4 Grocery Items That Have Gotten Much More Expensive Since Trump Took Office
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Brendan McGinley
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
When Donald Trump first took office in January 2017, grocery prices sat at levels that today feel like distant memory. When he campaigned for office a second time, he promised that if elected, he would bring food costs back down. Now, at almost a year into his second term, several staple items cost dramatically more.
Here are five grocery categories where prices have jumped significantly, backed by federal data.
Groceries Overall: Up Around 2%-3% in the Past Year
According to the latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food-at-home prices are up about 2%-3% year over year, depending on the month measured.
That means a $150 weekly grocery bill from last year now costs roughly $153 to $155, an increase of about $3 to $5 per week, or $150 to $260 more annually for the same basket of items.
Even within that modest overall increase, the picture isn’t uniform. Some categories such as beef, eggs, coffee and certain produce have risen more sharply. Let’s get into it.
Coffee: Up 20.9% Year-Over-Year
CNN reported that coffee prices surged 20.9% year-over-year according to Consumer Price Index measurements. For a staple consumed daily by millions of Americans, this jump creates a noticeable budget impact.
For larger households drinking coffee daily, that could mean several hundred dollars annually in additional costs just for morning caffeine.
Weather disruptions in coffee-growing regions, increased shipping costs and higher labor expenses all contributed to price increases. Unlike products where handy substitutes exist, coffee drinkers often absorb price hikes rather than switching away from the habit entirely.
Beef Steaks: Up 16.6% Year-Over-Year
Uncooked beef steaks jumped approximately 16.6% year-over-year in CPI data, as per Axios. Beef represents a particularly painful category because it’s already expensive relative to other proteins.
Over time, many households responded by shifting to cheaper proteins like chicken or ground beef, or simply eating less red meat due to cost concerns.
Cereals and Bakery Products: Steady Increases
The cereals and bakery category showed consistent price increases according to BLS data breakdowns. This includes breakfast cereals, bread, rolls, crackers and similar grain-based products.
These products face compounding cost pressures. Wheat prices fluctuate based on weather and global demand. Processing, packaging and transportation all add expenses. Marketing and shelf-space costs at retailers contribute additional markup.
What This Means for Shoppers
These price increases hit different households differently depending on income levels and shopping patterns. Families spending larger portions of income on food feel the impact more acutely than those with discretionary grocery budgets.
Strategies like buying store brands, purchasing bulk when prices drop, reducing meat consumption and avoiding convenience items help mitigate costs but don’t eliminate the fundamental problem that groceries simply cost more now.
The 30% overall increase since 2017 represents real purchasing power erosion for wages that didn’t keep pace with food inflation. Even households earning more now than in 2017 often find grocery budgets stretched tighter due to these price jumps.
More From GOBankingRates
