Home / Food / Meal Planning & Shopping Grocery store costs rose last year–here’s how to plan for your next trip nadia_bormotova/Getty What you need to know about food increases and decreases at your grocery store. By Deena Campbell July 22, 2020 nadia_bormotova/Getty Rectangle Inside this article Here's what is more costly at your local grocery stores: Here's what's cheaper at your local grocery stores: Now that we’re (slowly) getting comfortable with cooking at home more frequently, have you noticed your favorite items have increased in price? No, it’s not your imagination. Last year, the United States Bureau of Labor reported that grocery store prices were up by 2.6% in April and 1% in May. The April increase is the biggest increase since February 1974. These days we’re trying to find ways to save our money and eating out isn’t ideal when trying to cut costs. Here’s a list of pantry staples that have spiked significantly in the past couple of months, and others that have decreased. Commit this list to memory and arm yourself with this knowledge before your next grocery run. Here’s what is more costly at your local grocery stores: Beef + veal up nearly 11%Uncooked beef roasts up 20%Uncooked beef steak up close to 12%Pork chops up 8%Whole chickens up 2%Dried beans, lentils and peas up 5%Ice cream up about 3%Breakfast cereal, potatoes, tomatoes + frozen vegetables up 1 to 2% Here’s what’s cheaper at your local grocery stores: Eggs down 5%Soups & cookies down more than 3%Bread & coffee down by 2%Canned vegetables & citrus fruits down 1% Need affordable food suggestions? Try these grocery items for under $10: Amy’s Kitchen thai coconut soup tom kha phak This fusion of sweet coconut milk, spices, kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, sweet potatoes and green beans will have you begging for more. $2.49 Buy Now Kodiak Cakes chocolate chip oatmeal frontier cookie mix Enjoy cookies made of whole grain wheat and oat flour to give each cookie the nutritional benefits the entire family will love. $5.50 Buy Now Noshi food paint Who says you can’t play with your food? Kids will love painting their breakfast and lunch with this organic fruit puree. $6 Buy Now Life’s Grape classic vine dried grapes The bite-sized snacks are made of two simple ingredients: Selma Pete grapes and sunflower oil. Plus, they contain no added sugars or preservatives. $7.99 Buy Now We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy. Related Stories Child Nutrition 6 Trader Joe’s lunch box heroes I always have on hand Viral & Trending This mom makes dinner for her kids at 3 p.m.—and it’s actually genius Children's Health 8 gluten-free snacks from Trader Joe’s, kid-friendly and dietitian-approved Inside this article Here's what is more costly at your local grocery stores: Here's what's cheaper at your local grocery stores: The latest Career & Money 1.2 million parents forced to miss work every month because affordable childcare isn’t available Work & Motherhood Catch-22: No job, no childcare; no childcare, no job Motherly Stories How moms and daughters can close the investing gender gap together Parental Leave Almost 50% of parents heading back to work after parental leave found it harder than expected, survey finds