Grocery and Dining Costs See Renewed Inflationary Pressures, Squeezing Consumer Budgets

Grocery prices rebounded in March, up 1.2% year-over-year after 18 months of deceleration, now 25% higher than pre-pandemic
Dining out inflation persists due to labor costs, commodities, etc., with prices up 25.6% since early 2020
Some grocery items dropped recently like cereal, bakery, butter due to promotional efforts and supply competition
Eggs, lettuce, meat ticked higher in March on seasonal, cost factors; egg producer saw more bird flu issues
Analysts say food sellers need profits to sustain operations though consumers feel squeezed on costs