(Nexstar) – While campaigning last year, President Donald Trump stood before a table filled with groceries, telling voters about the importance of food affordability.
However, reality hasn’t aligned with his statements, particularly for many American families facing tight budgets.
Over the past six months, Nexstar employees have closely monitored grocery prices nationwide and found that, since Trump took office in January, food prices have generally remained elevated, with even slight increases, echoing findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The BLS reports that food costs at home have risen by about 0.2% to 0.4% monthly since January, except for a 0.1% drop in April. As a result, on a yearly basis, food prices have increased by around 3%.
Interestingly, the variations at certain grocery stores reflect a more nuanced picture than the national trends suggest.
For example, stores in cities like San Jose, California, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have reported stable prices for shelf-stable items, such as cookie boxes, over the last six months.
On the other hand, prices for fresh fruits have been fluctuating. Strawberries, for instance, were significantly cheaper than they were back in February.
The Dynamics of Egg and Beef Prices
Some changes in pricing have been attributed to broader industry factors.
Egg prices spiked last year due to an avian flu outbreak and are expected to remain high until 2025, affecting restaurants significantly. Although egg prices have dropped since their peak in March, they are still historically high, showing a 27% increase from June 2024 to June 2025, despite a nearly 11% decline between May and June this year.
Conversely, beef prices continue to climb. Early warnings in 2024 predicted record high prices due to drought and low herd stocks, the lowest seen since 1951. Additional factors like tariffs and other agricultural issues have contributed to this increase, with the USDA reporting an over 8% rise in beef prices since the start of the year, coupled with a year-on-year increase exceeding 10%. Moreover, there was a rise of almost 2.5% just between May and June.
Public Concerns Over Grocery Prices
About half of Americans view food expenses as a significant source of stress, while 33% see it as a minor concern. Only a small fraction—14%—report that it’s not a stressor at all, indicating that food affordability remains a pressing issue for everyday life.
Just last month, The Hill noted that around 75% of the nation’s food imports could be impacted by the tariffs that took effect in early August. Additionally, research from Yale Budget Lab anticipates food prices will rise by more than 3% in the near term.
Some specific items expected to see price hikes include seafood, coffee, rice, alcohol, and chocolate.
