Southern California’s high grocery costs are finally cooling

Local groceries were only 1.5% costlier in 2024's first half vs. up 21% in the previous three years.

Visits to Southern California grocery stores may not be as financially painful as they have been during the past few years.

At least, that’s what my trusty spreadsheet says after reviewing a combination of Consumer Price Index stats for Los Angeles-Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego.

Local groceries were only 1.5% costlier in 2024’s first half compared with the previous year. That’s a meek hike after store-bought food costs surged 21% in the previous three years, by CPI math.

Now, these broad patterns do not mean that pricing has cooled equally on every supermarket aisle. Consider my Southern California CPI’s breakdown by a few key food categories …

Fruits and vegetables: Down 0.8% in the past year vs. 18% gain in the previous three years.

Dairy: Down 0.7% past year vs. 17% three-year gain.

Alcoholic beverages: Flat past year vs. 15% three-year gain.

Other beverages: Up 1.7% past year vs. 15% three-year gain.

Cereals and bakery products: Up 2.4% past year vs. 32% three-year gain.

Meats, poultry, fish, eggs: Up 3.5% past year vs. 17% three-year gain.

Almost all the food industry’s pandemic-era challenges that boosted prices have been cured. Those soaring grocery costs, though, nudged numerous shoppers to pull back or shop elsewhere. That lost business has forced some grocers to cut prices to win back business.

Note that dining out remains painful to the wallet.

The CPI’s “food away from home” index shows Southern California dining is 6% pricier in the past year after rising 17% in the previous three years. One factor might be the state’s new $20 minimum wage for large fast-food chains that’s upping menu prices at certain quick-serve eateries.

Overall, the Southern California cost of all goods and services rose 3.5% in the past year after jumping in the 18% previous three years.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com