Drought to raise family grocery bill by almost $7 per week

The impact of this summer’s drought in the Midwest is likely to hit consumers in 2013, raising the year’s grocery bill for a family of four by $351.12.

The projections by the Food Institute average to about $6.75 per week, only slightly higher than the 2.5% to 3.5% estimated by the USDA. The Food Institute says food-at-home spending will be about $4 higher per week and away-from-home spending will increase by $2.50 per week.

Higher grocery bills will be most notable in the meat section where a family of four can expect to pay $44 more in 2013 than this year. Produce is another leading category where the bill is expected to rise by $23.44 next year.

Grocery shoppers may find ways to limit price increases by purchasing frozen and canned items or by using coupons.

The Food Institutes’ projections are calculated using USDA’s food price projections for 2013.

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