In Billings, Madi Kelly, a local shopper, has noticed a significant change at the store.
“I feel like, you know, it was a lot easier just to make a grocery trip for two people and it felt pretty affordable and anymore now it feels like even a small shopping trip like this is the equivalent of what a full shopping trip used to be,” said Kelly.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that grocery staples in the western region, including Montana, continue to rise in cost. For instance, beef prices have increased from $5.96 per pound in January 2025 to $7.18 this year. Milk prices have also seen a slight uptick.
Many shoppers, like Kelly, are making adjustments to cope with the rising costs.
“For our bigger grocery hauls, we usually will go to like WinCo because prices are just a little bit cheaper overall. At Albertson’s, they do have good deals if you can find them, but you get less bang for your buck,” said Kelly.
Family Service in Billings reports an increase in people seeking assistance due to fluctuating grocery prices and a rising cost of living. Rhonda Rehard, a user of the Family Service food program, shared her experience.
“We come in here and fortunately, we’re able to get things that we can pair with the items that we buy from the grocery store, but we couldn’t purchase everything, especially the meat costs. They’re just out of control, it seems right now,” said Rehard.
For Rehard and her family, donations through Family Service help them put healthier meals on the table.
“It means that my family can eat healthy. We’ve got two diabetics and then some other health issues for our children, and we’re able to come in here and get what what’s available. And then we can go to the grocery store and buy the things to pair with it and save a lot of money,” said Rehard.
The latest Consumer Price Index data released on Wednesday shows that food prices overall rose 0.4 percent in February, with fruits and vegetables experiencing some of the biggest increases.
Dining and Cooking