5 Grocery Purchases That Are Getting Harder for Gen Z To Afford
If you’ve been feeling like it’s getting tougher and tougher to avoid groceries, you’re not hallucinating.
According to USDA Economic Research Service, the consumer price index (CPI) for all food prices in March 2026 were 2.7% higher than in March 2025. This increase has been even more for certain items. Here are the items for which you’re going to really feel the increase next time you go to the grocery store.
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1. Orange Juice
Looking to add a splash of orange juice to your breakfast or plan for Sunday mimosas at your place? It’s going to cost you. According to NBC News, the price of orange juice has gone up 22% since January 2025. Your cheapest bet is going to be the store brand, rather than opting for a name brand.
2. Ground Beef
Making burgers has gotten more expensive lately, as the cost of ground beef has gone up 18% since January 2025, according to NBC News. To get the best deal on ground beef, buy in bulk if you can. Stores like Costco, Winco and Sam’s Club will give you a lower price per ounce than buying from the grocery store. Ramsey Solutions reported this is due to less rain. Because of the lack of precipitation, crops couldn’t grow and farmers had to reduce cattle herds, so the price of beef increased due to a lack of supply.
3. Coffee
It’s taxing when the drink you have to start your morning with is breaking your budget. Ramsey Solutions reported that coffee has gone up about 30% over the past year. Why is this happening? Weather is a huge reason. Droughts in major coffee-producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam have prevented crops from growing and caused a shortage, so the price had to go up to compensate.
4. Bananas
According to Marketplace.org, bananas have gone up 6.7% in price in the last year. The report said this is likely due to the tariffs President Donald Trump imposed last year. More than 90% of the bananas sold in the U.S. are imported from other countries, so the extra cost of shipping has been passed down to grocery shoppers.
5. Seafood
Like bananas, seafood (particularly frozen seafood) has gone up in price due to tariffs, according to the same report from Marketplace.org. A lot of the United States’ seafood comes from China, Vietnam and Chile. Fish and other seafood prices are up 5.2%, while the price of frozen seafood has risen 11.6%.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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