Consumer prices rose 0.4% last month after increasing 0.2% in July, the largest increase in seven months. The Consumer Price Index, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a common measure of inflation, as it shows the change over time in the prices consumers pay for goods and services.This month, the CPI rose 2.9% on an annual basis compared to the 2.7% index recorded in July. The index for food also rose 3.2% in August compared to the year prior. The two grocery items that continue to rise are coffee and tomatoes. The average cost of ground roast coffee per pound in August was $8.87, compared to $6.31 of the same month last year. Brazil, which sources about a third of U.S. coffee imports, saw its tariffs go up by 50% which took effect in August.Tomatoes, while still cheaper compared to last year, have seen their cost rise in recent months. In August, tomatoes’ average cost was $1.93 per pound. But not all food items saw an increase in August. Pasta and beans are both 9% cheaper compared to the previous year. The average price of a pound of spaghetti and macaroni was $1.29 in August, while a pound of dried beans cost $1.55.An analysis by the Get the Facts Data Team of staple grocery items shows the average price of all grocery items was 6.63% more expensive in August 2025 compared with the same time last year.See how prices on your grocery list went up or down in the grocery calculator below. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4K
NEW YORK —
Consumer prices rose 0.4% last month after increasing 0.2% in July, the largest increase in seven months. The Consumer Price Index, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a common measure of inflation, as it shows the change over time in the prices consumers pay for goods and services.
This month, the CPI rose 2.9% on an annual basis compared to the 2.7% index recorded in July.
The index for food also rose 3.2% in August compared to the year prior. The two grocery items that continue to rise are coffee and tomatoes.
The average cost of ground roast coffee per pound in August was $8.87, compared to $6.31 of the same month last year. Brazil, which sources about a third of U.S. coffee imports, saw its tariffs go up by 50% which took effect in August.
Tomatoes, while still cheaper compared to last year, have seen their cost rise in recent months. In August, tomatoes’ average cost was $1.93 per pound.
But not all food items saw an increase in August. Pasta and beans are both 9% cheaper compared to the previous year. The average price of a pound of spaghetti and macaroni was $1.29 in August, while a pound of dried beans cost $1.55.
An analysis by the Get the Facts Data Team of staple grocery items shows the average price of all grocery items was 6.63% more expensive in August 2025 compared with the same time last year.
See how prices on your grocery list went up or down in the grocery calculator below.
