Sticker shock on lumber, food; months-long waits for appliances, furniture You’ll pay about 22 percent more now to fill up the tank. Basics like bacon and beef are up more than seven percent. Author: Danny Monteverde / Eyewitness News Published: 10:51 PM CDT May 6, 2021 Updated: 10:35 AM CDT May 7, 2021 NEW ORLEANS — For something like home improvements during the time of COVID, there are essentially two options right now: pay up or put off. The price of lumber, for example, is going through the roof. At Wilson Bourg Lumber on North Peters Street, staff can easily rattle off the rising prices. “There are the two-by-fours that are going up,” said Mike Giardina: “$3.42 to $10.44 -- in a year.”