Expect high prices, more self-checkout, and robots in 2024

Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) President and CEO Brandon Scholz says grocery prices will remain high and self-checkout and robots will continue to take over the store floor, reports Wisconsin Business.

Scholz’s predictions appeared in a message he provided to the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s Wisconsin Economic Report.

Scholz said inflation rates are still “crushing” food and grocery prices despite inflation calming to around 3%.

The WGA leader warned that grocery prices will not come down any time soon due to higher wages and other workforce factors, including energy costs.

Scholz said the retail industry still has not seen workforce levels return to allow grocers to operate efficiently, and the wages and benefits that increased during the pandemic are not showing any signs of retracting.

With prices remaining high shoppers will continue to buy in bulk and make decisions based on price in 2024, according to Scholz.

A smaller workforce will mean more checkout lanes will be turned into self-checkout lanes and automation, including more robots in the aisles, could be the “new normal,” Scholz said.