Your next trip down the grocery aisle could mean less cash in your wallet. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports food prices are on the rise.
"It's a cycle and we have to get accustomed to it," said Jorge Salazar-Carrillo, Professor of Economics at Florida International University.
Chicken breast, lime, bacon, wine -- all rising several cents. Beef is at its highest price in almost three ecades.
"I'm buying less meat because it's very expensive," said shopper Guillermo Rey.
"Maybe three months ago we were paying $1.70 for beef. Now we might be paying $2.00 for that same beef," said Sedano's supervisor Pedro Mesa.
Economists say it’s not unusual to see this spike, especially when you factor in global instability, drought, and disease - all happening at the same time.
"This is a crisis that we've seen many times and sometimes you have soybeans in low supply, but sugar is very abundant," said Salazar-Carrillo.
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Professor Salazar-Carrillo recommends substituting one item with another.
“You can adjust your offerings and your budget to what is cheaper at that particular moment and let the storm pass,” he said.
Consumers aren't the only ones feeling the impact. Pedro Mesa, a supervisor at a South Florida Sedano's, said the grocery chain loses profits at the expense of customer satisfaction.
"We're making less than we're accustomed to making, but it's important for us to make sure we have the best price for our customers. So we're willing to take that hit," Mesa said.
