Food prices: eggs down, menus up
U.S. egg prices fell more than 3% month‑over‑month even as restaurant prices in March were 3.8% higher than a year earlier, and overall food‑at‑home inflation dropped below 2% for the first time since November 2025. ( )
Egg prices fell again in March, but eating out kept getting pricier. The split showed up in the latest United States inflation data released on April 10. (bls.gov) The Bureau of Labor Statistics said grocery prices, measured as “food at home,” fell 0.2 percent from February to March and were up 1.9 percent from a year earlier. Restaurant prices, measured as “food away from home,” rose 0.2 percent in March and 3.8 percent over 12 months. (bls.gov) Within grocery aisles, the eggs index dropped 3.4 percent in March, and the broader meats, poultry, fish, and eggs category fell 0.6 percent for the month. Over 12 months, that same broad category was down 0.9 percent even as beef and veal were up 12.1 percent. (bls.gov) The slowdown at supermarkets followed a hotter February, when food-at-home prices were up 2.4 percent from a year earlier and food-away-from-home prices were up 3.9 percent. The March reading put annual grocery inflation at its lowest level since November 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics table. (usda.gov, bls.gov) The gap reflects how restaurant checks are shaped by more than ingredient costs. Menus also absorb labor, rent, insurance and other service expenses, while the March inflation report showed shelter costs still rising 3.0 percent from a year earlier. (bls.gov) The grocery picture is uneven even with the cooler headline number. Bread was up 4.6 percent from a year earlier, cakes, cupcakes and cookies were up 4.4 percent, and meats were up 6.8 percent. (bls.gov) The United States Department of Agriculture said on March 25 that food-at-home prices are still expected to rise 3.1 percent in 2026, while food-away-from-home prices are forecast to rise 3.9 percent. The agency said only eggs are projected to post a price decline this year. (usda.gov, fooddive.com) New fuel costs could test that outlook. The March Consumer Price Index showed gasoline jumping 21.2 percent in a single month, and Harvest Public Media reported on April 13 that higher fuel prices tied to the war in Iran could push up grocery costs, especially for fresh produce and air-shipped seafood. (bls.gov, wglt.org) For shoppers, that means a cheaper carton of eggs does not guarantee a cheaper food bill. The March data showed relief in some staples, but not yet at the restaurant table. (bls.gov)
