Which is more worrisome to U.S. parents at the moment — a slew of Chinese-made products being recalled or the rising price of a gallon of milk? It’s the milk, according to Britt Beemer, chairman of America’s Research Group, which tracks consumer behavior and surveys shoppers on a weekly basis.
 
While he said that about 6 percent of parents surveyed in recent weeks have said they are concerned about the recalls and another 30 percent say they’re “slightly concerned”, 65 percent of parents say their supermarket prices have gone up dramatically. 
 
“They’re talking about the fact that they’re paying $2 more for a gallon of milk today than they did a year ago,” he said. “They just can’t believe the inflation they’ve seen at the supermaket.”
 
He said that while the product recalls are troubling (Read the latest recall), very often parents are not even aware if a toy they have in their home is affected by a recall. And with so many recalls being announced, he said, it is hard for parents to keep track of them all.
 
But Beemer said that when it comes to higher grocery prices, shopppers have no doubt that they are being affected.
 
“They tell us they feel like they’re spending at least $20 more a week for groceries this year than they were a year ago,” he said.
 
And then could be bad news headed into the holiday season.
 
“I don’t want to be that lone wolf crying in the wilderness, but I do think we could see a Christmas season this year where retail sales are flat,” he said.