Food prices surged 0.7% in December, marking the largest one-month increase in over three years and more than doubling the broader economy’s inflation rate of 0.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) released Tuesday.
It was the first release of the CPI since September, following the 43-day government shutdown in October and part of November.
The report marked the highest jump in grocery prices since August of 2022, when the CPI reported a month-over-month increase of 0.86%. For restaurants, December was the sharpest increase since October of 2022, when the rate was at 0.94%.
Year over year, grocery prices were up 2.4% and restaurant prices were up 4.1%. Full-service meals (restaurants with waitstaff) rose 4.9% and limited-service meals (fast-food style and quick-service restaurants) were up 3.3% for the 12-month period ending in December, according to the report.
President Donald Trump lauded the overall results, which showed steady inflationary growth, writing on social media: “JUST OUT: Great (LOW!) Inflation numbers for the USA.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) criticized the president, singling out rising food prices as a sign of a weak economy.
“Nearly 70% of American families are struggling to afford groceries and living paycheck to paycheck as prices continue to skyrocket,” the DNC said.
Costs rise for most grocery staples
Four of the five grocery categories saw price increases in December, with dairy and related products experiencing the biggest month-over-month jump at 0.9%.
Dairy was followed by cereals and bakery products at 0.6%, fruits and vegetables at 0.5% and nonalcoholic beverages at 0.4%.
Meat, poultry, fish and eggs was the only category to decline in price in December, down 0.2%. That was largely driven by an 8.2% drop in the price of eggs for the month.
FMI - The Food Industry Association said the drop in meat and egg prices was “a bright spot” for the index.
“A decrease in protein prices is welcome news for shoppers that have experienced significant price increases in that category in recent months,” said FMI Vice President of Tax, Trade, Sustainability and Policy Development Andy Harig.
Stubborn inflation and tax breaks
Harig said the price increases show that efforts to lower prices are an “ongoing challenge.”
“Overall inflation remains stubbornly above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, and food prices also disappointingly reflected this trend in December,” he said. “While we are hopeful that a portion of this month’s number is likely tied to the holidays and may stabilize in 2026, we recognize the continued pressure on the American shopper’s wallet.”
Republicans said relatively flat core inflation was a sign that the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are making life more affordable.
“When Americans get tax refund checks this spring, they will see how Republican tax cuts for working families put more money in their pockets with the largest tax refunds ever,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, of Missouri. “A family can expect an average tax refund of $4,000, the equivalent of five months of groceries.”
Food Price Changes (December 2024 - December 2025)
| Expenditure Category | Dec. 2024 - Dec. 2025 | Nov. 2025 - Dec. 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 2.7% | 0.3% |
| Food | 3.1% | 0.7% |
| Food at home | 2.4% | 0.7% |
| Cereals and bakery products | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Cereals and cereal products | -0.4% | -0.3% |
| Flour and prepared flour mixes | 2.4% | 1.1% |
| Breakfast cereal | 0.6% | -1.0% |
| Rice, pasta, cornmeal | -1.7% | 0.1% |
| Rice | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| Bakery products | 2.3% | 0.4% |
| Bread | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| White bread | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| Bread other than white | 2.2% | 0.1% |
| Fresh biscuits, rolls, muffins | 3.6% | 2.0% |
| Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies | 3.3% | -0.7% |
| Cookies | 3.7% | -2.2% |
| Fresh cakes and cupcakes | 2.3% | 0.4% |
| Other bakery products | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Fresh sweetrolls, coffeecakes, doughnuts | 1.7% | 0.0% |
| Crackers, bread, and cracker products | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts, turnovers | -2.6% | 1.0% |
| Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs | 3.9% | -0.2% |
| Meats, poultry, and fish | 6.9% | 0.5% |
| Meats | 9.2% | 0.6% |
| Beef and veal | 16.4% | 1.0% |
| Uncooked ground beef | 15.5% | 0.2% |
