Grocery prices held steady in the latest Consumer Price Index by the Department of Labor.
While food prices stayed flat, the overall index increased .4 percent, following a .3 percent increase in January. Three of the six major grocery store food group indexes decreased over the month. The index for dairy and related products decreased 0.6 percent in February, led by a 1.1 percent decline in the index for cheese and related products.
The fruits and vegetables index decreased 0.2 percent over the month, as did the nonalcoholic beverages index. The cereals and bakery products index rose 0.5 percent in February, following a 0.2 percent decrease in January. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index also increased over the month, rising 0.1 percent. The index for other food at home was unchanged over the month.
The food away from home index rose 0.1 percent in February after rising 0.5 percent in January.
