What was the annual percentage change in the US consumer price index for food from 2023 to 2025?
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Executive summary
Annual food-price inflation slowed after the 2022 spike: the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food rose 2.7 percent in 2023, then slowed to about 2.3 percent in 2024 according to USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) reporting, and by the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases in 2025 the food index was up roughly 2.6 percent year‑over‑year (latest available measures vary by month) [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. A three‑year snapshot: the headline numbers
Official series and government summaries show food CPI increases of roughly 2.7 percent for calendar 2023, about 2.3 percent for 2024 (ERS summary findings), and an approximate 2.6 percent year‑over‑year rise in 2025 as reported by the BLS in its 2025 monthly news releases (the 2025 figure reflects the “last 12 months” value reported in late 2025 and is the most recent comprehensive BLS summary available) [1] [2] [4].
2. How those percentages were derived and why the interval matters
The 2023 and 2024 numbers are calendar‑year comparisons drawn from BLS and ERS tabulations of the CPI food index (ERS summarizes 2023 at +5.8% in one spot for an alternate annual measure but the official BLS seasonally unadjusted December‑to‑December figure widely cited is +2.7% for food in 2023) and the ERS explicitly reports food rising 2.3 percent in 2024 as cooling forces — lower energy, easing labor pressures, and shifting demand — took effect [3] [1] [2]. For 2025, the BLS published monthly year‑over‑year food index changes (for example, the food index increased 2.6 percent over the last 12 months in the BLS November 2025 release), but single‑month comparisons (August 2025 vs August 2024) can differ — ERS notes August 2025 food prices were 3.2 percent higher than August 2024 — so the “annual” rate depends on the exact 12‑month window chosen [3] [4].
3. Variation beneath the headline: at‑home vs away, and volatile subcategories
The aggregate food CPI hides divergent trends: food at home and food away from home moved differently, and specific subcategories were more volatile — for example, meats, poultry, fish, and eggs showed notable shifts with egg prices swinging dramatically (eggs rose 36.8 percent in a 2024 comparison after a plunge in 2023), while other categories moved modestly (BLS reporting highlights these swings and the differing contributions of at‑home versus away‑from‑home prices) [5] [6].
4. Data caveats and reporting interruptions that matter for 2025 comparisons
The 2025 series is complicated by a temporary lapse in BLS data collection in October 2025; the BLS notes that some October and November 2025 values were unavailable or estimated, and the agency flagged resumed collection in mid‑November — analysts therefore rely on the available monthly “last 12 months” figures and agency caveats when summarizing 2025 annual change [7] [8]. ERS also notes revisions to its forecasting methodology in 2023 and that monthly outlooks paused for late‑2025 while awaiting final CPI and PPI releases, underscoring that mid‑period comparisons and forecasts can shift as data are finalized [9].
5. Bottom line and alternative readings
Bottom‑line: using widely cited government measures, food CPI rose about 2.7% in 2023, about 2.3% in 2024, and was around 2.6% year‑over‑year in 2025 per the BLS’s most recent releases — with short‑term monthly comparisons (for example August‑to‑August) showing slightly higher or lower rates depending on the window [1] [2] [4] [3]. Alternative readings emphasize that volatile components (eggs, meats) and data collection gaps in late 2025 mean precise calendar‑year tallies can be revised; ERS and BLS method notes should be consulted for any formal use [9] [8].