Providers and consumers of Philadelphia’s favorite foods are feeling the effects of inflation, writes Joseph N. DiStefano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Individual soft pretzels are over a dollar from a previous 75 cents.

At Philly Pretzel Factory in Boothwyn, pretzels that were five for $3.75 in June are now five for $5.25. A worker attributed the increase to the rise in gas prices.

Cheesesteaks that went for $10 could now go between $12 and $15. 

Wawa’s six-inch Shortis are 60 cents more now, costing about $5.

Costs “have risen, in some cases rather dramatically,” said Lori Doyle, a Wawa spokesperson. She said Wawa prices remain “competitive.”

The Thanksgiving turkey? It’ll cost about 10 percent more than last year.

“I’m a wreck,” because of inflation, said John Bucci, owner of John’s Roast Pork in South Philly. He raised his base sandwich to $12 on Thursday, up from $9.75.

Roast pork was 89 cents a pound pre-pandemic. Now it’s $1.89.

The past has seen a cyclic spike in meat prices. Now, it’s everything—wrappers, ketchup, cleaning detergent.

Manufacturers have seen a rise in the price of ingredients, packaging, and transportation which gets passed on to the merchants.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about the impact of inflation on Philly-favorite foods.

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JL Jupiter visits Romano’s in Essington, where the Stromboli was invented.

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