After small yet consistent upticks the past three months, the overall food index leveled out in September according to the most recent CPI report.
All six grocery store food group indexes fluctuated in September. Despite small swells in the indexes for nonalcoholic beverages, cereals and bakery products, and other food from home, the relatively large (1.0%) decrease in the meat, poultry, fish, and eggs group leveled the playing field. All said and done, the price index for food at home dropped by 0.1%.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs: – 1.0%
- Cereals and bakery products: + 0.6%
- Dairy and related products: – 0.3%
- Fruits and vegetables: – 0.5%
- Nonalcoholic beverages: + 0.6%
- Other food from home: + 0.2%
The food index for food away from home rose slightly by 0.2% in September.
Over the past 12 months, the overall index for food has risen by 1.4%, with both food at home and food away from home increasing by 0.4% and 2.6%, respectively.
