Food news
The grocery-price picture: USDA’s September update
August grocery prices were flat month to month, but still higher than a year earlier.
In its September 25, 2026 Food Price Outlook, USDA’s Economic Research Service reports that grocery prices were unchanged from July to August. They were 2.2% higher than in August 2025.
For 2026 as a whole, ERS forecasts a 2.4% increase in food-at-home prices, with a forecast interval of 1.8% to 3.0%. This compares annual average prices; it is not a prediction for your next shopping trip.
Our takeaway: compare prices at your own store and keep a few flexible meals in rotation. A national index describes the broad direction, while individual ingredients and local prices can move differently.