Grocery prices jump in Dallas-Fort Worth and nationally
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Groceries still aren't getting cheaper.
The latest: Grocery prices rose at the fastest pace in three years, keeping pressure on household budgets even as overall inflation held steady in December.
- Grocery prices (or "food at home," as the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls it) rose by 0.7% in December, the largest monthly gain since the peak inflation period in August 2022.
By the numbers: Grocery prices were up roughly 2.4% nationwide in December compared with the prior year.
- But that masks double-digit price increases for a slew of household staples over the past 12 months, including coffee (+20%), beef (+16%) and candy (+10%).
- There is some relief elsewhere in the grocery store: Egg prices, for instance, are down more than 20% from a year ago, with an 8% decline in December alone.
Zoom in: Grocery prices in Dallas-Fort Worth haven't risen quite as much as nationally. They were 1.2% higher in November compared with November 2024, according to the latest local figures.
- Some grocery prices saw drops. For example, the cost of fruits and vegetables were down 2.9%.
- But overall grocery prices in the metro were driven up by other large increases, such as the 5.5% increase in the cost of meats.
Reality check: The Houston metro, which has December numbers available, saw year-over-year jumps in grocery prices similar to those seen nationally.
- Grocery prices were up 2.8% in December compared with the previous year, and the cost of fruits and vegetables jumped 3.4% between November and December.
The intrigue: Food inflation was evident at restaurants, too: Costs for dining out (or "food away from home") rose by 0.7% nationwide in December, the largest monthly gain in three years. Nationally, dining out cost 4.1% more in December 2025 than in December 2024.
- In the Dallas metro, dining out cost 2.2% more in November 2025 than the previous year.
The bottom line: Consumers have been grappling with notably higher price levels, a result of the cumulative price increases seen over the last five years.