Ways to save on your next grocery bill as prices continue to rise

Grocery prices are increasing this fall as inflation, higher transportation costs and tariffs drive up food costs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, price increases for several staple grocery items are outpacing general grocery inflation.

Imported fruits and vegetables have seen notable price increases, with items such as tomatoes from Mexico rising 15%. Meat prices remain elevated with a 10% increase, while sugar and sweets have risen 7.5%, pushing the price of an average full-sized candy bar from about $2.60 last year to over $3 this year. Non-alcoholic beverages, including carbonated drinks and juice, have also increased 4%.

Consumer adviser Clark Howard recommends using supermarket circulars to build a reverse shopping list before going to the store. “Find the items on sale and plan your meals around the discounts,” Howard said. Shoppers who don’t receive paper circulars can use the Flipp app, which aggregates store fliers in one place.

Shoppers can also combine Flipp with the Ibotta app, which offers cash back on everyday grocery purchases when users submit a photo of their store receipt. Another tool, the Flashfood app, alerts consumers to discounted food approaching its sell-by date, allowing users to select and pay for items in the app before picking them up at participating stores.

Adjusting beverage purchases offers additional savings at the grocery store. Buying powdered drink mix and adding water can significantly cut drink prices, as a ready-to-drink gallon of lemonade costs 125% more than powdered mix options. Similarly, ready-to-drink juice costs up to 50% more than frozen juice concentrate.

Consumer experts suggest purchasing chocolate during post-holiday clearance sales to save money. Depending on the specific type, chocolate can remain fresh in the freezer for up to a year or more.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW