BLS CPI-U, Food at home (series CUUR0000SAF11), annual averages. 2025–2026 values are labeled planning estimates, not final annual averages. Planning estimate / incomplete year. BLS series CUUR0000SAF11.
What it costs now
$132.96
Up 33.0% over that period
Extra you pay
$32.96
Quick answer: Use the food-at-home CPI series—not general inflation—to compare an older grocery bill with current buying power. Enter the original amount and year above; the calculator applies the available BLS grocery-price index rather than relying on a hard-coded headline rate.
Evergreen method
Build a budget from your own baseline
Use observed household spending and an explicit adjustment instead of treating a national average as a personal target.
Formula
monthly budget = weekly baseline × 52 ÷ 12Reproducible steps
- 1.Average at least four normal shopping weeks.
- 2.Separate groceries from restaurants and household supplies.
- 3.Apply one realistic adjustment, then review the result against actual receipts.
Data note — Monitored input: The core method is evergreen; BLS food-at-home index inputs are reviewed when a new official release is available.
FAQ
Questions, answered
How much have grocery prices gone up since 2020?
Use the calculator above to compare the food-at-home CPI for 2020 with the latest available period. The result is generated from the grocery-specific BLS series instead of a manually maintained headline percentage.
Is food inflation higher than regular inflation?
It has been in several recent years - grocery-specific CPI has often outpaced the broader all-items inflation rate, which is why using a general inflation calculator understates real grocery cost increases.
What would my old grocery bill cost today?
Enter your past spending amount and the year above - the calculator converts it to today's equivalent using grocery-specific (food-at-home) inflation data, not general inflation.
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