Food Markets & Prices

  • Consumer Price Index (CPI)
    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food is probably the most widely used indicator of changes in retail food prices. ERS regularly updates food price forecasts for the short-term period.
  • Food Prices, Expenditures & Costs
    ERS develops and monitors indicators of individual, household, and market-level food consumption, prices, expenditures, food marketing costs, and farm-to-retail price spreads.
  • Food Service Industry
    ERS research examines the size of the foodservice market, major market segments, and recent issues related to the foodservice industry.
  • Local Foods
    ERS research on local food systems explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines economic and health impacts of local food systems.
  • Processing & Marketing
    ERS monitors key developments and trends across the U.S. food marketing system.
  • Retailing & Wholesaling
    ERS research on trends and developments in wholesale sales and in traditional and nontraditional retail food stores.