The Blubber

The rate of price increases for food has subsided in recent months, according to the latest government inflation data.

However, shoppers still report feeling burdened by the prices they're seeing in the grocery store aisles. In fact, within the past few years, 80% of Americans say they've noticed a significant rise in the cost of groceries, according to a report by Intuit Credit Karma last month.

Since the start of the pandemic, grocery prices have risen 25%, the report also found.

Some consumers have had to sacrifice necessities to afford food, the personal finance company found. This includes 28% who sacrificed other needs like rent or bills to pay for groceries, and 27% who occasionally skipped meals. Additionally, 18% have either applied for or considered applying for food stamps, while 15% rely on or have considered turning to food banks.

Yet, 53% indicated they earn too much to qualify for food stamps or other government assistance but still have difficulties paying for necessities.

While most consumers report noticing higher grocery costs, 51% have also seen increases in gasoline prices; 39% said other bills like cable, electricity, and internet have spiked; 27% said housing costs have gone up; and another 27% said dining out costs have risen.

The survey was conducted online by Qualtrics on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma, from May 7-13 among 2,011 adults.

The high cost of groceries has caught the attention of Congress. "Grocery prices skyrocketed during the pandemic, and in many cases, they've kept going up, even though the pandemic is over," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said at a recent Senate hearing.

Some retailers have moved to reduce grocery prices in response to consumer price fatigue. Target announced plans to reduce prices on about 5,000 items, including meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables. Amazon Fresh plans to cut prices on about 4,000 items online and in stores. Walmart has also increased its "rollbacks" on groceries and sales on other items.

For those who are truly struggling to cover grocery costs, finding a local food bank through FeedingAmerica.org may help, according to Credit Karma.

For those who have the flexibility to reevaluate their spending, trying new strategies may also help. "It's a good opportunity to create smart shopping habits," said Trae Bodge, a smart shopping expert at TrueTrae.com.

While food inflation is subsiding, certain categories still had notable year-over-year price increases as of May, including juices and drinks, frankfurters, and bacon.