Food prices across Chicago were up nearly 8% in December compared with a year earlier, per a new analysis from Axios' Kavya Beheraj and Alex Fitzpatrick.

• The cost of food eaten at home was up 8.3%, while the price of food eaten away from home was up 6.7%, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Yes, but: These numbers are down from November 2022 and much lower than last summer.

Why it matters: Grocery bills are a primary and powerful way that many Americans experience inflation.

• As the cost of eggs, milk and other staples rise, families living on the financial edge must make difficult choices about what to buy — and what to skip.
• For restaurants and other businesses, higher food prices can leave owners with the difficult choice of swallowing the costs or passing them on to customers.

Driving the news: COVID-related supply chain disruptions, climate change and higher energy costs are just some factors contributing to higher food prices.

• Russia's war in Ukraine, a major wheat producer, continues to affect the global supply — and thus price — of that staple.

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As part of our ongoing series to show a fresh side of this year's mayoral hopefuls, today we present our Q&A with Ald. Sophia King.

The candidate: King has represented the 4th Ward — which runs from the South Loop to Hyde Park — since 2016, and she chairs the City Council's Progressive Caucus.

• The former Latin School of Chicago teacher co-founded Ariel Community Academy in Kenwood and served as vice-chair of Planned Parenthood Chicago.

🏡 What neighborhoods have you lived in? "Douglas and the Kenwood community for the past 35 years."

Favorite downtown building: "The Harold Washington Library."

🚗 Dibs: Pro/con? "Pro: It's Chicago, and anyone who has cleaned their car out from under the snow for hours understands the importance of being able to come back to that spot after a long day's work.

• "That being said, I would seek to implement a snow plowing system that would eliminate the need for it."

🎶 Favorite Chicago music venue: "Wherever my husband DJ Alan King is on the 1s and 2s."

🌭 Favorite taco/hot dog place in the city? "Jim's Original for hot dogs or a Polish. Home Depot actually has some good ones too. I just had some great tacos recently at a nice family owned restaurant in Little Village — Yolanda's."

📺 Favorite Chicago TV show: "'Good Times.' But I've also enjoyed more recent ones: 'The Good Wife,' 'Boss' and 'The Chi.'"

Read the full Q&A

🎤 Brace yourself: Beyoncé is bringing her "Renaissance" tour to Soldier Field on July 22. The last time she toured Chicago was with Jay-Z in 2018. Ticketmaster is already preparing for the high demand, hoping to avoid a meltdown similar to when Taylor Swift tickets went on sale in November. (Axios)

✅ Outgoing Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) is throwing his support behind Paul Vallas for mayor, even though he served on the City Council's leadership team for Mayor Lightfoot. (Tribune)

🏬 Vendors at Little Village Discount Mall got a short extension on their leases while the owner and community sort out the mall's future. (Block Club)

For many Chicagoans, Groundhog Day has nothing to do with weather predictions — it's about celebrating the movie shot in Woodstock, Illinois.

Driving the news: This year is the 30th anniversary of the film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, directed by the late Harold Ramis.

• The McHenry County town is marking the occasion all weekend with screenings, pancake breakfasts, dances and tours of filming sites.

Context: Woodstock sits about 60 miles northwest of Chicago. Ramis grew up on the North Side, later lived on the North Shore and shot several of his films in the area.

The intrigue: Although the comedy was shot in Woodstock, it was set in Pennsylvania. The town isn't letting that little fact stop them, as they have dubbed a local weather-wise woodchuck "Woodstock Willie."

• That means there are competing groundhog meteorologists.

💭 Justin's thought bubble: I grew up right outside of Woodstock and watched the filming in 1992. It's not a stretch to say that Ramis, Murray and the whole "Groundhog Day" production changed this little town forever.

Fact check: If you think this tradition is baloney, check out this Axios map on the accuracy of groundhog predictions.

💼 Check out who's hiring now.

1. Principal Digital Strategist (Sitecore) at RDA Company LLC.
2. Director, LEU at Federal Reserve System.
3. Tax Marketing Leader, Associate Director at EY.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

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As the Super Bowl approaches, we're prepared with our awesome lists of best local wings, nachos and pizza. But there's still one important thing left to do: Fight about our favorite guacamole!

Justin's pick: If you're like me and take your Super Bowl viewing seriously, skip the party and order guacamole from Mi Tocaya in Logan Square. It features muddled garlic, serrano peppers and chile ash.

• The only drawback is that the portion is too small and too expensive ($12.60) to serve your Super Bowl guests. But damn, it's good.

Monica's pick: A younger me would've said Burrito Beach, whose guac I dubbed the best fast-food version in the city back in 2007. But I've eaten some better guacamole in the last decade and a half — believe it or not.

• The best came from Frontera Grill in River North, where I indulged in the appetizer sampler for lunch last fall and fell hard for that fresh, chunky, tart and rich avocado whip ($13.50).
• Or make the guac at home with chef Rick Bayless' recipe.

🥑 Email us your favorite guacamole in the Chicago area for a list we'll compile by Super Bowl time.