shrinkflation
noun
shrink·fla·tion
ˌshriŋk-ˈflā-shən 
: the practice of reducing a product's amount or volume per unit while continuing to offer it at the same price
Shrinkflation occurs when companies keep their prices the same, but give you less of their products.—
Brian O'Connell
Brian O'ConnellIt's the inflation you're not supposed to see. From toilet paper to yogurt and coffee to corn chips, manufacturers are quietly shrinking package sizes without lowering prices. It's dubbed "shrinkflation," and it's accelerating worldwide.—The Associated Press
The Associated PressNone of us has been immune to the toll of inflation and shrinkflation, feeling it every time we go to the grocery store or pretty much with anything we buy.—Steve Watts and Sara Greene
Steve Watts and Sara GreeneExamples of shrinkflation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Chocolate, crisps, biscuits and snack bars are the most likely candidates for shrinkflation, the study found.
—Katie Linsell, Bloomberg.com, 6 June 2023
Astute grocery shoppers will know that shrinkflation isn’t new.
—Leslie Patton and
bloomberg, Fortune, 12 May 2022
Some consumers are noticing and documenting their shrinking groceries on the shrinkflation subreddit.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 10 Mar. 2022
Dworsky tracks shrinkflation with the help of eagle-eye readers and posts photos of smaller packages and net weights next to previous versions of products.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 23 July 2021
These retailers are forced to think of clever ways to handle the situation while mastering the art of shrinkflation (making price increases look like a bargain, or holding a price while giving less for more).
—Rick Helfenbein, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2021
What is 'shrinkflation'?
—Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 5 Dec. 2022
Gumball makers may have pulled of the most brazen act of shrinkflation.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Jan. 2022
These are classic examples of bundling in the era of shrinkflation, or going to the driving range to find that the medium size bucket used to have 80 golf balls, now has 70 at the same price.
—Rick Helfenbein, Forbes, 10 June 2021
Katie Linsell, Bloomberg.com, 6 June 2023
Astute grocery shoppers will know that shrinkflation isn’t new.
—Leslie Patton and
bloomberg, Fortune, 12 May 2022
Some consumers are noticing and documenting their shrinking groceries on the shrinkflation subreddit.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 10 Mar. 2022
Dworsky tracks shrinkflation with the help of eagle-eye readers and posts photos of smaller packages and net weights next to previous versions of products.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 23 July 2021
These retailers are forced to think of clever ways to handle the situation while mastering the art of shrinkflation (making price increases look like a bargain, or holding a price while giving less for more).
—Rick Helfenbein, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2021
What is 'shrinkflation'?
—Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 5 Dec. 2022
Gumball makers may have pulled of the most brazen act of shrinkflation.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Jan. 2022
These are classic examples of bundling in the era of shrinkflation, or going to the driving range to find that the medium size bucket used to have 80 golf balls, now has 70 at the same price.
—Rick Helfenbein, Forbes, 10 June 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shrinkflation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shrinkflation
Cite this Entry
“Shrinkflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrinkflation. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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