CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - On Monday, Chicopee residents headed to their favorite local stores to pick out everything they need to prepare the perfect meal for Easter Sunday.
Even though some foods are a bit pricier this time of year, people seem to be less worried about what they're paying and mor
e worried about if there's enough in stores to be able to make what they need.
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"Prime rib, lamb, ham, and tenderloin--those are the four major meats that people are buying when they come into Arnold's Meats," said Larry Katz, owner of Arnold's Meats.
Despite inflation, people are coming in to buy what they need for Easter brunch or just a night at home. The average price for a dozen eggs statewide is $5.04. Katz said that those who come in are not as vocal about grocery prices, but rather about other factors in their lives.
"Customers are really speaking out about everything, not just food," Katz said. "They're speaking out about the prices of automobiles, and everything else that's going up. As far as our products, pork prices have actually dropped. Hams have stayed the same, and boneless prime rib is up a bit."
The average American who chooses to go out to brunch on Easter could spend anywhere between $30 to $100 per person. Cooking at home, while messier, is cheaper. Walmart is currently selling a family Easter meal that runs approximately $35.
Some grocery chains around the region only allow for shoppers to buy one dozen eggs per shopping trip, but at Arnold's, that's not the case.
"Egg prices are dropping," Katz said. "People can buy as much as they want. We do sell to a lot of restaurants and schools, so people can buy as many as they want, we have plenty of eggs."
Arnold's Meats is open every day this week, except Easter itself. Locals said it's become a staple for last-minute shopping.
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