US: Texas food prices continue to rise
The total cost of the 16-item grocery bill rose to $49.88, compared to $47.57 last quarter.
“Despite recent rains, drought conditions continue to persist in the Lone Star State,” said Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierschke. “This is the smallest cow herd in the nation in more than 60 years and soaring meat prices are hitting ranchers, suppliers and consumers across the country.”
The survey showed ground beef prices rising to $4.48 per pound from $4.09 last quarter and beef sirloin rising to $6.32 per pound from $5.96 last quarter. Sliced turkey increased to $4.98 per pound this quarter, as compared to $4.68 in the second quarter of 2014. Prices for pork chops also increased, rising to $4.96 per pound from $4.54 last quarter.
Smaller increases were registered for skinless chicken breasts, which rang in at $3.37 per pound compared to $3.22 last quarter.
“It will take a while for beef prices to start falling as ranchers start the process of restocking their herds,” Dierschke said. “Once you see lower beef prices, I think you will see prices for other meats fall, as well.”
Of the 16 items surveyed, fresh tomatoes decreased in price and milk prices remained the same. The prices of lettuce, grapefruit, corn flakes, rice, pinto beans, vanilla cake mix and cheddar cheese increased in price from the last quarterly survey.
The Texas Farm Bureau Grocery Price Watch is conducted quarterly by volunteer shoppers at grocery stores across the state of Texas. The current survey data was collected by 42 shoppers from Sept. 4-11. The bureau has monitored Texas food prices through its Grocery Price Watch survey since March 2009.
Source: lmtonline.com