Inflation hasn’t been doing us any favors at the grocery store lately — the cost of eating at home shot up 10% in the last year, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. To see how that stacks up with our own grocery bill, we compared current prices on 35 Kroger items with prices obtained on the very same products from the same Ohio store just seven months ago, in September 2021. The result? Yes, we’re paying more: 11% more, to be exact. While prices dropped on two items and stayed the same on nine items, they rose on the 24 other products. The price of one staple is even up a staggering 89%.
Prices are subject to change and may vary by location. All are non-sale prices and do not reflect any discounts that may be available with a Kroger Plus card. Items are store brand unless otherwise noted.
Related: 15 Important Steps to Take to Outsmart Inflation
Organic Baby Carrots (1 lb.)
2021: $1.69
2022: $1.49
Decrease: 11.8%
Related: 19 Secrets for Shopping at Kroger
Bananas (1 lb.)
2021: 55 cents
2022: 49 cents
Decrease: 10.9%
Related: Kroger Offers Membership With Free Delivery, Double Fuel Points
Shredded Mozzarella (16 oz.)
2021: $3.99
2022: $3.99
Related: Ways to Save at the Grocery Store
Ketchup (24 oz.)
2021: $1.25
2022: $1.25
We’re still paying more than a few years ago — back in 2019, ketchup was $1.
Related: Grocery Shopping Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
Gala Apples (1 lb.)
2021: $1.59
2022: $1.59
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White Bread (1 loaf)
2021: $1.49
2022: $1.49
Hamburger Buns (8 ct.)
2021: $1.49
2022: $1.49
Strawberries (16 oz.)
2021: $2.99
2022: $2.99
No price increase here, but in 2019, we were only paying $2.50 for berries.
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Boneless Pork Chops (1 lb.)
2021: $5.49
2022: $5.49
Kroger bucks the trend here. According to the CPI, the price of pork is up 15.3% in the past year. (Worth noting: in 2019, the same pork chops cost $4.99.)
White Rice (2 lb.)
2021: $1.69
2022: $1.69
Canned Tuna (5 oz.)
2021: 79 cents
2022: 79 cents
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Toasted Oats Cereal (12 oz.)
2021: $1.79
2022: $1.89
Increase: 5.6%
Ranch Dressing (16 oz.)
2021: $1.67
2022: $1.79
Increase: 7.2%
Chicken Broth (32 oz.)
2021: $1.39
2022: $1.49
Increase: 7.2%
Oven-Roasted Deli Turkey Breast
2021: $2.79
2022: $2.99
Increase: 7.2%
Tyson Chicken Breasts (1 lb.)
2021: $3.99
2022: $4.29
Increase: 7.5%
In 2019, chicken breasts were only $3.49 a pound.
Peanut Butter (28 oz.)
2021: $2.392022: $2.59
Increase: 8.4%
Hummus (10 oz.)
2021: $3.49
2022: $3.79
Increase: 8.6%
American Cheese (24 slices)
2021: $2.29
2022: $2.49
Increase: 8.7%
Ground Beef (1 lb. 80/20)
2021: $5.49
2022: $5.99
Increase: 9.1%
The rising price of meat has been one of the hardest for shoppers to swallow. In 2019, a pound of ground beef was just $4.49 — a full $1.50 cheaper.
Unsalted Butter (16 oz.)
2021: $3.19
2022: $3.49
Increase: 9.4%
Vanilla Ice Cream (48 oz.)
2021: $2.99
2022: $3.29
Increase: 10%
Sugar (4 lbs.)
2021: $1.99
2022: $2.19
Increase: 10.1%
Normally cheap baking staples have seen steep price increases — in 2019, flour was just $1.59.
Yogurt (32 oz.)
2021: $1.99
2022: $2.19
Increase: 10.1%
Large Eggs (1 dozen)
2021: $1.49
2022: $1.69
Increase: 13.4%
A 20-cent increase doesn’t seem so bad, but in 2019, these same eggs only cost 79 cents.
Diced Tomatoes (14.5 oz.)
2021: 69 cents
2022: 79 cents
Increase: 14.5%
2% Milk (1 gal.)
2021: $2.69
2022: $3.09
Increase: 14.9%Milk prices are up almost a full dollar since 2019, when a gallon of Kroger’s store-brand milk cost $2.19.
Chocolate Chip Cookies (13 oz.)
2021: $1.89
2022: $2.19
Increase: 15.9%Flour (5 lbs.)
2021: $1.79
2022: $2.19
Increase: 22.3%
Stouffer’s Frozen Lasagna (38 oz.)
2021: $7.29
2022: $8.99
Increase: 23.3%
In 2019, Stouffer’s lasagna was just $6.99, a full $2 cheaper than today.
Related: We Tried 11 Frozen Lasagnas — and This Is the BestLettuce (1 head)
2021: $1.59
2022: $1.99
Increase: 25.2%
Frozen Pepperoni Pizza (28 oz.)
2021: $2.99
2022: $3.79
Increase: 26.8%
Related: We Tasted 13 Frozen Pizzas and This Is the Best
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (12 oz.)
2021: $1
2022: $1.50
Increase: 50%
So much for trying to eat healthy. These same frozen veggies were just 96 cents in 2019.
Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup (10.5 oz.)
2021: 69 cents
2022: $1.25 cents
Increase: 81.2%
There’s nothing comfortable about this comfort-food price increase. In 2019, a can of Campbell’s soup was just 59 cents.
Spaghetti (32 oz.)
2021: $1
2022: $1.89
Increase: 89%
Related: Over 35 Store-Brand Foods That Deliver Quality and Savings
Total for 35 Items
2021: $81.57
2022: $90.58
Overall increase: 11%
Our basket of Kroger items slightly outpaces the 10% year-over-year rise in the Consumer Price Index for food at home. And if you look back at 2019, the same items cost just $75.26 — which means our grocery bill has gone up a shocking 20.4% since before the pandemic.
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