3 Reasons Groceries Are Getting More Expensive, Says the "Supermarket Guru"
If you feel like your grocery bill is climbing with every trip to the store, you're not imagining it. Food prices jumped half a percent from July to August - the sharpest monthly rise since 2022. Phil Lempert, the longtime food industry analyst known as the "Supermarket Guru," points to three main culprits behind the sticker shock.
1. Climate Change
Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are making it harder to grow crops in parts of the U.S. that once thrived. As a result, more produce is being imported from Central and Latin America - driving up costs along the way.
2. Labor Shortages
Farm work has become harder to staff. Strict immigration policies and waning interest in agricultural jobs have left fields short-handed, adding pressure to the supply chain and pushing prices higher.
3. Tariffs
The tariffs imposed during the Trump administration are still hitting hard. Foods imported from countries facing steep levies have soared in price, like coffee from Brazil (now taxed at 50%). Coffee alone is up 21% compared with last year.
To cope, shoppers are switching to store brands, hunting for deals, and buying in bulk. Lempert also warns of "shrinkflation," where packages quietly shrink while prices stay the same.
His advice for families feeling the squeeze? Cut food waste. With 40% of food in the U.S. going uneaten, stretching leftovers, freezing extras, and planning meals carefully could save households more than they realize.