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6h ago

U.S. Grocery Prices Stay Near Pandemic Highs After Seven-Year, 33% Rise

USDA projections of small annual gains and selective retailer rollbacks point to limited, item-by-item relief rather than a broad drop in supermarket costs

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Food prices in the US have shot up by 33% over the last seven years, the biggest jump in grocery prices in half a century — with no relief in sight for shoppers.

Overview

  • Grocery prices have climbed about 33% over the past seven years, with ground beef averaging $6.82 per pound in June 2026, a 79% rise since 2019.
  • Economists and industry analysts say the jump reflects multiple, lasting supply shocks, including pandemic supply-chain disruption, higher transport and labor costs, shrinking U.S. cattle herds, crop damage from extreme weather, and the global fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine.
  • Shoppers are changing habits to cope: households are buying more private-label brands, seeking discount retailers, comparing prices across stores, buying fewer items per trip, and cutting discretionary food purchases.
  • Retailers have begun targeted price rollbacks on select items in early July, but the USDA’s Food Price Outlook still forecasts modest food price increases of roughly 3.1% in 2026 and 3.1% in 2027.
  • The near-term outlook points to continued pressure on household food budgets, rising market share for discounters and store brands, and a slow, item-by-item easing of prices rather than a quick return to pre-pandemic levels.