Supermarket prices for fresh fruits and vegetables fell for the second consecutive month, led by a plunge in tomatoes, reflecting further moderation of fresh produce inflation after harsh winter weather led to shortages of some items.Average nationwide retail fruit and vegetable prices during May fell 1.9% from April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly Consumer Price Index June 15. April prices fell 1.3% from March.
Among six food categories tracked by the bureau, fruits and vegetables were the only one to post a month-over-month price decline in May.
Fruit and vegetable prices are still up over last year’s levels, joining a food inflation upswing led by increasingly expensive beef, pork and milk that’s forcing Americans to spend more at the grocery store. Fresh produce inflation is on pace for the largest increase since 2008, according to a recent government forecast.
During May, fresh vegetable prices were up 3.9% from the same month in 2010, according to the CPI report. That marked a slowdown from year-over-year increases averaging 6.7% over the first four months of the year. But vegetable prices have still risen from year-earlier levels for 15 consecutive months.
Fresh fruit prices were up 0.9% in May, the fifth year-over-year increase in the past six months.
A broader price index for food consumed at home rose 0.5% during May from April and was up 4.4% from May 2010, with all major grocery categories posting increases, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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