Consumers looking for tangible ways to can often reduce the burden of inflation by adjusting their menu, substituting a less expensive food for a more expensive one. But sometimes that can't be done. For example, a family with a newborn may have to purchase infant formula.
Unfortunately, the price of infant formula has risen more than any other grocery category over the last year, costing 17.5% more than a year ago. The price began to rise in early 2022, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working with plant owner Abbott Labs, closed a major infant formula plant for months because of potential contamination.
Compared with meal solutions, the category with the lowest price inflation, the contrast can be startling, ConsumerAffairs found.
Noticeable to anyone with a sweet tooth, the cost of candy and gum has also registered a double-digit increase nationally, rising 10.7%. Beginning in April, rising sugar prices began to pick up speed.
The price of pet food is up 8.2%, the cost of baby food has risen 7.5%, cookies and crackers cost 6.6% more, beverages are up 6.5%, and cereal prices are 5.4% higher — all larger increases over 12 months than the inflation rate for groceries generally.
Grocery categories included in the analysis are below. They're listed from the biggest 12-month price change to the smallest between October 2022 and October 2023.
- Baby formula: (17.5%)
- Candy/gum: (9.7%)
- Pet food: (8.5%)
- Cookies/Crackers: (+6.6%)
- Beverages: (+6.5%)
- Seasonings/Sauces: (+5.7%)
- Snacks: (+5.6%)
- Condiments/Spreads/Dressing: (+5.2%)
- Fruit/vegetables: (+4.9%)
- Cereal: (+4.8%)
- Baby food: (+3.6%)
- Bakery: (+3.4%)
- Baking: (+3.4%)
- Grains/Beans/Pasta: (+1.5%)
- Meal solutions: (0%)
What consumers are noticing
Linda Quilter and Becky Merriman, two consumers in rural eastern Virginia, have certainly noted some items have risen more than others.
"Beverage prices are much higher," Merriman told ConsumerAffairs. "I think I paid close to $10 for a 12-pack of ginger ale. Paper plates are also a lot more expensive."
According to Datasembly, beverage prices are up just 1% in Virginia. However, they may be more expensive in Merriman's area because it is served by only two supermarket chains.
"The price of bag salads has gone out of sight," Quilter added, noting that bacon is still pretty high where she shops. In Virginia, produce prices are up 3.8%, compared with 4.9% nationwide.
Watchdogs have a word when grocery providers raise prices beyond inflation: "." Scott Lieberman of Touchdown Money advises greedflation-whacked consumers to hunt out cheaper substitutes. "As much as I love Oreos," he told ConsumerAffairs, "now that they've raised the price so much, I've switched to the generic supermarket brand cookies that are similar."
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When grocery inflation disrupts your family budget
Even savvy shoppers who switch to store-brand foods are challenged by today's prices. Credit card and other consumer debt is at an all-time high and rising grocery costs are a primary reason. To manage, the editors at ConsumerAffairs advise:
Eat at home more often, not less.ÌýEven in an inflationary era, planning for more meals at home will save money over time. Just a few meals a week from restaurants, even takeout, can drive the family food budget into the red. Smarten your shopping with detailed meal planning so you can stick to the list at the market, avoid impulse buys, and build meals around lower-cost or sale items or those with coupons.
Limit the daily debt damage.ÌýUsing a credit card to pay for weekly market trips or monthly hauls of staples is better than not feeding your family. The key is to plan aheadÌýthe debt treadmill. Can youÌýÌýto a credit card with a 0% introductory rate? Can youÌýyour auto and homeowners' insurance companies to lower your rates so you need your credit cards less often? When will it be worth it to getÌýor a debt management plan?
Wherever you live, grocery inflation is now a fact of life, but nothing that a thoughtful household can't deal with directly.
was produced by and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.