Valuetainment "Switching To Canned Chicken" - Costco Drops A BOMBSHELL Recession Prediction
May 13, 2026
Vincent 'Vinny' Oshana, a panel contributor known for cultural and consumer-insight commentary, joins the discussion. He weighs in on Costco shoppers swapping beef for cheaper chicken, pork and canned meat. He also questions formal recession signals and riffs on the quirky 'stripper index' as a discretionary spending barometer. Short, sharp takes and witty observations keep the conversation lively.
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Costco Data Shows Protein Shift To Cheaper Options
- Costco's buying-data shows shoppers shifting from beef to cheaper proteins and even canned meats.
- CFO Richard Galanti reported moves to poultry, pork, canned chicken and tuna as beef prices rose and sales penetration changed.
Beef Price Spike Explains Part Of The Consumer Shift
- Rising beef prices (about 17.6% earlier in the year) pushed consumers toward cheaper proteins like chicken, explaining part of the shift.
- Tom Ellsworth links small cattle herds and supply constraints to higher beef costs that drive substitution behavior.
Price Pressure And Wage Stagnation Can Coexist
- Two forces can coexist: preexisting high beef prices and broader inflation/wage stagnation tightening household budgets.
- Ellsworth argues both supply-driven price increases and long-term inflationary pressure reduce purchasing power simultaneously.