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Champagne Dreams and Lobster Wishes for Everyone

by Shaw Stafford (RSS feed) — Jan 24th 2010 10:01AM

Can anything good come from this economic slowdown? If there's a silver lining in this cloud of a sluggish economy, it's that prices on things usually considered expensive are falling, making these small (and not so small) luxuries more affordable. Sort of. Check out these luxe items gone cheap, or at least cheaper.

LOBSTER--If you live around New England, you may have noticed the lower prices on this pricey crustacean, driven by recession-inspired lower demand. You can buy lobster locally from the fisherman on the corner for half of what it used to be a few years ago. If you don't live near the lobsters, check out your local grocery or warehouse store. Earlier this year, buyers were finding lobster for $7.99 a pound at a Costco in San Antonio, Texas. Try Hancock Gourmet Lobster to get it delivered to your door.

Forecast: Enjoy. Thanks to responsible fishing practices and lower demand, prices will stay low and supply isn't falling anytime soon.

CHAMPAGNE --With competition from first-class sparkling wines and Champagne exports dwindling, many retailers are sharply discounting bottles of bubbly. As consumers realize the abundance of high quality Champagne-like substitutes, spots like Good Cheap Wines will continue to offer their take on the best of all vine inspired libations.

Forecast: Enjoy. There will always be expensive bottles and there will always be the cheap stuff. Since inexpensive Champagne and sparkling wines are tasting better while becoming easier to find, have fun taste testing to find the one you like.