Eating continues to cost more, even as overall inflation has eased compared with 2022-23. Prices at restaurants and other eateries were up 5.1% in January 2024 compared with January 2023, while grocery costs increased 1.2% during the same period, Labor Department data suggest.
In January, Dataessential put out a Table Stakes Report that said 70% of consumers say they are still worried about the rising cost of living. In response, nearly half (47%) of consumers are scaling back on dining out.