Why Are Grocery Store Prices So High
7/13/202638 min
According to the Economic Research Service at the Department of Agriculture, prices across all food categories are expected to rise 3.2 percent in 2026.
Today, Jessica Cheung, a senior audio producer for “The Daily,” talks with the general manger of a food co-op in Pittsburgh about how the store is being affected by the quickly increasing costs.
Guest:
- Jessica Cheung, a senior audio producer on “The Daily” for The New York Times.
- Tyler Kulp, general manager of the East End Food Co-op
Background reading:
- Walmart said last week that it would lower some prices. While shoppers there and at other grocery stores may get better deals on some items, their overall grocery bill is unlikely to fall.
- In a survey, roughly 35 percent of Americans identified food as the single biggest source of financial pressure.
Photo: Rachel Wisniewski for The New York Times
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Speaker 20:31
[phone ringing] If you know your party's extension, you may dial it now. To speak to someone in customer service, press 12. Bakery, 13. Deli or hot foods, 14. Meat or seafood, 15.
Natalie Kitroeff· Host0:47
[phone beeping] From the New York Times, I'm Natalie Kitroeff. This is The Daily.
Speaker 40:53
Davis Market, how can I help you?
Natalie Kitroeff· Host0:54
For a while now, my colleague, Daily producer Jessica Chung, has been reporting on, or trying to report on, grocery prices. I was wondering if you had a moment right now to talk about the kind of nature of shopping right now and why everything is so expensive.
Speaker 41:08
Um, that you would have to contact our corporate office for any information like that.
Natalie Kitroeff· Host1:13
It started after COVID when inflation and supply shortages sent prices soaring. Then came Ukraine, tariffs, and now the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed prices even higher.
Jessica Cheung1:25
Are you concerned, Mr. President, about the latest inflation number, which- No, I love it.