Texans pay more for food, and they’re not alone

Food, like just about everything right now, is expensive and increasingly so. And it’s not just a matter of paying a little more for cold brew or a gallon of milk. It’s a matter of historic food price increases, the likes of which haven’t been seen since 1981, according to the March Consumer Price Index report.

The report said that food prices, both at grocery stores and restaurants, increased 8.8% since last March — the largest 12-month increase since the 1980s.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a recent report that restaurant prices are predicted to exceed historical averages and increase an additional 5.5% to 6.5% while grocery prices are expected to rise 3% to 4% in 2022.