From Marketplace:

Some questions to ask students prior to listening to this 5 minute clip:

1. Why do food manufacturers find it easier to shrink the size of packages rather than increasing the price on an item?
2. Why are consumers duped by food manufacturers downsizing packages?
3. What are some of the explanations that food companies use to justify these smaller packages?
4. What can consumers do about this phenomenon?

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.