Campbell Soup, based here in New Jersey, announced quarterly earnings that were better than expected for the final term of it’s fiscal year, ending in August. Quoted in another source, not the one linked above, chief executive Douglas Conant said it was difficult to know if the higher posted earnings were due to new, lower-sodium, products being introduced to the market or because soup was an attractive option for hungry people facing higher food prices. That’s not an exact quote, I inserted “hungry people facing higher food prices” for Conant’s “lower-priced meal options, like soup, because of the weak economy.” But, it’s basically the same idea. Families need to stretch their budgets and make sure there is something on the table, or in the cupboard, when the kids get off the bus.

My dad would buy Cambell soup by the case, or flat, when it went on sale at the local grocery store for the same reasons. Four flavors were sure to be always in stock on our basement shelves. Tomoto, Cream of Mushroom, Chicken Noodle and Chili Beef. I could tolerate all of them but the last, which thankfully my dad and next oldest sister loved and could be counted on to eat almost exclusively and leave me to my beloved Cream of Mushroom.

But, mom needed Cream of Mushroom for cooking, and so, if we were getting low before the next sale, I was pushed on to tomato soup. I didn’t mind. Crumble up some crackers and I liked it just fine. I still do.

It was interesting to see a chief executive state so plainly that his product was attractive because it occupies a lower price point. It’s not really a novel idea, Wal Mart has been capitalizing on that concept since its inception. What perhaps got me to thinking, if you don’t mind the casual mental jawing for a moment, is the many unexpected aspects of the current economy.

Soup sales are up because food prices across the board have increased, in some cases dramatically. The neighborhood mechanic is doing well because people are fixing their current car rather than spend the money on a new one. Bus and train ridership, where available, has increased as gas prices go up. Calls to autoclubs have seen an uptik for the same reason, drivers attempting to wait until payday to fill-up run out of gas and are stranded.

Just some thoughts, ruminations, on how a down economy can get you down. Got an example? Share it.