Eating out in the New York metro area cost 3.6% more in September than a year earlier, while grocery prices rose 2.1%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figures come from the agency’s New York-area Consumer Price Index, released Oct. 14 and covering September 2026.
The gap between the two numbers widened quickly. In August, area grocery prices were running 3.1% above a year earlier, while restaurant prices were up 3.6%, so grocery inflation cooled by a full percentage point in one month while dining-out costs held their pace.
For households in New York City, northern New Jersey and the Hudson Valley, the takeaway is practical. Cooking at home is getting more expensive more slowly, while lunches, takeout and dinners out keep climbing at nearly twice the rate.
Restaurant Prices Hold Pace as Groceries Slow
In BLS terms, restaurant meals, takeout and similar purchases fall under food away from home. That index rose 3.6% over the 12 months ending in September, the same annual rate recorded in August, according to the agency’s August release…