Food prices highest in nine years

Grocery prices rose by 3.5 percent during 2020, the largest increase since prices rose 4.8 percent in 2011, according to a USDA statement Monday.

Beef led the parade of pandemic price increases, up by 9.6 percent for the year, followed by pork, up 6.3 percent, and poultry, up by 5.6 percent.

“Only the price of fresh fruits declined (0.8%), while all other food categories increased in price,” said the monthly Food Price Outlook written by USDA economists.

Grocery prices are forecast to rise by a modest 1.5 percent this year. The long-term average is a 2 percent increase annually; food prices usually track the overall U.S. inflation rate.

Outbreaks of COVID-19 in meat processing plants slowed production during late spring of 2020, helping to drive up retail meat prices. Grocery supplies also were disrupted when a near-shutdown of restaurants sent hungry Americans to the food store, resulting in spot shortages.