(NEXSTAR) — While the U.S. has seen some relief at the gas pumps, and signs show the prices of goods for consumers could soon decline, there are a few grocery items that could be putting extra pressure on your wallet.
The latest data from the Labor Department, released Wednesday, shows inflation is still a growing problem in the U.S., with consumer prices rising 8.3% over the last year and 0.1% from July.
Apart from declining prices at the gas pumps, consumer prices for everything from food and rent to furniture, medical care and new cars got pricier last month. Some of the highest price increases since last year are being felt at the grocery store, according to the Labor Department’s data.
Among the hardest-hit grocery items are eggs. The price of eggs is up nearly 40% compared to a year ago, jumping almost 3% between July and August alone. This has been a trend since spring, when eggs exceeded $3 for the second time in history, sparked by a bird flu outbreak, supply chain issues, and high feed costs.
Below are the five items that have seen the largest year-over-year price increases based on the latest report from the Labor Department, and how much the price has changed:
- Eggs 39.8%
- Margarine: 38.3%
- Butter: 24.6%
- Flour/prepared flour mixes: 23.3%
- Olives, pickles, relish: 19.4%
Many of the items listed in the Consumer Price Index have seen prices rise by more than 15% compared to August 2021. Those include chicken (16.6%), soups (18.5%), cereals (17.4%) and milk (17%).
Margarine and olives, pickles and relish were among the grocery items seeing the largest price increases between July and August of this year. The price of frankfurters is up more than 5%, the highest month-to-month increase among meat products. Potatoes and canned fruit each saw prices rise by about 3%.
Not every food has seen price hikes in recent weeks. Prices for some fresh produce — apples, bananas and citrus fruits — and uncooked beef steaks are down since July.
Severe weather — everything from heat and drought to overwhelming rain — could pinch the U.S. food supply in coming weeks, CNN reported. The cost of food production and the Russia-Ukraine war are also feeding into rising costs, according to Quartz.
Worsening food inflation is a particular strain on lower-income families, more of whom have had to turn to food banks and other aid as inflation has worsened. Mary Jane Crouch, executive director of America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, which works with a network of food banks, told the Associated Press 38% more food was distributed in August compared with July.
Sales at grocery stores rose 0.5% in August, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Overall spending has slowed and shifted increasingly toward necessities such as food, while spending on electronics, furniture, new clothes and other non-necessities has decreased.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
