CBS 17 reported that Despite inflation hit a three-year low in August, relief at the grocery store might still be slow to arrive.
CBS 17 checked prices at several Raleigh grocery stores and found a wide range across different stores and brands.
For example, at Lidl Food Market, bread costs range from $0.99 for basic white to over $6 for organic. Other staples like eggs cost about $3 a dozen, and milk varies from $2.50 to over $4 a gallon depending on the store.
Shoppers shared strategies like shopping around and waiting for sales to stretch their dollars. Farmers, such as Helen Wise from Mount Olive, explained that the rising costs of fuel, equipment, and other farming essentials have kept food prices high, despite slowing inflation.
According to the USDA, food prices are expected to rise by 1.2% in 2024 and 1.1% in 2025—far lower than the 11.4% spike in 2022.
Prices for some items, like chicken breasts, have come down from their peak, with Lidl offering them at about $2 a pound. However, most shoppers remain skeptical about seeing significant grocery price relief anytime soon. As Devisser put it, “I hope so, but we’ll see. I’m not going to hold my breath.”