Grocery Store vs. Dining Out
For those who cook at home, food-at-home prices (grocery store and supermarket purchases) are predicted to increase by 1.3 percent. However, the prediction interval ranges from a 2.7 percent decrease to a 5.5 percent increase, meaning some items may become cheaper while others continue to climb.
Dining out will likely become more expensive. The food-away-from-home index (restaurant purchases) is projected to rise by 3.6 percent, with a range between 2.0 and 5.1 percent. This reflects increasing labor and operational costs in the restaurant industry, which are often passed down to consumers.