Monday, Dec. 6, 2021
Are all food prices rising equally?
Meat price changes have been a primary driver of recent overall food price increases. Changes in meat prices have a large influence in measures of inflation because consumers spend a high share of their food budget on these items. Beef, pork, and chicken prices were respectively 26.2%, 19.2%, and 14.8% higher in October 2021 than prior to the pandemic in January 2020. In contrast, prices for fruits and vegetables are about 5.5% higher over the same time period. Meat price increases were initially caused by disruptions in production capacity due to meatpacking workers contracting COVID-19. Now that packing has resumed, extra costs remain due to both pandemic-era safety measures and high prices for livestock feed.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI) Databases
About fact briefs
Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.
See all fact briefs
EconoFact is a non-partisan publication designed to bring key facts and incisive analysis to the national debate on economic and social policies. Launched in January 2017, it is written by leading academic economists from across the country who belong to the EconoFact Network. It is published by the Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Learn MoreLatest Fact Briefs
Would stopping government overspending ‘end’ post-COVID inflation?
Monday, Feb. 3, 2025
Has the Pentagon failed its 7th audit in a row?
Friday, Dec. 20, 2024
Does most US aid to Ukraine go to US companies and workers?
Friday, Dec. 6, 2024