Grocery costs jump 0.5% on spikes in eggs, meat

The cost of eating at home jumped 0.5% in January, driven by skyrocketing egg prices and higher prices for beef and pork.

The index for grocery prices is up 1.9% from a year ago after the increase in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.

The overall Consumer Price Index also increased 0.5% in January and is up 3% year over year.

Breakfast got especially pricey last month, as the price of eggs jumped 15.2% amid the continued outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza that forced affected layer operations to depopulate their flocks. Egg prices are 53% higher than in January 2024.

Bacon, meanwhile, cost 4.1% more last month. Bacon prices are up 6% year over year. Pork prices overall rose 0.7% last month.

Beef prices, meanwhile, also increased 0.7% in January, driven by a 2.8% increase in prices for steaks. Beef prices are up 5.5% year over year.

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Shoppers did see some relief in other areas of the store in January.

While the index for milk and other dairy products rose 0.3%, the cost of cereals and bakery products fell 0.4%.

The index for fruits and vegetables dropped 0.5%, driven by a 0.6% decline in the cost of fresh produce. Bananas, potatoes, lettuce and tomatoes all cost less in January.

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