Between December 2023 and April 2024, Zimbabwe was the country with the highest level of real food inflation worldwide. Compared to the previous year, food prices had increased by 46 percent in Zimbabwe. Argentina ranked in second place with 20 percent.

Since 2015, the consumer price index (CPI) of food in the United States has increased every year except for 2016, when the CPI decreased by 0.8 percent. The increase of CPI for food compared to the previous year was the highest in 2022, at 9.9 percent.

Cost of food in Netherlands increased 4.30 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - Netherlands Food Inflation - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Cost of food in the United States increased 2.60 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

As of November 2024, food prices had increased by four percent in Hungary over the same month in the previous year. During the observed period, food inflation rates peaked in December 2022 at nearly 48 percent, while the lowest inflation rate for food products was recorded in July 2016 at negative 0.9 percent. Accelerating inflation rates Besides food prices increasing throughout 2022, overall inflation also accelerated in the country. By 2023, inflation rates were over 17 percent, which was the highest annual figure documented in the past decade. In comparison, the lowest inflation rate was recorded in 2014 at negative 1.2 percent. Food inflation in CEE As soaring inflation rates became a common phenomenon over the past years, Hungary wasn’t the only Central Eastern European country experiencing a dramatic food price increase in 2022. In Czechia, food inflation peaked in November 2022 at 26 percent, while it reached over 35 percent in Lithuania at the same time.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 124.9 points in January 2025, down 2.1 points from December 2024. The highest value for the index in the past 23 years was reached in March 2022. However, the rate of food price increases has been decreasing since.

Food prices worldwide The annual FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) by category shows that the price of vegetable oils grew by a particularly large margin. One of the factors that influenced the spike in oil prices worldwide during 2020 and 2021 were the supply-chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, after the war in Ukraine, shipping costs and grain prices also had a noticeable impact on global food prices. Global food prices are calculated to have increased by 3.68 percent, due to changes in shipping costs and grain prices. The European Union (EU) has experienced a particularly high increase in the annual consumer prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, as compared to other selected countries worldwide. Inflation in Europe

The inflation rate for food in the EU grew from 0.2 percent in May 2021 to 19.2 percent in March 2023, as compared to the same month in the previous year. In the following months, the food inflation started decreasing again, reaching 1.86 percent in April 2024. The overall inflation rate in the Euro area reached its peak in December 2022 at 9.2 percent. The rate has since fallen to 2.4 percent in December 2024. As measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), inflation rates in Europe were highest in Turkey, North Macedonia, and Romania as of December 2024.

In October 2024, the inflation rate for food prices in the United Kingdom was measured at 1.9 percent. A period of continuous deflation between March 2015 and January 2017 preceded a return to a sustained rise of the cost of food from February 2017 onwards. While food prices were deflating between September 2020 and July 2021, they started increasing rapidly from August 2021 to March 2023. The inflation rate started to decline from April 2023. Inflation rate and consumer price indexInflation is commonly measured via the consumer price index, which illustrates changes to prices paid by consumers for a representative basket of goods and services. An annualized percentage change in the price index constitutes a measure of inflation. In order to maintain an inflation rate at a stable level, to enable the general public and businesses to plan their spending, the Government set a two percent inflation target for the Bank of England. The discounter boom The increase in food prices in the United Kingdom has shifted shopping behaviours amongst consumers. Value is now key and shoppers are changing their retailer loyalties. Aldi, the German discount supermarket retailer, overtook Morrisons as Great Britain's fourth largest supermarket in September of 2022. Aldi's market share reached double digits for the first time in April 2023. It is yet to be seen if Lidl, Aldi's discounter competitor, can also continue to rise up in the ranks and eventually take over Morrisons as the fifth leading food retailer.

