Wal-Mart Rations Rice, Warns of 'Supply and Demand' Concerns

[The General]

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said Wednesday that it would ration the amount of rice each customer can purchase at its Sam's Club warehouse stores because of recent “supply and demand trends.”

“We are limiting the sale of Jasmine, Basmati and Long Grain White Rices to four bags per member visit,” the company said in a statement. “This is effective immediately in all of our U.S. clubs, where quantity restrictions are allowed by law.”

Wal-Mart (WMT: 56.92, +0.37, +0.65%) is the second-major grocer to limit the purchasing of a commodity because of the recent run-up in prices. The company said it is not limiting the purchase of other basic food products like flour or oil.

The price of rice, which is the primary foodstuff for the majority of the human population around the world, rose to $894 a metric ton according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association. That’s compared to the $327.25 a ton average price in the same month last year.

In Chicago, the price of export-quality rice rose to $24.745 per 100 pounds on Tuesday.

The run up in price in rice is primarily related to poor harvests and countries curbing exports. Thailand, Asia’s largest exporter of rice, said it may curb exports.

The World Food Program called the recent run up in prices of rice and other basic commodities a “silent famine.”


Wal-Mart did not say when the rationing would end, but it was “working with our suppliers to address this matter to ensure we are in stock, and we are asking for our members' cooperation and patience.”

Costco (COST: 69.60, +1.52, +2.23%), the nation's largest warehouse retailer, said yesterday that it had seen increased demand for basic food staples as well like rice and flour. The company had a two 50-lb limit on rice purchases as well to keep people from hoarding and reselling the rice.

Jordan Mandelberg of FOX Business said a San Francisco-based Costco has basically sold completely out of its supply of rice. Only one pallet of white rice was left by the late morning in California.

Joe Morris of the California Rice Commission said the supply concerns stem from imported long-grain rice, not the domestic medium-grain rice grown here in the states.

[Anti GWB]

The MSM has buried what is going on ... food riots have broken out in 28 countries recently ... we are watching the unfolding of society and things are going to get ugly ... Bush has recently tried to move Hoff/Mouth disease into this country .... TRUST ME ... SOMETHING BIG IS GOING TO GO DOWN BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER .... Bush only needs an excuse to implement Martial Law via the "addons" into the Patriot Act and his long dream of Martial Law that he tried to implement on 9-11 until flight 93 got fucked up by the Security Guard is "right around the corner .." ... THIS COUNTRY IS TOTALLY FUCKED WITH BUSH AND CHENEY IN CHARGE

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Hope you guys got in on corn and soybean futures with me back in October.

Yee-haa!

[Anti GWB]

Great to see with folks starving all over the world that you think this is "such great news"

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Are you adverse to profits?

That's communist thinking right there.

[Anti GWB]

It has nothing to do with it ... besides ... you support FACISM so I dont think you have much to brag about

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Nope, I don't hang with facists.

And don't get me started about my oil futures... I'm holding July contracts bought in September that are going to net a bundle.

[Anti GWB]

You support and call Bush one of our Greatest Presidents ... Bush is a full blown Fascist

[Jimmy Hoffa]

I don't think so, I think his ancestors are from Scotland.

[Anti GWB]

Go do thy homework on the 14 signs of Fascism ... America is now a Fascist state under Bush and Bush aint gonna leave his Throne without a fight so expect another Bush led 9-11 on the West Coast this time according to a lot of underground ex govt officials who are warning folks that Bush is intent on declaring Martial Law .... Get ready ... this is like Berlin 44 as Bush is in a complete meltdown and in a complete Panic situation

[The Devil]

Originally Posted by Anti GWB

Go do thy homework on the 14 signs of Fascism ... America is now a Fascist state under Bush and Bush aint gonna leave his Throne without a fight so expect another Bush led 9-11 on the West Coast this time according to a lot of underground ex govt officials who are warning folks that Bush is intent on declaring Martial Law .... Get ready ... this is like Berlin 44 as Bush is in a complete meltdown and in a complete Panic situation

according to you we were going to nuke iran early last year also..............

[Anti GWB]

Sorry old Man .... I was posting over at Hannitys place the last 2 yrs and so unless you were posting over there as "Anal Receptive with Republican Men" we have never interfaced

[Anti GWB]

LONDON, April 22 -- More than 100 million people are being driven deeper into poverty by a 'silent tsunami' of sharply rising food prices, which have sparked riots around the world and threaten U.N.-backed feeding programs for 20 million children, the top U.N. food official said Tuesday." ..... " 'This is the new face of hunger -- the millions of people who were not in the urgent hunger category six months ago but now are', Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), said at a London news conference. 'The world's misery index is rising'."

[CUBSFAN]

I've said it before and I'll say it again the BIGGEST problem this world will be facing in future generations is over population. Amount of food is limited people gonna have to pay more.

[Anti GWB]

The Elites of the world that control everything have to be in heat these days

[The Devil]

Originally Posted by CUBSFAN

I've said it before and I'll say it again the BIGGEST problem this world will be facing in future generations is over population. Amount of food is limited people gonna have to pay more.

YEP.......IT'S ABOUT TIME SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES THAT CAN'T FEED THEIR PEOPLE TAKE STEPS TO SLOW DOWN THEIR BIRTH RATES...........

[Anti GWB]

Wow ... Devil is actually William "abort all black babies" Bennett?

[The Devil]

Originally Posted by Anti GWB

Wow ... Devil is actually William "abort all black babies" Bennett?

THAT INCLUDED JAPAN, CHINA AND INDIA.........

[4625]

For what it's worth, I believe that China still has the "one baby" rule; though I understand that there are ways around it for "comrades who are more equal than others."

[Anti GWB]

anyone remember if Bush43 is the oldest child? ... Just curious by looking at 4625's comments

[CUBSFAN]

The #1 killer of people in the world today is water. Most countries cant even give their citizens clean water let alone food.

[Nicolos_Darvas]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Hoffa

Hope you guys got in on corn and soybean futures with me back in October.

Yee-haa!

Jimmy, Consider selling the OIH short. Nice technicals with a candlestick that says she is headed south.