US food inflation eased to 3.1% in May 2026 from 3.2% in the prior month, which was the steepest since August 2025. On a monthly basis, food prices went up by 0.2%, after a 0.5% increase in the previous month. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cost of food in the United States increased 3.10 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in the United States averaged 3.46 percent from 1914 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 36.70 percent in May of 1917 and a record low of -34.30 percent in June of 1921. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Food Inflation - values, historical data and charts - was last updated on June of 2026.

Cost of food in the United States increased 3.10 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in the United States is expected to be 2.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Food Inflation is projected to trend around 2.50 percent in 2027 and 2.30 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI 335.12 333.02 points May 2026
Core Consumer Prices 336.12 335.42 points May 2026
Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.90 2.80 percent May 2026
CPI Apparel 137.51 138.07 points May 2026
CPI Core Core YoY 2.70 2.60 percent May 2026
CPI Education 315.41 315.42 points May 2026
CPI Food 349.03 348.50 points May 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 358.39 357.35 points May 2026
CPI Recreation 144.32 143.92 points May 2026
CPI Transportation 298.41 291.75 points May 2026
Export Prices 166.10 160.80 points Apr 2026
Food Inflation 3.10 3.20 percent May 2026
Import Prices 147.60 144.80 points Apr 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 4.20 3.80 percent May 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.50 0.60 percent May 2026
PPI 157.66 156.01 points May 2026
PPI YoY 6.50 5.70 percent May 2026


United States Food Inflation
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.10 3.20 36.70 -34.30 1914 - 2026 percent Monthly
1982-1984=100, NSA