Cost of food in Ivory Coast increased 1 percent in December of 2024 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - Ivory Coast Food Inflation - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Cost of food in Canada increased 1.30 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Canada Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Cost of food in India increased 3.75 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - India Food Inflation - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Cost of food in Finland increased 0.90 percent in January of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Finland Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Cost of food in Jamaica increased 6.57 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - Jamaica Food Inflation- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Cost of food in Iran increased 36.50 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - Iran Food Inflation - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In September 2024, the year-on-year food inflation in Kenya decreased to 5.1 percent, the lowest during the period observed. Food prices have generally been following a decreasing trend in the country since March 2023. As a comparison, in October 2022, the food inflation rate was measured at 15.8 percent.

Food price inflation in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 147.11 percent in September 2024 compared to the same month the previous year. This dramatic increase reflects a persistent trend of rising food costs across the region, with some countries experiencing particularly severe inflationary pressures. The surge in food prices has significant implications for household budgets and food security throughout Latin America. Regional variations and contributing factors While the overall trend shows a sharp increase in food prices, there are notable differences among countries in the region. Venezuela and Argentina consistently rank among the nations with the highest food price inflation, while Panama and Ecuador have experienced relatively lower rates. The consumer price index for food in Latin America and the Caribbean jumped from 425.38 points in June 2023 to 1,223.53 points in June 2024, representing an increase of over 158 percent. This rapid escalation in food costs has put considerable strain on consumers across the region. Global context and consumer impact The food price inflation crisis in Latin America is part of a broader global trend. Zimbabwe, for instance, recorded the highest level of real food inflation worldwide between December 2023 and April 2024, with a 46 percent increase compared to the previous year. Argentina followed with a 20 percent increase. The impact on consumers is significant, with many finding it increasingly difficult to afford healthy and sustainable food options. In Argentina, 62 percent of respondents reported difficulty in purchasing such foods due to a lack of affordability, an increase of seven percentage points from 2021. Similar challenges were observed in other Latin American countries, including Peru, where the share of respondents reporting difficulties rose from 19 percent to 25 percent between 2021 and 2023.

In October 2024, the inflation rate for food in Ireland was at 2.1 percent. In comparison to the same month of the previous year, the cost of food decreased by almost five percent. Since 2021, Ireland has a positive inflation after having a negative inflation from January 2017 to mid 2021. Food Inflation is reported by the Central Statistics Office Ireland.

The food inflation in India fell to around six percent year-on-year in January 2025. In 2024, the food inflation peaked in October at about 11 percent. Impact of inflation Inflation is a key economic indicator of an economy, influencing purchasing power, investments, and economic growth. The rise in food prices, which comprise about half of the consumer price index (CPI) basket, affects large sections of the Indian population. Supply chain disruptions, increased cost of production, global market dependency, weather conditions, and government policies on minimum support prices are some reasons leading to food inflation. TOP drivers of food inflation Price-sensitive vegetables viz. tomato, onion, and potato (TOP) were the leading drivers of food inflation as per the Economic Survey for the financial year 2025. Experts argue that price pressures are not mainly due to a shortfall in production but post-harvest losses, seasonal production, and regional dispersion in production.  

In Canada, the cost of food has increased every month from June 2022 to September 2024. In April and May 2023, the cost of food increased by 8.3 each month, compared to that month in the previous year. Inflation peaked in January 2023, but has since gown down to 2.8 percent in September 2024.

Mexico's food inflation rate saw an increase of 2.85 percent in February 2025 compared to the same month the previous year. This uptick in food prices continues to impact Mexican households, with the food sector consistently ranking among the categories with the highest inflation rates in the country. The volatility in food prices highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining stable costs for essential goods in Mexico's economy. Consumer price index trends The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food in Mexico reached 159.12 in November 2024, up from 150.08 in the same month of the previous year. This increase aligns with the overall inflation trend, as the National Consumer Price Index stood at 136 index points in July 2024. Notably, the food, beverages, and tobacco category had the highest CPI, underscoring the significant impact of food prices on overall inflation. Cereal and cereal product trends Within the food category, different items experienced varying levels of inflation. In November 2024, cereals and cereal based products saw a three percent increase compared to the previous year, while rice prices grew by 8.33 percent. Interestingly, corn tortillas, a staple in Mexican cuisine, experienced a more modest inflation rate of one percent.

Cost of food in Costa Rica increased 6.76 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Costa Rica Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.