Portland Grocery Prices Rise Again: May 2025 Brings End to Brief Relief

May brought mixed news about Portland grocery prices, according to the latest Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released Wednesday. West Region grocery prices rose 0.1% in May, reversing April's decline, while restaurant prices continue climbing faster than supermarket costs.

The West Region CPI report — covering Oregon, Washington, California and 12 other western states — revealed grocery prices (food at home) rose 0.1% in May after declining 0.1% in April. This admittedly modest increase ended two months of declining grocery costs but remained well below the 0.5% increase from February to March.

Overall food prices climbed 0.2% for the month, with restaurants driving much of the increase. Food away from home (how the BLS tracks restaurant spending) jumped 0.3% in May, continuing a pattern of dining costs rising faster than grocery prices.

Egg prices remained the most volatile grocery item, dropping 2.7% nationally in May after months of increases. Despite this monthly decline, eggs are still 41.5% more expensive than a year ago due to ongoing avian flu impacts on poultry flocks.

The USDA expects egg prices to surge 39.2% for the full year 2025, making them the fastest-rising grocery category.

Locally, the Stumptown Savings Portland Egg Price Tracker showed an average price of $6.29 per dozen last month. Granted, the sample size is much smaller than what the U.S. government is tracking. The cheapest price per dozen we tracked locally last month was a shockingly low 76 cents per dozen (for a 60-pack) at a Tigard Walmart.

Looking at year-over-year changes, West Region food costs remain elevated from this time in 2024. Inflation is down from its high points, but if you're feeling strained at the grocery store, you're not imagining things. Overall, food prices are up 3.5% annually, with grocery prices alone climbing 2.8% in the past 12 months.

The biggest price increases were:

May's data suggests the brief respite we saw in April from rising grocery costs may be ending. While the 0.1% monthly increase is modest, it breaks the downward trend seen in March and April.

The persistent gap between grocery store and restaurant inflation — with dining out costs rising 4.4% annually versus 2.8% for groceries — continues to favor home cooking for budget-conscious consumers.

For Portland households, the mixed signals in May highlight the importance of strategic shopping:

Signs are pointing to increased price increases throughout 2025. The USDA's latest outlook predicts continued food price challenges, with overall food prices expected to rise 2.9% in 2025. Key predictions include:

Expect Higher Prices:

Potential Savings:

Adding uncertainty to the outlook, economists warn that Trump's tariffs could push food prices higher in the second half of 2025. Walmart and other retailers have already announced price increases to offset tariff costs on imported goods.

For Portland families, May's data serves as a reminder that while food inflation has cooled from 2022's peaks, prices remain elevated and volatile.

Smart shopping strategies — including taking advantage of weekly deals (highlighted each Thursday in Stumptown Savings), monitoring seasonal produce prices and cooking more at home — remain essential for managing food budgets in 2025.

Have you noticed changes in your grocery bills recently? Share your experiences in the comments below, or reach out with your best savings tips. Don't forget to log the egg prices you're seeing in the Portland Egg Price Tracker. It only takes 30 seconds.

The next West Region CPI report will be released July 15, 2025, covering June inflation data.

This article was written with AI assistance for analyzing the data and trends.