Food prices have been a consistent driver of inflation but prices at the supermarket moderated throughout much of 2024. The Consumer Price Index for food consumed at home – the category for grocery prices – rose 1.8% over the last 12 months.
While the price of eggs is skyrocketing due to shortages caused by bird flu, some specific items haven’t gone up as much. A ConsumerAffairs analysis of price data collected by Datasembly shows grocery prices have risen 1.8% since January 2024, in line with the CPI.
Datasembly breaks down groceries into these categories:
| Snacks | Bakery |
| Beverages | Baby food |
| Cereal | Meal solutions |
| Grains/beans/pasta | Seasonings |
| Candy/gum | Fruit/vegetables |
| Baby formula | Cookies/crackers |
| Condiments | Spreads/dressing |
| Pet food |
Biggest movers
Baking supplies, which include eggs, saw the biggest 12-month gain, rising 6.2%. Candy/gum, which contains sugar, saw a 5.1% increase. These six categories recorded increased more than the overall grocery price increase of 1.8%.
| Baking supplies | +6.2% |
| Candy/gum | +5.1% |
| Beverages | +2.7% |
| Cookies/crackers | +2.3% |
| Condiments | +2.1% |
| Meal solutions | +2% |
Most expensive states
Overall grocery price increases were higher in some states than others. According to Datasembly, these states recorded the largest 12-month grocery price increases.
| California | +3.9% |
| Pennsylvania | +3.5% |
| Nevada | +3.5% |
| Delaware | +3.4% |
| New Mexico | +3.3% |
No state recorded a decrease in grocery prices.