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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Monday, March 31, 2025
USDA has sharply lowered its forecast for food inflation this year as price declines for dairy products and pork are expected to help offset sharply higher prices for beef and eggs.
Shoppers saw relief at the supermarket in February, as the overall cost of groceries remained flat as lower prices for pork, dairy products and fruits and vegetables offset the spike in egg prices and higher prices for beef.
Higher prices for eggs helped drive a 0.3% increase in the cost of groceries in December. Beef prices rose 0.5%, while chicken and pork prices were 0.3% higher.
Poultry farms in California, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee and much of the Midwest are seeing a resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases, sending egg prices upward in the holiday season.
The cost of groceries jumped half a percent in November, driven by higher prices for eggs and beef, but supermarket prices have still risen just 1.6% over the past 12 months despite the spike last month.
The cost of groceries was flat in August as lower prices for vegetables, grains and baked goods helped offset price increases for beef, poultry, eggs and dairy products.
