You can’t turn on the news or read the headlines without hearing about inflation. But have you heard about inflation’s close relative, shrinkflation? It can be just as detrimental to your budget as inflation. And because it’s harder to spot, you may not even realize it’s happening. Let’s look at shrinkflation and why it matters to your bottom line.

What is Shrinkflation?

When manufacturers reduce the amount or quantity of a product in a package, but continue to charge the same price, it’s called shrinkflation. Essentially it means you’re getting less but paying the same, and in some cases, possibly even more than you paid before.

How Do Manufacturers Do It?

The most common way companies get away with shrinkflation is changing the packaging. You may notice smaller boxes or bags, while jars and bottles may have indentations or ridges that reduce the amount of product that can fit inside. For products like toilet paper and paper towels, manufacturers will often reduce the number of sheets per roll or in some cases, make each sheet slightly smaller.

Which Products Suffer Shrinkflation?

Just about all packaged food, personal care and household items are subject to shrinkflation. But consumers have even noticed it in fast food and restaurant meals in the form of smaller portions. For example, Domino’s has reduced the number of boneless wings in each order from 10 to 8, while Subway’s recently revamped chicken sandwiches contain less chicken per serving, and an order of chips from Chipotle is significantly smaller than it used to be.

How Do I Spot It?

If you notice changes in packaging size or shape, compare the contents to the previous packaging when you get home from the store. While you’re at the store, you can compare prices on different brands, as well as unit prices (cost per serving rather than total cost) to get a better idea of how much you’re really spending.

Also be on the lookout for words like “sharing size,” “family size” or “party size.” They have no established guidelines and can mean anything. Manufacturers will often add this language to packaging to lead consumers into believing they’re receiving more than they actually are.

How Can I Combat Shrinkflation?

Once companies decide to reduce the sizes of their products, there’s not much you can do other than being a careful shopper. Compare prices, try other brands — including generic and house brands — to see if there are products you like as well that cost less. Be sure to use coupons, app discounts and shop when items you need are on sale.

If you have the option, consider buying bulk goods by weight, rather than pre-packaged products. For example, if you buy a pound of bulk granola, you know you’re getting a pound. But if you buy a box or bag of granola that looks to be about a pound, you may only receive 12-14 ounces.