No.

The federal Consumer Price Index for food, which includes groceries and food purchased away from home, rose from 247.9 in May 2016 to 349 in May 2026. That was an increase of 40.8%.

Food prices rose more slowly before the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset in early 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest annual increase came in 2022, when prices rose 9.9%, followed by a 5.8% increase in 2023. Increases slowed to 2.3% in 2024 and 2.9% in 2025.

The index for “food at home,” which measures grocery store prices, rose from 239.4 in May 2016 to 321 in May 2026, an increase of 34.1%.

The index for “food away from home,” which measures restaurant and other prepared-food prices, rose from 262.1 in May 2016 to 394.7 in May 2026, an increase of 50.6%.

Federal agencies do not publish Maine-specific data on food prices.

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Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Food in U.S. city average, all urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Food at home in U.S. city average, all urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Food away from home in U.S. city average, all urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted