Grocery prices reportedly start to fall in California, restaurant prices up

Grocery prices are starting to drop in California’s most populated areas, but it’s costing more to eat out, according to the Consumer Price Index.

Prices down in Los Angeles, nearby cities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released CPI reports, reported that prices for fruit and vegetables fell 3.5% from July 2023 to July 2024 in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim. Produce was the food consumed at home with the biggest drop in prices .

Overall, grocery prices dropped 0.1% during the same 12-month period, the bureau added.

But prices for food away from home in Los Angeles and nearby areas grew 5% from July 2023 to July 2024, the agency said.

Grocery prices dropped 0.5% during July, and that included lower costs in five of six grocery categories, the bureau said.

The cost of eating out also dropped by 0.2% during July.

Costs drop in San Francisco

In the San Francisco area, grocery prices dropped 0.3% from June 2023 to June 2024, the bureau said. That's led by a 2.1% decrease in prices for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials.

During the same 12-month period, the cost of eating out climbed 5.2%.

During a two-month period ending in June, grocery costs dropped 1.1%, the bureau said. Prices fell in four of the six grocery categories. Prices for food away from home grew by 1.5%.

Costs start to drop in San Diego

In San Diego and nearby Carlsbad , grocery prices rose from July 2023 to July 2024 by 1.3%, the bureau said. That's led by a 5.1% hike in costs for cereals and bakery products.

Food prices away from home jumped 12% for the same 12-month period.

In the same cities, grocery prices dropped 1.2% during a two-month period ending in July. Prices were lower in four of the six grocery categories.

Costs at restaurants during the same period grew by 3.4%.

Next price statistics

The next CPI reports will be released on Sept. 11.

Want to pay less? There are apps for that

You can use apps to buy surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, and bakeries. They cost pennies on the dollar. See the video attached to this story.

Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at dave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Grocery prices reportedly start to fall in California, restaurant prices up