Many supermarket prices have leveled off over the last couple of months but the rising cost of sugar and salt contributed to grocery inflation last month.
The ConsumerAffairs-Datasembly Shopping Cart Index, which tracks the prices of 25 commonly-purchased items, rose from $156.55 in October to $157.19 in November. The cost of items in the shopping cost totaled $155.66 in November 2022.
That increase is well below the overall inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), several items rose at a much faster rate. For example, a box of cookies costing $4.51 a year ago increased to $5.67 last month, a 25% jump.
A box of honey nut cereal, which cost $5.31 a year ago, rose to $5.56 last month. A loaf of honey wheat bread rose from $3.39 in November 2022 to $3.79 last month.
The price of paper products is also still rising. Select-A-Size paper towels cost $21.85 last month, up from $21.56 a year ago. Twelve rolls of toilet paper cost $12.84 in November 2022 but sold for $12.92 last month.
Among the items that dropped in price from a year ago were sliced cheese, eggs and whole bean coffee, whose price declined by 14.3%.
The Shopping Cart Index
| Product | Nov. 2022 | Oct. 2023 | Nov. 2023 |
| Penne Pasta 16 oz. | $1.98 | $1.92 | $1.92 |
| Select-a-size paper towels | $21.56 | $21.66 | $21.85 |
| White Albacore tuna in water 5oz. | $2.23 | $2.24 | $2.26 |
| Chicken noodle soup 10.75 oz. | $1.40 | $1.41 | $1.41 |
| Cola 2-liter bottle | $2.69 | $2.87 | $2.87 |
| Whole milk half-gallon | $2.73 | $2.79 | $2.73 |
| Whole bean coffee 12 oz. | $15.34 | $14.26 | $13.14 |
| Organic eggs one dozen | $5.92 | $5.31 | $5.32 |
| Waffles 10 ct. 12.3 oz. | $3.11 | $3.16 | $3.16 |
| Frosted donuts 8 ct. | $5.25 | $5.29 | $5.26 |
| Tomato ketchup 20 oz. | $3.39 | $3.89 | $3.86 |
| Mayonnaise 30 oz. | $5.80 | $5.84 | $5.86 |
| Honey Nut cereal 18.8 oz. | $5.31 | $5.56 | $5.56 |
| American cheese single 24 ct. | $5.51 | $5.42 | $5.49 |
| Salted butter 1 lb. | $6.06 | $6.11 | $6.42 |
| Classic potato chips 8 oz. bag | $3.89 | $4.11 | $4.12 |
| Honey wheat bread 20 oz. | $3.49 | $3.79 | $3.79 |
| Cookies 14.3 oz. | $4.51 | $5.30 | $5.67 |
| Bacon 16 oz. | $8.67 | $8.66 | $8.82 |
| Liquid dish detergent 46 oz. | $5.27 | $5.59 | $5.59 |
| Spring water 16.9 oz. 32 ct. | $7.52 | $7.56 | $7.59 |
| 1000 sheet toilet paper 12 ct. | $12.84 | $12.18 | $12.92 |
| Peanut butter 16.3 oz. | $2.96 | $3.33 | $3.31 |
| White rice 32 oz. | $5.14 | $5.21 | $5.21 |
| Laundry detergent 96 oz. | $13.09 | $13.09 | $13.06 |
| Cart Totals | $155.66 | $156.55 | $157.19 |