Marketplace It's not just you — food prices rose 2.4% last year
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Jan 13, 2026 Various reporters and experts weigh in on the staggering rise in grocery prices, which increased 2.4% last year, mostly impacting low-income families. Vance and Louise Emke, Kansas farmers, share insights on record grain yields balanced by low prices and the looming uncertainty of federal policies. The discussion also touches on the rise of lingering credit card debt, reflecting stagnant wages amid economic pressures. Listeners get an engaging snapshot of how these challenges are reshaping everyday lives and financial landscapes.
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Grocery Prices Keep Climbing
- Grocery prices rose 0.7% in December and 2.4% year-over-year, with a 25% rise over five years.
- Cornell economist Chris Barrett notes the increases hit low-income households hardest because food takes a larger budget share.
Shopper Says Rising Prices Feel Like Theft
- Baltimore shopper Eric Smith says a soda that cost $1.50 a year ago now costs $2 and made him feel robbed.
- He says rising food prices changed his mindset from eating for fun to eating to survive.
Why Food Costs Are Rising
- Factors driving food inflation include climate change, a weaker dollar, and tariffs.
- Barrett highlights that poorer households respond with trade-offs toward cheaper, less nutritious calories.