Second quarter food prices show slight increase
Quarterly food basket price rings in at $45.86, according to TFB’s Grocery Price Watch survey
(WACO, Texas)—Retail food prices in Texas showed a slight increase in the second quarter, according to the latest Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Grocery Price Watch survey.
The survey results recorded a total of $45.86 for a 16-staple item basket, including produce, meat, grain and dairy products.
“It was a slight increase from the first quarter—just 33 cents,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “Oftentimes our total grocery bill is high, but our survey only counts the food products and not the other household items you can purchase in the store.”
Prices at the meat counter were mixed, but sirloin steak led the increase this quarter, up 38 cents to $6.48 per pound.
Lean ground beef dropped 14 cents to $3.53 per pound, and pork chops showed a slight increase, up 3 cents to $3.87 per pound.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts dropped 13 cents to $3.15 per pound. Sliced turkey showed an 11-cent increase to $4.77 per package.
“It’s peak grilling season for Texans, and the meat counter offers a variety of cuts for all price budgets,” Boening said. “The important thing is to keep a healthy portion of protein on our plates as part of a balanced diet and, of course, enjoy time with family.”
The price of 2% milk stayed the same at $2.96 per gallon. Block cheddar cheese fell eight cents to $2.68, while vanilla ice cream increased 19 cents to $6.25 per half gallon.
Of the 16 food staples surveyed, vanilla cake mix, dried pinto beans, long grain rice and white bread saw a slight decrease in price.
Corn flakes, tomatoes, grapefruit and lettuce registered slight increases for the second quarter.
The TFB Grocery Price Watch is conducted quarterly by shoppers strategically located across the state of Texas. The current survey data was collected by 43 shoppers from May 31-June 7, 2018. TFB has monitored Texas food prices through its Grocery Price Watch survey since March 2009.