Rising Grocery Prices Continue to Hammer American Families Says National Consumers League

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – New federal food price forecasts paint a troubling picture for American consumers: grocery prices are expected to keep rising in 2026, further straining household budgets nationwide. According to the 2026 Consumer Price Index Summary, prices increased 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis in a single month, pushing annual inflation to 3.8% — the highest level recorded since May 2023.

“Consumers feel battered every time they walk into a grocery store,” said Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League. “Families are paying more for basics like meat, bread, beverages, and produce while wages simply are not keeping pace with the rising cost of living. For millions of Americans, grocery shopping is no longer routine — it’s financially stressful.”

Some of the sharpest price increases are hitting everyday essentials that consumers rely on most. Grocery prices rose 2.9 percent over the past year, while fruits and vegetables jumped 6.1 percent, and nonalcoholic beverages increased 5.1 percent. Restaurant prices also climbed 3.6 percent over the last year, continuing to strain household budgets.

“At a moment when Americans are already stretched thin, consumers deserve transparency, accountability, and meaningful action to address affordability,” Greenberg added. “No family should have to choose between putting food on the table and paying for medicine, rent, or utilities. To add insult to injury are the skyrocketing gas prices.”

NCL warns that rising food prices disproportionately harm working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and low-income households already burdened by higher housing, healthcare, and childcare costs. We are calling on policymakers to closely examine market conditions, supply chain pressures, and industry practices that contribute to persistently high food prices — particularly in concentrated industries where consumers have little protection from price spikes.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.