Why Is Food Still So Expensive? - NerdWallet

MORE LIKE THISMaking MoneyPaying Your BillsPersonal FinanceUpdated July 11, 2024, with the latest data from the consumer price index.Food prices have always been volatile — especially so during the pandemic. Thanks to a combination of overall inflation, supply-chain disruptions and tariffs on certain foreign imports, food prices have risen 26% since the start of 2020.Inflation has been slowing, and the latest food inflation data shows the average cost of groceries, at least, isn’t rising as fast as it once was, according to the consumer price index (CPI). In fact, grocery prices have largely moderated and several national retailers are touting summer discounts.But, overall, food prices are still higher than last year, and they’re not coming down uniformly. The cost of eating out continues to climb, and some grocery items, like eggs and beef, are stubbornly expensive. The challenges that caused food prices to rise so steeply during the past few years won’t be totally resolved in 2024.»...