Food Costs Rising for Missourians

If you feel like you’ve been spending a little more money at the grocery lately, you’re not mistaken.  The Missouri Farm Bureau’s Marketbasket Survey reveals that prices have gone up on several items over the first quarter of the year.  The most notable increase was in the cost of eggs.  A dozen eggs averaged $2.39 for the first quarter, compared to just 89 cents at this time last year.  Other common items that have gone up in price include ground chuck, bacon, chicken breasts, and orange juice.  There is some good news in the report, though.  The Marketbasket Survey includes 16 frequently-purchased items ranging from meat and dairy to salad mix and cereal.  11 of those items saw slight price drops.  Overall, Missouri residents are paying slightly more than last year, but  are spending $1.89 below the national average.