US Food Consumer Price Index
US Food Consumer Price Index stood at 350.48 in Sep 2026, according to FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). It is one of the indicators in the CPI table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1947 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the CPI table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food3 | 350.48 | 350.31 | 349.88 | 349.61 | 348.89 | 348.35 | 346.6 | 346.62 | 345.27 | 344.63 | |
| Food at home | 321.11 | 321.34 | 321.22 | 321.45 | 320.84 | 320.63 | 318.46 | 318.99 | 317.59 | 316.98 | |
| Food away from home | 398.78 | 397.87 | 396.86 | 395.63 | 394.73 | 393.55 | 392.65 | 391.71 | 390.47 | 389.89 |
Understanding US Food Consumer Price Index
The food Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures price movements of the food component within the consumer basket, including food purchased for preparation and dining expenses falling under the food category. It does not encompass all beverages if those items are categorized in a separate branch. Compared to the food at home index, this scope is broader as it also reflects food away from home; compared to the food and beverages group, it is narrower because it excludes beverage parts not considered food.
Year-on-year and month-on-month movements should be examined simultaneously to separate underlying trends from new shocks. Year-on-year comparisons reduce the influence of agricultural seasons and holidays, whereas monthly movements can provide early signals regarding raw material prices or supply disruptions. However, service costs mean that prices for food away from home typically adjust more slowly than retail food prices. Because component weights are unequal, a sharp increase in one group does not necessarily drive a proportional increase in the overall index. Updates to expenditure structures or commodity classifications can affect comparability over extended periods.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the food index only track items bought at stores?
- No. The scope is broader than food at home and may contain food away from home.
- Why do dining-out prices and food-at-home prices move in different directions?
- Dining-out prices also factor in wages, real estate, and services, whereas groceries are more sensitive to raw materials and distribution.
- Does a sharp price increase in a single commodity dominate the entire index?
- The impact depends on the share of that commodity in total food expenditure.