Grocery prices jumped more in April than they had in nearly four years

Iran warGrocery prices jumped more in April than they had in nearly four yearsFresh vegetables are over 44% more expensive today than they were three months ago, on an annualized basis.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The price of coffee over the past rhree months has been rising at a pace that works out to more than 22% annually. Brandon Bell / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 12, 2026, 3:08 PM EDTBy Allie CanalAfter weeks of warnings that the Iran war would drive up U.S. food prices, the numbers are finally in: According to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the category it calls “food at home,” otherwise known as your grocery store bill, rose 0.7% in April. That increase marked the biggest one-month jump in grocery prices in nearly four years.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Overall, grocery store prices have risen 2.9% over the past year — an across-the-board jump that continues to pressure everyday Americans. But that pressure increased significantly in recent weeks. In March, food at home prices actually fell by 0.2%, making April’s stark reversal all the more significant.Driving that increase were substantial price hikes for things like fresh veggies. On an annualized basis, fresh vegetable prices are more than 44% higher today than they were three months ago.Other basic necessities like bread and milk have risen by a more modest 8% and 5% over that same time period, respectively. And then there is coffee and beef, two categories that are facing price shocks tied both to the Iran war and to factors far beyond the Middle East. Severe weather in major coffee-producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam has created supply shortages and higher bean costs. Rising shipping costs and strong global demand have added even more upward pressure to prices.Over the past three months, the price of coffee at the grocery store has been rising at a pace that wo...