Grocery Bills Soar 27% in California Since 2019, With No Relief in Sight for Shoppers
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Grocery prices in California have surged 27% since 2019, far outpacing overall inflation. Price hikes have hit nearly every aisle, from cereals (+35%) to meats (+28%).
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High food inflation is hard for households to manage, as groceries take up 13% of spending and can't be easily substituted or deferred.
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Multiple factors are driving up costs - grain shortages from the Ukraine war, climate affecting crops, high demand for convenient frozen foods and healthier options.
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While the Fed may tame overall inflation by 2024, shoppers will still face much higher grocery bills than pre-pandemic. Prices won't return to 2019 levels.
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By late 2023 grocery inflation slowed to 1.9% in California and 1.3% nationally, but consumers still face a 27% increase over 2019 levels at the checkout.