|NEW YORK|4 min read
A JAR OF peanut butter is not what it used to be. Look at the bottom and, for some jars, the “dimple” has grown deeper over time—the amount of peanut butter has reduced, while appearing the same size. “Shrinkflation”, as this downsizing is known, is common enough as manufacturers try to keep prices the same when production costs rise. New research posits that this same strategy might be behind America’s dramatic recent fall in the overdose death rate.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Threading the needle”
From the January 10th 2026 edition
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