Dining out in the Midwest is getting pricey
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
The cost of dining out in the Midwest is rising faster than inflation year-over-year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Why it matters: Rising costs are keeping pressure on household budgets even as overall inflation decreased slightly compared to previous years.
By the numbers: Going out for food (or "food away from home," as the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls it) rose 4% in the Midwest last year.
- That's on par with the rest of the nation, which saw going out costs rise 4.1%.
- Meanwhile, inflation rose 2.7%.
The intrigue: Grocery prices across the nation rose sharply in December by 0.7%, its fastest increase since 2022.
- But that spike didn't hit the Midwest, which saw a significantly lower grocery increase of 0.2% that month.
- Year-over-year, groceries are up 2.6% in the Midwest (compared to 2.4% nationally).
- Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs led the rise in the Midwest, adding 4.7%.
The bottom line: Consumers must continue grappling with the cumulative price increases seen over the last five years.