From June to July, adjusted for seasonal swings, the price of uncooked beef roasts spiked 6.5%, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Thursday. Uncooked beef steaks prices rose 2.3% and uncooked ground beef rose 1.5%. Altogether, beef and veal got 2.4% more expensive last month.
Thursday’s government data reflects a similar trend. In the 12 months through July, uncooked beef steaks got 7.8% more expensive. Uncooked beef roast prices rose 6.3% and uncooked ground beef got 3.1% more expensive. Together, beef and veal prices rose 5.3%. But over the course of the year, pork prices overall fell 3.7% and chicken prices dropped 2.5%.
What else is going on in the grocery store
Beef wasn’t the only category that got pricier in July. Hot dog prices went up 2.7%. Apples went up 2.4%, citrus fruit 1.7% and ice cream rose 1.5%. Coffee and butter each went up 1%.
Some items notched high price increases year-over-year in July.
Margarine rose 11.3%. Bread went up by 9.5% and flour by 8.5%. Rice spiked 6.5%, ham grew 5.7% and breakfast cereal went up 5.1%.
Sweets got more expensive, as well. Sugar itself has shot up 9.7% in July compared to the same period last year. Packaged cookies rose 7.9% and ice cream jumped 6.3%.
Meanwhile, apples went up 7.5%, and lettuce jumped 6.6%. Fruits and vegetables together rose 2.9%.
But there were price declines in that period, too.
Eggs plunged 13.7%, with bacon dropping 10.7%. Milk fell 3%, citrus fruit dropped 2.9% and chicken dipped 2.5%.
What’s going on with menu prices
In the month of July, menu prices rose a tiny bit, just 0.2%. But over the course of the year, menu prices went up 7.1%. Dine-in restaurants raised prices about 5.8% for the year, while fast food and fast casual chains increased menu prices 7.1%.
Restaurants have been raising prices as their own costs have gone up, and as diners have seemed to accept the higher prices. But lately, customers have been pushing back.
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