IN DEPTH
8-9
DOWNSIZING DOOM. Product quantity decreases while price increases. “Shrinkflation” is a phenomenon gaining criticism for lowering the cost of living, especially for low-income families
DORITOS: 5% decrease in weight
The Rubicon student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 49, Issue 8 - May 28, 2024
GATORADE: 12% decrease in volume
9.75 OZ
9.25 OZ
32 OZ
28 OZ
SHOPPING SURPRISE. While the check-out bill may be the same, the volume of groceries is not. THE RUBICON PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Georgia Ross
the evolution of
SHRINK FLATION JOHANNA PIERACH THE RUBICON
The Cookie Monster and President Joe Biden share a political stance, and it’s an opposition to “shrinkflation.” The term, which refers to the downsizing of product quantity, size, or weight without a decrease in cost, has gained recent traction as the president called out the practice in a Feb. 11 pre-Super Bowl video and the Mar. 7 State of the Union address. “When buying snacks for the game, you might have noticed one thing: Sports drink bottles are smaller, a bag of chips has fewer chips, but they’re still charging you just as much,”
2
BOUNDARY BILL U.S. House of Representatives passes a bill supporting mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Biden said in the video. “The American public is tired of being played for suckers,” he continued. Shrinkflation has received increased attention due to social media, which allows consumers to broadcast their complaints and track the profits of their favorite companies. But despite the trendy name, downsizing products without downsizing price is nothing new. This practice dates back to feudal Europe, where it was considered ethical to shrink bread loaf size during a grain shortage instead of raising prices. This way, sellers
7
PET PARADISE What’s your pet personality? From cockatiels to cats, students show photos and share stories about their furry family members.
IN THIS ISSUE:
could maintain a “just price”- a term coined by Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century that refers to a fair transaction. In pre-revolutionary France, this justprice principle governed the economy. The community set basic food prices at an affordable value, often enforced by a threat of violence.
Story continued on pg. 8
10
FAREWELL FACULTY Departing faculty and staff reflect on the legacy each leaves as they move on from the upper school community.
2-3 - News • 4-6 - Opinion • 7 - Good Question • 8-9 - In Depth
10-11 - Feature • 12-13 - Sports • 14-15 - A&E• 16 - Mixed Media