Consumer Price Watch

By SUSAN CATLING

Gas

Prices for regular unleaded gas as of Feb.11:

Edgartown

Airport Mobil 2.599 Depot Corner 2.599

Edgartown Mobil 2.659

Oak Bluffs

deBettencourt’s 2.579

Jim’s 2.699

Vineyard Haven

Citgo 2.659

Tisbury Shell 2.769

West Tisbury

Up-Island Automotive 2.459

10 per cent discount on Sundays

Menemsha

Menemsha Texaco 2.399

Massachusetts state average (source: AAA) 1.889

Grocery Basket

It’s a bad day for anyone who suffers from paraskevidekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, N.C., there are between 17 and 21 million people in this category and many are afraid to leave the house today. That means a business loss of between $800 to $900 million dollars nationwide; not good in these troubled economic times. In an effort to tempt Vineyard sufferers out of the house, there are items in the shopping basket to entice you, including something to throw over your shoulder for good luck.

On Feb. 11 we shopped for:

Lucky Stars cereal (11.5-ounce box)

Wishbone salad dressing (16-ounce bottle)

Morton salt (4-ounce shaker)

If the Southern tradition of eating Hoppin’ John for good fortune on New Year’s Eve works, why not try it today? The theory is that collard greens are the color of money, black-eyed peas look like coins, and pigs (hence pork) symbolize progress because they push forward when looking for food. In truth, we could only find black-eyed peas at Cronig’s and substituted green split peas for the price comparison so you will have to dye them.

Pork tenderloin

Collard greens

Green split peas (1-pound bag)

Oscar Mayer bacon (16-ounce package)

But if you’re not very superstitious, you can relax and honor the father of our country on his observed birthday, Feb. 16.

Betty Crocker piecrust mix (11-ounce box)

Comstock cherry pie filling (21-ounce can)

Also included are these staples:

Boar’s Head deli roast beef

Bounty papers towels (3-pack)

Maxwell House coffee (11.5-ounce can)

Lean Cuisine macaroni and cheese frozen meal (10-ounce carton)

Kraft shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8-ounce bag)

Red delicious apples

Grade A eggs in one-dozen carton

Bananas

The total cost* before tax for each order was:

$53.43 at Reliable Market,

$56.56 at Stop & Shop,

$59.87 at Cronig’s without Our Island Club card, or

$53.88 at Cronig’s with the card.

*Stop & Shop had Lean Cuisine entrees, bacon, and salad dressing on sale with their free frequent shopper card; sales run from Friday to Thursday. Cronig’s gives a 10 per cent discount to Our Island Club cardholders, which charges an annual fee. Reliable had bacon on sale.

These prices represent a snapshot in time only; on any date prices may vary.