12 Types of Groceries Still Getting Clobbered by Inflation

Inflation edged down in May, though it’s still plaguing shoppers.

The annual inflation rate was 3.3% from May 2023 to May 2024, and it fell to 0% from this April to this May, according to the federal government’s Consumer Price Index.

Even better news is that the inflation rate for groceries has fallen further, to just 1.0% year over year and 0% month over month.

Certain types of groceries continue to buck this trend, though, with price increases of as much as 19.5% over the past year.

Here’s a look at the foods you might want to cross off your shopping list for now.

Frozen noncarbonated drinks

Price change from May 2023 to May 2024: Up 19.5%

Price change from April to May 2024: Up 0.8%

Of all the types of groceries tracked by the Consumer Price Index, frozen noncarbonated juices and drinks easily saw the steepest price increase over the past year.

So perhaps consider switching to nonfrozen noncarbonated drinks, whose prices only rose by 1.4% during that time — or coffee, which has come down in price by 2.5%.

Other uncooked beef and veal

Price change from May 2023 to May 2024: Up 7.7%

Price change from April to May 2024: Down 1.0%

This category includes uncooked beef and veal except for ground beef, beef roasts and beef steaks. Still, all these types of beef and veal saw steep price increases over the past year, with the average increase being 5.7%, although most saw small decreases month over month.

Perhaps consider ham instead — it saw a 5.4% price decrease during the same 12-month period, faring better than just about any type of meat or poultry.

Frankfurters

Price change from May 2023 to May 2024: Up 7.3%

Price change from April to May 2024: Up 0.8%

This is bad news for the millions of Americans who celebrate the Fourth of July over grilled franks.

It’s good reason to consider eating less processed meat if not giving it up, however. Smoked and cured meats like hot dogs made our list in “10 of the Worst Foods for Your Heart.” So did the next type of meat on this list.

Bacon and related products

Price change from May 2023 to May 2024: Up 6.9%

Price change from April to May 2024: Up 1.7%

This category excludes breakfast sausage, which saw a price increase of only 0.8% over the past year.

Sugar and sugar substitutes

Price change from May 2023 to May 2024: Up 6.4%

Price change from April to May 2024: Up 0.1%

All types of sweets tracked by the Consumer Price Index saw price increases over the past year, but that of sugar and sugar substitutes was easily the highest.

Other fresh fruit

Price change from May 2023 to May 2024: Up 5.9%

Price change from April to May 2024: Up 1.0%

This category includes all fresh fruit except for apples, bananas and citrus.

Apples are a far better bet: Their prices have deflated by 13.2% over the past year. Citrus fruits are a distant second, with an annual deflation rate of 2.5%.

Other pork

Price change from May 2023 to May 2024: Up 5.6%

Price change from April to May 2024: Up 1.5%

This category includes pork roasts, pork steaks and pork ribs. It excludes porkchops and ham.

Again, consider switching to ham for now, as it saw a 5.4% price decrease over the past year.

Other types of groceries still hit hard by inflation

Other types of groceries whose annual inflation rate easily exceeds that of groceries as a whole (1.0%) include:

• Dried beans, peas and lentils: Up 4.6% from May 2023 to May 2024
• Shelf-stable fish and seafood: Up 4.4%
• Crackers, bread and cracker products: Up 4.2%
• Other fats and oils (includes peanut butter but excludes butter, margarine and salad dressing): Up 4.2%
• Other beverage materials (includes tea but excludes coffee): Up 4.0%