Consumers Experience Rise In Food Cost

Meat and eggs lead the rise in food cost nationally.

Meat and egg prices are the leading cause of rising food cost in 2015, according the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics news release of June, 22, 2015. The Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged from May 2014 to May 2015.

Food accounts for about 14 percent of the CPI-U market basket, and all food prices rose 1.6 percent over the year. As a contrast, prices for food consumed at home rose only 0.6 percent from May 2014 to May 2015.

Meats prices rose 3.3 percent over the year, and egg prices rose 3.1 percent. The size of the national cattle herd and disease losses to the pig crop along with strong demand have driven up meat prices. Egg price increases are a reflection of disease losses to layer flocks.

Poultry prices changed little over the year, while prices fell for dairy and related products, fruits and vegetables, and fish and seafood.

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Les Harrison

Les Harrison is the UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extension Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources. He works with small and medium sized producers in the Big Bend region of north Florida on a wide range of topics. He has a Master’s of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from Auburn University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from the University of Florida.

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