What’s happening with grocery prices?

Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a proposal on “price gouging” for food and groceries on Friday. The move comes as Harris is trying to define her own economic agenda since she took control of the Democratic ticket just a few weeks ago.

For countless Americans, grocery prices are some of the most tangible reminders of higher-than-normal inflation, and the sticker shock often weighs on people’s impressions of the economy. Generally, food prices have been trending down, but they are still higher than before the pandemic.

A steep rise in inflation pulled food prices way up. But the latest snapshot from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that overall, food prices were up 2.2 percent in July compared with the year before. Groceries were up a more modest 1.1 percent, resembling the growth in that category the past several months.

A handful of grocery categories saw some price increases in July, including meats and eggs, fruits and vegetables, and nonalcoholic beverages. Others saw slight declines, such as cereals and bakery products, along with dairy.

Has inflation gotten better overall?

Inflation has made major progress since peaking two years ago. On Wednesday, government data showed inflation had hit its lowest level since spring 2021, with prices cooling broadly across the economy.

Over the past few years, supply chain issues or disease outbreaks triggered sudden food price increases. Flour shortages led to higher costs for bakery items, for example, and a severe outbreak of bird flu affected egg prices. Higher wages for workers at processing plants, warehouses and grocery stores have also contributed to rising costs.

Lately, though, food costs have stayed relatively stable and housing costs have persisted as the main driver of overall inflation.

What are Harris’s plans to tackle food prices?

Late Wednesday, the Harris campaign said she would push for the “first-ever federal ban” on food price hikes, including broad new powers for federal authorities. The announcement comes as Harris also plans to detail her plans to lower prescription drug prices and housing costs.

Details of the plan are still unclear. But the campaign said the aim is to enact the ban within the first 100 days of her presidency if Harris is elected. That would include directing the Federal Trade Commission to impose “harsh penalties” on firms that break new limits on “price gouging,” according to the campaign.

Has price gouging made grocery prices worse?

The Biden administration has emphasized corporate price gouging as it tries to lower costs for households and businesses. That’s especially the case as corporate profits jumped over the past few years, while consumers bore the brunt of higher costs.

But there’s debate among economists - including Republicans and Democrats alike - about how much corporate greed is to blame for inflation that has proliferated throughout the economy. Plus, a slew of food companies and major grocers have even lowered costs this year in response to customers pulling back and showing little patience for high prices.

Why the focus on food prices?

Inflation routinely polls as one of the top reasons people don’t think the economy is working for them. And even though inflation has come way down - from a peak of 9.1 percent annually to 2.9 percent - price levels for myriad items are still significantly higher than just a few years ago.

That’s especially true for costs for the basics. In the summer of 2022, gas prices that topped $5 per gallon shook people’s confidence in the economy. Now, groceries are often top of mind, especially for lower-income Americans with less room in their budgets to absorb the strain or shift their purchases toward cheaper items.

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Jeff Stein contributed to this report.