| Uncooked beef roasts | 17.5% | -1.6% |
| Uncooked beef steaks | 17.8% | 3.1% |
| Uncooked other beef and veal | 15.3% | -0.2% |
| Pork | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Bacon, breakfast sausage, and related products | -0.2% | -0.8% |
| Bacon and related products | 0.7% | -1.0% |
| Breakfast sausage and related products | -0.8% | -1.4% |
| Ham | 0.6% | 1.8% |
| Ham, excluding canned | 0.5% | 1.6% |
| Pork chops | 1.2% | 5.0% |
| Other pork including roasts, steaks, and ribs | 1.9% | -1.6% |
| Other meats | 5.1% | 0.0% |
| Frankfurters | 6.6% | 2.6% |
| Lunchmeats | 3.1% | -0.7% |
| Poultry | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| Chicken | 1.2% | 0.4% |
| Fresh whole chicken | -1.2% | -0.2% |
| Fresh and frozen chicken parts | 2.0% | 0.3% |
| Other uncooked poultry including turkey | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Fish and seafood | 4.4% | -0.2% |
| Fresh fish and seafood | 3.6% | -1.2% |
| Processed fish and seafood | 5.5% | 0.7% |
| Shelf stable fish and seafood | 3.4% | 0.8% |
| Frozen fish and seafood | 8.6% | 0.3% |
| Eggs | -20.9% | -8.2% |
| Dairy and related products | -0.9% | 0.9% |
| Milk | -1.0% | 0.1% |
| Fresh whole milk | -1.0% | 0.5% |
| Fresh milk other than whole | -1.1% | -0.2% |
| Cheese and related products | -1.6% | 1.4% |
| Ice cream and related products | 0.8% | 2.2% |
| Other dairy and related products | -1.1% | 0.9% |
| Fruits and vegetables | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Fresh fruits and vegetables | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Fresh fruits | 0.7% | 1.0% |
| Apples | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Bananas | 5.9% | -1.6% |
| Citrus fruits | 0.8% | 5.5% |
| Oranges, including tangerines | 2.1% | 5.3% |
| Other fresh fruits | -1.2% | -1.1% |
| Fresh vegetables | -0.2% | -0.2% |
| Potatoes | -3.4% | 0.8% |
| Lettuce | 7.3% | 1.7% |
| Tomatoes | -3.0% | -0.6% |
| Other fresh vegetables | -0.3% | -0.3% |
| Processed fruits and vegetables | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Canned fruits and vegetables | 1.6% | 0.1% |
| Canned fruits | 3.4% | 0.5% |
| Canned vegetables | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| Frozen fruits and vegetables | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Frozen vegetables | -1.6% | 2.8% |
| Other processed fruits and vegetables including dried | 2.9% | -0.6% |
| Dried beans, peas, and lentils | 2.1% | 0.7% |
| Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials | 5.1% | 0.4% |
| Juices and nonalcoholic drinks | 2.3% | 0.5% |
| Carbonated drinks | 3.0% | 0.7% |
| Frozen noncarbonated juices and drinks | 5.5% | -0.3% |
| Nonfrozen noncarbonated juices and drinks | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| Beverage materials including coffee and tea | 11.8% | 0.5% |
| Coffee | 19.8% | 1.9% |
| Roasted coffee | 18.7% | 1.5% |
| Instant coffee | 28.0% | 1.0% |
| Other beverage materials including tea | 3.8% | -1.0% |
| Other food at home | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Sugar and sweets | 6.9% | 0.8% |
| Sugar and sugar substitutes | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Candy and chewing gum | 10.0% | 0.5% |
| Other sweets | -0.4% | 2.2% |
| Fats and oils | 0.8% | 1.8% |
| Butter and margarine | -2.2% | 0.5% |
| Butter | -3.4% | 0.2% |
| Margarine | 5.0% | 0.3% |
| Salad dressing | 5.6% | 3.0% |
| Other fats and oils including peanut butter | -0.4% | 1.9% |
| Peanut butter | 1.4% | 4.3% |
| Other foods | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Soups | 2.3% | 1.8% |
| Frozen and freeze dried prepared foods | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Snacks | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| Spices, seasonings, condiments, sauces | 1.7% | 1.9% |
| Salt and other seasonings and spices | 2.1% | 1.0% |
| Olives, pickles, relishes | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| Sauces and gravies | 1.7% | 2.2% |
| Other condiments | 5.2% | 2.4% |
| Baby food and formula | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Other miscellaneous foods | 3.6% | 2.9% |
| Prepared salads | 2.9% | 0.1% |
| Food away from home | 4.1% | 0.7% |
| Full service meals and snacks | 4.9% | 0.8% |
| Limited service meals and snacks | 3.3% | 0.6% |
| Food at employee sites and schools | 3.8% | 0.3% |
| Food at elementary and secondary schools | 1.2% | 0.1% |
| Food from vending machines and mobile vendors | 6.0% | 0.5% |
| Other food away from home | 5.0% | 0.2% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index
