The Department of Labor, Consumer Price Index for March 2022 rose 1.0 percent over February 2022 and by 8.8 percent over the past twelve months.  According to Dr. Jayson Lusk, Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, food-at-home prices increased by 10 percent compared to March 2021.

Wheat, poultry and fish increased by 14 percent, together with flour, butter and margarine.  Milk was up 13 percent, eggs 11 percent, fresh fruit ten percent and vegetables six percent.  Lusk noted, "while consumers are paying more for food items at the grocery store it is not causing shoppers to adjust buying habits as of yet".  He added, "interestingly consumers are paying these higher prices, but we are not seeing a lot of evidence of consumers really starting to try to skip back in response to the higher prices".  The Purdue Department of Agriculture Economics determined that families were paying approximately $15 more per week on food than during March 2021.

Based on surveys of the approximately 1,000 consumers for the Consumer Foods Insight shoppers largely underestimate the increase in food prices.  The study found limited switching of brands based on cost of differentials of approximately 15 percent.

Dr. Lusk believes there is a limit to the tolerance of consumers for food inflation and as fuel and food prices rise, there will be a move toward selection of lower priced foods and alternatives.  The current moderation of concern over high prices is attributed to relatively high wages and full employment together with the overhang of federal subsidies. The survey indicated that the proportion of households experiencing food insecurity increased by three percent in March 2022 compared to February.