Slight Increase in Grocery Food Prices Observed in July

The “at-home food” index climbed just 0.1%, contributing to a modest 1.1% increase in grocery prices over the past year, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

For the past several months, the monthly index for at-home food has remained stable, not exceeding a 2% rise since late last year. Of the six major grocery store food groups, three showed increases in July, while the other three saw declines. Prices for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose by 0.7%, with the egg index jumping 5.5%. Fruits and vegetables also saw a 0.8% rise, along with a 0.5% increase in non-alcoholic beverages.

On the flip side, the index for “other food at home” dropped 0.5% after a 0.5% rise in June. Cereal and bakery products also experienced a 0.5% decrease, while dairy and related products fell 0.2%.

When looking at year-over-year trends, meats, poultry, fish, and eggs have seen the highest increase, rising by 3%. Non-alcoholic beverages followed closely with a 1.9% increase. Meanwhile, “other food at home” saw a 0.9% rise, while cereals and bakery products remained unchanged. In contrast, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and related products experienced a slight 0.2% decrease in their index over the past year.