,
tomatoes, dried pinto
beans and ground beef.
"We produce every-
thing on the list right here
jn Texas," Horecka said.
"We instructed our shop-
pers to purchase particu-
lar brand names, ones
that we know are quality
products that come from
here in the state."
According to a Texas
Farm Bureau press
release, shoppers found
some of the biggest sav-
ings of the last quarter
were in dairy goods, with
cheddar cheese falling an
average of 78 cents to
$4.17 per one-pound block
and ce cream falling an
average of 48 cents to
$5.01 per half gallon.
Whole milk was up 39
cents to $4.03 per gallon.
"A price comparison
has been conducted by
the American Farm
Bureau for years,"
Horecka said. "We want-
ed to see what was going
on here n the state."
The Grocery Price
Watch found that in the
fourth quarter the price
of boneless pork chops
jumped 52 cents to $3.56
per pound. Increases
were also noted for let-
tuce, up 51 cents to $1.58
per head; tomatoes up 42
cents to $1.78 per pound;
dried pinto beans up 18
cents to $3.93 per 64-
ounce bag and lean
ground beef up two cents
to $2.62 per pound.
"The biggest driver of
food prices right now are
transportation and pack-
aging," Horecka said.
"Food prices were up the
past two years because of
the steep rise in gas
prices. That has dropped
significantly in 2009."
A price comparison
chart can be seen at the
Texas Farm Bureau Web
site at www.txfb.org/ and
click on the "quarterly
price comparison" graph-
ic in the middle of the
page.
nemployment rate stays same
BY CYNDI WRIGHT
Editor
Bastrop County's unem-
ployment rate for November
2009 was still well below the
national average, but on par
with the rest of the State of
Texas, according to recently
released figures.
Nationally, the unemploy-
ment rate for November was
at 9.4 percent, while the
state was at 7.9 percent and
Bastrop County was at 8 per-
cent. Bastrop County has
remained at 8 percent for
much of 2009, according to
Paul Fletcher, Rural Capital
Area project manager.
"The rate has stayed the
same in Bastrop County
although we hope to see it go
down n the future," Fletcher
said. "We are working very
diligently to match job seek-
ers with jobs that are out
there to reduce that rate."
Texas as a whole declined
slightly from 8.3 percent,
according to statistics
released by the TWS.
Total nonagricultural
employment in Texas
increased by 17,300 positions
in November for a total of
almost 70,000 jobs over the
past two months, while the
nation as a whole lost
122,000 jobs.
"Texas employers added
a significant number of jobs
in most industries during
October and November," said
Tom Pauken, Texas
Workforce Commission
chairman. "Job growth cou-
pled with a lower unemploy-
ment rate indicate move-
ment in a positive direction
for Texas."
In the state during
November, mining and log-
ging employment increased
by 5,100 jobs, financial activ-
ities employment rose by
4,700 jobs and professional
and business services added
3,300 positions. Leisure and
hospitality employment
increased by 4,800 positions
in November.
"Job growth in the last
two months has been encour-
aging, however we know
many Texans still are out of
work," said Ronny Congleton,
TWC commissioner repre-
senting labor. "TWC and staff
at the 28 workforce boards
remain committed to serving
Texas claimants with job-
search assistance and train-
ing available to all job seek-
ers."
Bow up
t O;.
LnL Archery is a brand new full-service pro shop, specializing in Hoyt bows.
Located at 1124 Texas 71 West, the phone number is 512-988-1164. Owners
Larry Nichols and Lisa White welcome shoppers and visitors to their location
Monday through Friday from 1-8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and
Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Other services and items include an indoor range
and 3-D course, leagues for all varieties and ages of shooters, deer protein
and deer corn and more.
c$.
ome In and Take A Tour
so we can tell you about our great programs.
Mr. Brown has become a
firm believer in Bastrop
Lost Pines Nursing and
Rehabilitation. Mr. Brown,
"I remember thinking Mrs.
Brown didn't need to be in
a nursing facility and really
fought the idea. However
she has done well here. The
staff are friendly, she's hap-
pier and is getting her needs
met. I couldn't be more
pleased
Charlotte Murphy, who was
here for a short rehabilita-
tive stay, stated "I dreaded
coming, but this is the most
professional, loving group of
people I have ever had work
with me. They've become
like family. The Nurses, the
therapy staff, and everybody
has been just great."
So If you or your loved one needs long term or short term care, give us a try.
You might be surprised like the Browns or the Murphy's and many more, who have found
Bastrop Lost Pines to be a good experience. Give Tina Holter a call at 512-321-3527.
NURSING AND
REHABILITATION CENTER
430 Old Austin Hwy • Bastrop,TX
512-321-3527 • www.bastropnursing.com
I Mow Available at
'e have a vehicle to Ut my -udyet
tyieat Selectim oj iavetttoty
Come by and Get Your Best Deal!
Hwy 71E. • Bastrop, TX
inner &C outer wellness with our monthly page
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representative today to reserve your spot.
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or Hie Smithville Times at (512) 237-4655
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Wright, Cyndi. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 156, No. 91, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 14, 2010, newspaper, January 14, 2010; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252648/m1/7/: accessed June 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.