Every other weekend, my dad and I hop into his car and drive to a Publix near our house to stock up on some basic grocery items before breakfast. We usually head straight to the bakery section for bread and then go towards the dairy section for milk and eggs (and maybe another treat or two along the way). On our most recent escapade together, however, I couldn’t help but notice the impact of inflation on basic dietary needs. For our trip, our total came out to $66.37 in exchange for 3 loaves of bread, a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, and a pint of gelato. Ever since that small trip, I couldn’t help but emulate my parents and reminisce on the past when these same groceries only cost (at most) ~$30. So–and I speak for the people when I say this–why are my groceries so damn expensive?

Many fingers point directly at inflation when it comes to rising costs; however, the inflation rate is currently at 3.27%, and it has decreased 0.78% since last year. If inflation has gone down, then why are prices consistently rising? This issue lies within the Consumer Price Index (CPI). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services.” Essentially, the CPI is most commonly used as a deflator to measure the value of a consumer’s dollar and its purchasing power. Seeing that the CPI rate has risen nearly 10% in the last year, one can attribute rising grocery prices to an increased market basket. To lower said market basket rate, we have to lower inflation by producing more in the United States (and increasing our real Gross Domestic Product) and making trade-offs between consumption options. One can accomplish the latter by purchasing less expensive product substitutions rather than name-brand luxuries. This change, however, can take years to accomplish, and many individuals cannot wait for this issue to be resolved slowly.

The skyrocket in food prices has the hardest impact on marginalized communities, which mainly possess generational cycles of poverty. Food insufficiency—a term coined for the lack of sufficient food in a household—“is more prevalent for families with less than $50,000 in income and Black, Hispanic, disabled and younger adults, as well as parents living with children under 18, a recent Federal Reserve well-being survey found.” Thus, it is especially more difficult for these groups to grasp a basic human need: food. Many of these communities already reside in “food deserts”, which are “areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthful foods” and can be caused “due to having a limited income or living far away from sources of healthful and affordable food.” Food deserts are notorious for being riddled with fast food restaurants and cheap alternatives to nutrition; however, prices are rising for these cheap alternatives too, making the struggle even worse. Prices for processed foods “rose 22% in the four-year period from 2020 to 2024–the second highest in the past 20 years.”  Additionally, to keep profits stagnant in a world contaminated with inflation, many manufacturers have resorted to making portion sizes smaller, a.k.a shrinkflation—a phenomenon where the price of a good increases (or sometimes even remains the same), despite having less product within said good. A study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that “Manufacturers change sizes because market research indicates that consumers are more sensitive to price change than size change.” Thus, consumers keep buying out of necessity, and companies’ pockets remain lined.

In the grand scheme of things, prices are inflating rapidly, portions are shrinking, and wages are remaining stagnant. This economic pressure disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, worsening existing inequalities.

Both immediate and long-term strategies are necessary to mitigate this issue. Policy changes, like increasing the minimum wage and expanding food assistance programs, can provide relief to low-income households. Improving access to fresh, affordable food in food deserts through things like community gardens and farmers' markets is also crucial. Funding to community resources like food shelters that can offer healthy, low-cost food can also offer additional support for these communities.

Addressing inflation and economic disparity requires a collective effort from policymakers, businesses, and communities. By focusing on equitable access to nutritious resources, we can create a more stable and just food system. A food system where my groceries aren’t damn expensive.