If you’ve been to your local grocery store lately, you’ve no doubt seen that prices for your favorite food items have gone up. You may be wondering which items have seen the largest increases in recent months.
In this article, I’ve compiled a list of several common foods that have increased in price according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Why Are Groceries So Expensive?
Not only is record-breaking inflation affecting food prices, but so are ongoing supply chain problems lingering from the COVID-19 pandemic and new supply issues related to the war in Ukraine.
While the March data show only a 1.5% increase in prices in the food-at-home index, over the past 12 months that figure is 10%, the largest hike since March 1981, notes the BLS.
Let’s take a look at how much some of America’s food staples have increased of late, according to the CPI.
These Grocery Items Are Increasing in Price the Most
Food Item | Seasonally Adjusted Increase Since January 2022 |
---|---|
Uncooked poultry, other than chicken, including turkey | 4.2% |
Canned fruits | 3.9% |
Frozen and freeze dried prepared foods | 3.7% |
Dairy products other than milk, cheese and ice cream | 2.6% |
Uncooked ground beef | 2.6% |
Fresh fish and seafood | 2.4% |
Fresh cakes and cupcakes | 2.4% |
Flour and prepared flour mixes | 2.9% |
Bakery products | 2% |
Oranges and tangerines | 2% |
How You Can Save at the Grocery Store
One way money expert Clark Howard saves money at the grocery store is by comparing the price of the store brand product over the name-brand item.
“Try a store brand just once the next time you’re at the supermarket. If you like what you buy, you save money that time and every time going forward when you buy it again,” Clark Howard says.
Check out Team Clark’s full list of 20+ ways to save money on groceries to reduce your bill when you make your next trip to the grocery store.