DETERMINATIONS
THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- MARCH 28, 2026
If you're like me, you've been parked in front of the television for the past several days watching the NCAA March Madness tournaments. While we've been inactive, others have been hard at work. They've been researching, calculating, surveying, and investigating. All this exploration led to several determinations.
For instance, everyone is concerned about the price of groceries. WalletHub determined that people in some states pay more for groceries. “We analyzed the prices of 26 commonly purchased grocery items across all 50 states. We then totaled these costs and compared them with each state’s median household income to identify where residents devote the largest percentage of their income to groceries.”
The states where grocery costs have the biggest impact are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas. The least impact was in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland. Michigan was seventeenth. See the full report at: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-where-people-spend-the-most-least-on-groceries/144275.
Libations may come into play here. The Tax Foundation made an interesting determination. “In the United States, taxes are the single most expensive ingredient in beer. The tax burden accounts for more of the final price of beer than labor and materials combined.”
“When you add up all the federal, state and local taxes, the states that place the highest tax burden on beer are Tennessee at $1.287 per gallon, Alaska at $1.07 per gallon, and Hawaii at $0.93 per gallon. The lowest tax burden is levied in Wyoming at $0.019 per gallon.” Michigan ranks twenty-eighth at $0.203. See the data at: https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/beer-taxes-by-state/.
One place to enjoy a cold brewski is at a baseball game. We all all realize that the prices will be in foul territory. However, ABC has determined that some new MLB food offerings could make the costs more palatable. “As players prepare to take the field on this week, ABC News tapped MLB and its vendors to reveal some of the best new ballpark bites and bring fans an early taste of what's on deck this season.”
One offering at Wrigley Field in Chicago could require several accompanying beverages. The Tostada Stack is a crispy layered tostada with Hatch green chili beef, refried beans, queso fresco, fresh Pico de Gallo and crema, topped with a fried egg.”
See all the culinary delights at: https://abcnews.com/GMA/Food/new-mlb-stadium-food-drinks-excited-opening-day/story?id=131261542.
If the weather ever clears, we all might want to walk off that food coma by taking our dogs on a brisk walk. To that end, the American Kennel Club has determined the top dog breeds of 2025. “The results are in — the French Bulldog takes the No. 1 spot once again! 2025 marks the fourth year in a row that the French Bulldog has been able to remain in the top spot. But don’t worry — Labs are still amongst the most popular breeds in the United States.” The full list of all 202 breeds is at: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/most-popular-dog-breeds-2025/.
Given that our local temps have been bone-chilling this winter, it's difficult to fathom right now that dog walking may be a challenge in years to come. Lancet Global Health has determined why. “Rising global heat is sending people indoors and off their feet—a move that could drive hundreds of thousands of premature deaths every year. A new study estimates that as the planet warms, reduced physical activity driven by higher temperatures could fuel 470,000 to 700,000 extra deaths a year by 2050 and cost billions in annual productivity losses.”
Some people will be more affected than others. “As temperatures continue to rise, women and older adults will be especially vulnerable, as it's more difficult for their bodies to cool down. The findings show heat is changing behavioral patterns at scale.” (https://www.newser.com/story/385522/rising-heat-could-push-millions-into-inactivity.html)
Wearing the proper outfit to walk in the heat might be wise. Mathematicians have determined that a “fashion rule” could come into the mix. “Fashion insiders and beauty magazines have long cited the 20-year-rule — the idea that clothing trends often resurface every two decades. According to Northwestern University scientists, that observation isn’t just anecdotal. It’s a mathematical reality. By analyzing roughly 37,000 images of women’s clothing spanning from 1869 to today, the team found that styles rise in popularity, fall out of favor and then eventually experience renewal.”
Finally, InsideHook.com has determined that “whimsy” is Gen Z's word of the year for 2026. “Gen Z's latest hyperfixation is an attempt to escape day-to-day stressors with playful innocence.” (https://www.insidehook.com/internet/word-year-whimsy-tiktok)
The point of whimsy is to be spontaneous, creative, and more easygoing. “This could include everything from learning embroidery, putting sprinkles on everything, crafting and hosting dinner parties with brand-new recipes. It’s all about refining everyday habits in a way that adds a little bit more energy.”
This could be a case where the whippersnappers may be onto something that could benefit all of us.
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.
