Wholesale food costs start climbing again

Wholesale food costs rose again in September after slipping in August, according to just-released federal statistics, indicating that the foodservice industry’s margin pressures could persist at least in the near-term.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) pegged the increase in the Producer Price Index for ready-to-sell food at 1.2%, compared with a decline in August of 0.1%.

The agency said the upswing was particularly sharp for fresh and dried vegetables, whose wholesale price soared by 15.7%. BLS noted that the wholesale prices of eggs and pork also rose, while the charges for processed chicken moderated. It clocked the rise in the wholesale price of eggs at 16.7%, which followed a 25% decline in August.

Wholesale prices of selected foods

Overall, the Producer Price Index rose 0.4% last month, after sliding 0.2% and 0.4% in August and July, respectively.

Most of the September increase came from a spike in the charges levied for services, including transportation and warehousing, according to BLS. Overall, producer prices are hovering about 8.5% above the wholesale prices of September 2021.

The whole price of energy rose 1.7%, a particularly sharp increase. The cost of fuel had declined 5.6% and 9.1% in August and July, respectively.