Grocery prices vs restaurant prices

Quick answer

The BLS grocery inflation rate is lower than the restaurant rate.

BLS food away from home: +3.5% year over year (September 2026). BLS food at home: +1.8% (September 2026).

+3.5% food away from home YoY

The latest comparison

BLS food away from home: +3.5% year over year (September 2026). BLS food at home: +1.8% (September 2026). The BLS grocery inflation rate is lower than the restaurant rate. Basket Report’s fixed 24-item basket is −2.2% year over year for September 2026; its source month must be checked separately from the two CPI indexes.

Why the measures differ

The Basket Index is a fixed set of 24 staple grocery prices, reported in dollars. BLS food at home and food away from home are CPI indexes that cover broader categories. Restaurant prices include labor, rent, service, utilities and margins in addition to food inputs, so they can keep rising even when grocery-store staples flatten.

Longer comparison since 2019

BLS food away from home is 42.2% higher than January 2019. BLS food at home is 33.3% higher than January 2019. The basket is 39.1% higher than the 2019 average. These baseline comparisons cover different periods from a one-year rate, so the answer depends on the period and measure.

Frequently asked questions

Are restaurant prices rising faster than grocery prices right now?

The BLS grocery inflation rate is lower than the restaurant rate. BLS food away from home: +3.5% year over year (September 2026). BLS food at home: +1.8% (September 2026). The fixed Basket Index has a separate annual change of −2.2% for September 2026.

Is food away from home the same as restaurants?

It is the BLS CPI category covering restaurant, cafeteria, vending and similar food purchased away from home.

Why compare with BLS food at home too?

BLS food at home is the broad CPI grocery category. Its annual change is +1.8% for September 2026, while Basket Report’s fixed basket gives a dollar-price view of 24 staple items.

Sources and methodology

Updated for September 2026 data · Source data is independently analyzed by Basket Report and does not imply BLS endorsement.

Compare grocery prices directly

Use Basket Report for item-level grocery prices and the fixed 24-item basket.

See all item prices