October food prices slightly higher

Though food prices are on the rise, several grocery stores across the nation are offering shoppers opportunities to save on the Other White Meat during National Pork Month.

According to the latest results from the Alabama Farmers Federation’s monthly food price survey, the average cost of 20 basic market basket items was $59.76, up 28 cents or 0.47 percent from September.

Higher prices on T-bone steaks, Boston butts and chuck roasts were a significant factor behind the modest increase this month. Steaks were up 28 cents to $8.72 a pound; Boston butts rose 17 cents to $2.21 a pound; and chuck roasts increased 11 cents to $4.02 a pound. Other price increases affected whole fryers, up 4 cents to $1.29 a pound; and bacon, up a penny to $5.75 a pound. Offsetting the increase were the savings found on pork chops, chicken breasts and ground beef. Pork chops dropped 31 cents to $3.41 a pound; chicken breasts were down 6 cents to $2.16 a pound; and ground beef decreased a nickel to $2.82 a pound. Eggs were down 7 cents to $1.83 a dozen.

Shoppers in the market for produce also noticed higher prices overall, with tomatoes leading the price increase. Tomatoes were up 29 cents to $1.83 a pound; red potatoes were up a penny to 94 cents a pound; and lettuce was also up a penny to $1.39 a head. Sweet potatoes were down 4 cents to 87 cents a pound.

Regional reports collected by volunteer shoppers throughout the state October 1-10 showed the market basket averaged $57.25 in northwest Alabama, $58.67 in northeast Alabama, $61.50 in central Alabama and $62.69 in south Alabama.