US food prices jumped 1.3% in October, the biggest monthly rise in eight months, as wholesale inflation in the United States accelerated to its highest annual rate in nearly four years, official data showed on Friday, 13 November 2026.
The Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.3% last month after an upwardly revised 1.4% surge in September, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said. The index shot up 6.5% year-over-year in October, the largest annual gain since November 2022, after advancing 6.3% in September.
FAKTA
- Report: US Producer Price Index for October 2026, published Friday, 13 November 2026
- Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, reported by the Labor Department
- Monthly PPI: Up 0.3% in October, after a revised 1.4% surge in September
- Annual PPI: Up 6.5% year-over-year, the largest annual gain since November 2022
- Food prices: Jumped 1.3% in the month, the most in eight months and the fastest since July 2022
- Fresh and dry vegetables: Up 26.7% in October, after a 30.7% leap in September
- Core PPI: Excluding food and energy, up 0.3% on the month and 5.0% annually
Why US Food Prices Rose in October
Producer prices over the month were lifted by a 0.5% rise in goods. Food prices jumped 1.3%, driven by fresh and dry vegetables, chickens, turkeys and roasted coffee. Within food, the largest price spikes were seen for produce, much of which is transported by truck, and expensive diesel raised transportation costs.
Prices for wholesale fresh and dry vegetables jumped 26.7% in October, following a 30.7% leap in September. Food prices had already increased 1.1% in September, making October the second consecutive month of rapid rises.
The Broader Inflation Picture
Despite the better-than-expected monthly reading, there were more signs of inflation broadening out beyond energy goods. Goods prices advanced 10.2% in the 12 months through October, the biggest gain in four years, and prices of goods excluding food and energy logged their biggest gain since May.
| Producer Price Index | September 2026 | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly change | Up 1.4% (revised) | Up 0.3% |
| Annual change | Up 6.3% | Up 6.5% |
| Food prices, monthly | Up 1.1% | Up 1.3% |
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the PPI climbing 0.4% in October. The report followed news this week of a stronger-than-expected increase in consumer prices in October. The data are expected to result in a rate rise from the Federal Reserve when policymakers meet in early December.
What It Means for Shoppers
Producer prices are the prices businesses receive for their goods, and sustained rises at the factory gate usually feed through to the prices shoppers pay. The October data suggest food bills will stay under pressure in the months ahead.
The picture is similar elsewhere. The Institute of Grocery Distribution forecasts UK food inflation averaging 2.9 to 3.9% in 2026 before rising to 5.6 to 6.6% in 2027, as El Niño, rising input costs and supply chain pressures build. Its chief economist, James Walton, said: “Food inflation’s current weakness will not last.”
Conclusion
October’s producer price data show that food inflation is far from beaten. A 1.3% monthly jump in food prices, led by vegetables, has pushed wholesale inflation to its highest annual rate in four years, and with the Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates again in December, households are likely to feel the pressure at the checkout for some time yet.
