The Brian Lehrer Show Another Idea to Bring Down NYC's Sky-High Grocery Prices
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Jan 20, 2026 Stephen Smith, the Executive Director of the Center for Building in North America, shares his insights on NYC's staggering grocery prices. He highlights the stark price difference between large chains and smaller stores, attributing rising costs to consolidation and the decline of local grocers. Smith critiques city plans for grocery expansion, emphasizing the need for more stores to enhance competition. He explains the challenges of zoning and politics, advocating for strategies that invite national grocers while considering the balance between union jobs and lower prices.
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Price Shock From Switching Stores
- Stephen Smith described shopping at C-Town after using Wegmans and noticing many items were 10–50% more expensive.
- That personal comparison sparked his investigation into why NYC groceries cost so much.
Lack Of Scale Raises Prices
- Smith argues NYC resisted national grocer consolidation and remains dominated by smaller regional chains with less buying power.
- That resistance, plus lacking technology and scale, helps explain higher local grocery prices.
Invite National Grocers In
- Smith suggests the city should consider how to level the playing field and ask national chains what would make them open more stores here.
- He recommends accommodating top national grocers instead of city-run supermarkets.