Grocery prices jump in the West, squeezing budgets

• Broad inflation relief is little consolation for Americans if they aren't seeing it reflected in grocery bills.

By the numbers: Grocery prices (or "food at home," as the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls it) in the West rose by 1.1% in December, the largest monthly gain since the peak inflation period in August 2022.

• Food inflation was evident at restaurants, too: Costs for dining out (or "food away from home") rose by 0.7%.

Zoom out: Grocery prices across the U.S. were up roughly 2.4% in December compared to 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%).

Yes, but: 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.