WASHINGTON - Turns out it's not just the price of peanut butter that has risen.
According to the USDA, the cost of food is up when compared to last year.
They say the cost of ground beef is up 20 percent and you'll shell out 9 percent more for a steak. The cost of eggs is up 11 percent, pork chops are 9 percent more expensive than they were last year, and with Thanksgiving coming, whole turkeys are up 7 percent.
Whole chicken may be the most cost-effective choice, since their price has raised 1 percent since last year.
It's not just protein prices that have risen. Tomatoes are up 5 percent from this time last year, lettuce is costing you 7 percent more, and potatoes are up 16 percent.
Experts blame higher fuel and energy costs along with higher prices for corn and soy, which are feed for livestock.
Although it may cost you more to fill your cart this year, officials say the USDA is forecasting grocery costs to go down next year.
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