The food-at-home index rose 0.7% for the month, more than double the 0.3% increase recorded in September, the most recent month of Consumer Price Index data before the government shutdown. It marked the steepest monthly rise since late 2022, when grocery prices climbed 0.7% in both August and September. The last time prices rose faster was July 2022, when food-at-home costs jumped 1.3%. On a year-over-year basis, grocery prices were up 2.4% in December, indicating continued — though uneven — inflation pressure at the supermarket. Are you struggling to pay for your groceries?

Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased month over month in December, underscoring the broad-based nature of the price gains. The "other food at home" category posted the largest monthly increase, rising 1.6%. Dairy and related products climbed 0.9%, while cereals and bakery products rose 0.6%. Prices for fruits and vegetables increased 0.5%, and nonalcoholic beverages rose 0.4%. The only category to decline was meats, poultry, fish and eggs, which fell 0.2% over the month. That drop was driven largely by egg prices, which plunged 8.2% in December. Does the U.S. economy feel like 'the best anyone has ever seen'?