Shrinkflation and skimpflation are portmanteaus, or words that are created by combining two other words or parts of words. These words refer to inflation. To shrink meant to make smaller. And to skimp means to not spend enough time, effort, or money on something to do it correctly.
Let’s talk about these trends:
1.) Why might companies reduce the quantity of products rather than just increase prices?
2.) Why do companies think they need to raise prices at all?
3.) Do you think engaging in shrinkflation might backfire on companies, and end up losing them money?
4.) Have you experienced shrinkflation? If so, what was the worst example you have experienced?
Warm Up
Check out the memes about shrinkflation, and select one to talk about for two minutes.
Vocabulary
Match the opposites of these words.
rise
climb
increase
shrink
plunge
fade
decrease
spike
brighten
grow
fall
descend
Listening
Listening Activity 1
Watch the Video and answer the questions.
Supermarket Expert Says to be Aware of Inflation – A short video to watch and practice using comparatives and past and present tenses
Comprehension Questions
1.) What does the man at the beginning of the video do with the stickers for the eggs and bananas? Does the speaker imply that the man would do this if prices weren’t going up so dramatically? (Hint: resort to)
2.) Express the same idea in your own words: “beat sky rocketing prices”.
3.) Why does Mr. Lempert say we need to look at the net weight and unit price of items?
4.) What other advice does he give, to help us save money?
Listening Activity 2
Listen to the news article and read along, then try the exercises.
BreakingNewsEnglish – Shrinkflation listening and activities
Reading
Reading Activity 1
Read the article. Summarize it, and tell us what you think.
Skimpflation: An Even Sneakier Form of Shrinkflation – BBC article
Conversation
Conversation Questions
1.) As a consumer, which would you prefer, a modest increase in price, shrinkflation, or skimpflation?
2.) Why do you think so many businesses are engaging in sneaky practices these days? Is it all due to inflation?
3.) Have you switched any of your brands, due to sneaky practices or rising prices?
4.) To what degree has inflation impacted your budget?
5.) What steps could we take to save money, and makes ends meet?
Grammar
In each of the following pairs of sentences, one sentence contains a phrasal verb, and the other has a prepositional verb (or verb preposition combination). Can you identify them? How does the meaning change?
1.) Buyer beware!
a. When consumers are shopping, they must check into the quality and quantity of items.
b. When consumers are shopping, they must check in the packages.
2.) Getting less Gatorade?
a. If you are curious, look up.
b. If you are curious, look it up.
3.) Normal size box, with a tiny bag of cereal inside!
a. Tosh should answer for their deceptive and wasteful shrinkflation practices.
b. What is Tosh’s answer for their deceptive and wasteful shrinkflation practices?
4.) Companies engaged in shrinkflation claim to care.
a. Do companies care about their customers, or are the putting it on?
b. If companies care about their customers, they should put warning label on their packages.
5.) Grocery stores claim to care about their customers.
a.) Companies are always trying to get stores to set their products up where people can see them.
b. Stores shouldn’t give priority placement to disingenuous companies who try to set people up.
6.) Busted!
a. Customers were outraged when Toblerone cut a lot of chocolate out of their bars.
b. Customers demanded that Toblerone cut it out.
