Food inflation in the United States ticked eased to 2.9% in January 2026 from 3.1% in the prior month, amid slowing prices for both food at home (2.1% vs 2.4%) and food away from home (4% vs 4.1%). On a monthly basis, food prices went up 0.2%, down from a 0.7% rise in the preceding month. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cost of food in the United States increased 2.90 percent in January 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 February of 2026.

Cost of food in the United States increased 2.90 percent in January of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in the United States is expected to be 3.20 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 325.25 324.05 points Jan 2026
Core Consumer Prices 332.79 331.81 points Jan 2026
Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.50 2.60 percent Jan 2026
CPI Apparel 130.69 128.12 points Jan 2026
CPI Core Core YoY 2.40 2.30 percent Jan 2026
CPI Education 314.65 314.41 points Jan 2026
CPI Food 345.17 343.80 points Jan 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 352.54 351.07 points Jan 2026
CPI Recreation 143.63 142.51 points Jan 2026
CPI Transportation 267.52 268.63 points Jan 2026
Export Prices 154.10 153.60 points Dec 2025
Food Inflation 2.90 3.10 percent Jan 2026
Import Prices 141.40 141.20 points Dec 2025
Inflation Rate YoY 2.40 2.70 percent Jan 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.20 0.30 percent Jan 2026
PPI 151.47 150.73 points Dec 2025
PPI YoY 3.00 3.00 percent Dec 2025


United States Food Inflation
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.90 3.10 36.70 -34.30 1914 - 2026 percent Monthly
1982-1984=100, NSA

News Stream
US Food Inflation Hits Near 2-Year High
Food price inflation in the US picked up to 3.2% in August 2025, the steepest since October 2023, from 2.9% in July, driven by an acceleration in food-at-home prices (2.7% vs 2.2% in July). Meanwhile, food-away-from-home inflation stood at 3.9%. On a monthly basis, food prices rose by 0.5% in August, after being flat in the previous month.
2025-09-11
US Food Inflation Slows Slightly
Food price inflation in the US softened to 2.8% in April 2025, from a near 1-1/2-year high of 3% in the previous month. Prices slowed down for food at home (2% vs 2.4% in March) but accelerated a bit for food away from home (3.9% vs 3.8%). On a monthly basis, food prices edged down 0.1% in April, following a 0.4% rise in March, largely due to a 12.7% drop in egg prices, which led the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index to fall 1.6%.
2025-05-13
US Food Price Inflation Accelerates to Over 1-Year High
Food price inflation in the U.S. accelerated to 3.0% in March 2025, up from 2.6% the previous month. This marked the highest rate since October 2023, with price growth picking up for both food away from home (3.8% vs. 3.7% in February) and food at home (2.4% vs. 1.9%). On a monthly basis, food prices rose by 0.4%, following a 0.2% increase in February.
2025-04-10