Inflation has been a topic of concern for many, and its effects on grocery prices are particularly felt. In November, food at home prices saw a 0.5% increase month over month. While this may seem like a small increase, it still has a significant impact on consumers.

Professor's Perspective on Food Inflation

Ricky Volpe, a professor of agribusiness at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, believes that 2024 has been significantly below average for food inflation. He stated that food prices will likely end up about 1.2% to 1.3% above where they were in 2023, which is approximately half the historical norm. However, he also acknowledged that consumers don't feel like things are normal or affordable when shopping. People are looking for food prices to come down, but he doesn't expect that to happen.This is because some of the factors contributing to higher food prices are related to climate change. Droughts can impact crop yields and meat prices. For example, beef prices increased by more than 3% last month.

Impact of Avian Flu on Poultry Prices

Nada Sanders, a professor of supply chain management at Northeastern University, pointed out that the avian flu has had a significant impact on hens, chickens, and eggs. As a result, egg prices have been very volatile. Consumers have responded to these higher prices by adjusting their diets and cutting back on going out to restaurants.Tom Bailey, a senior analyst for consumer foods at Rabobank, noted that there is a lot less demand for going out to restaurants. Transactions at restaurants are down 6% in the third quarter of this year. This shows that consumers are becoming more conscious of their spending and are looking for ways to save money.

Chefs' Response to Higher Food Prices

Jonathan Poyourow, a professor and chef at Johnson & Wales University, has noticed that many of his students are designing meal plans and recipes with less meat. He himself has incorporated this into his cooking. For example, instead of using lamb or beef, he used roasted chickpeas as the main protein source in some Mediterranean food he made. By adding a little sumac, lemon zest, and tahini, the dish was delicious.This shows that chefs are also adapting to the higher food prices by finding creative ways to use alternative ingredients. It also highlights the importance of being flexible with one's diet and finding affordable options.In conclusion, inflation may be slowing, but its impact on grocery prices is still felt by consumers. By adjusting their diets and cutting back on going out, consumers are trying to cope with the higher prices. Chefs are also playing a role in this by finding creative ways to use alternative ingredients. It will be interesting to see how these trends continue to evolve in the coming months.