Food prices rose 1.1% in July after June’s 1.0% increase, according to the recently released CPI report. This is the seventh consecutive month of increases at or above 0.9%.
Food at home
The food at home index rose 1.3% in July, as prices increased in all six major grocery store food groups. The index for nonalcoholic beverages rose the most at 2.3%, with the index for coffee increasing 3.5%. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 0.5% after declining 0.4% in June.
Price changes for the other major grocery store groups included:
- Other food at home: +1.8% (+1.8% in June)
- Cereals and bakery products: +1.8% (+2.1% in June)
- Dairy and related products: +1.7% (+1.7% in June)
- Fruits and vegetables: +0.5% (+0.7% in June)
The food at home index has risen 13.1% over the past year, the index’s largest yearly increase since the period ending March 1979. The index for other food at home rose 15.8%, and the index for cereals and bakery products rose 15% over the year. Increases for the remaining grocery store groups ranged from 9.3% (fruits and vegetables) to 14.9% (dairy and related products).
Food away from home
The food away from home index rose 0.7% in July after a 0.9% increase in June. The index for limited service meals increased 0.8% after rising 0.7% in June, and the index for full service meals increased 0.6% after rising 0.8% in June.
The food away from home index rose 7.6% over the last 12 months. The index for full service meals increased 8.9% during this time period, and the index for limited service meals rose 7.2%.
