Grocery prices have continued to climb in 2023, and both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have recorded some of the sharpest increases in the nation this year, writes Mark Huffman for Consumer Affairs.

According to a Consumer Affairs analysis, grocery prices increased by 5.3 percent nationwide in 15 analyzed categories year over year. Pennsylvania took the top spot as the state with the highest increase at 8.2 percent in the last 12 months.

This is in stark contrast to Colorado, the state with the lowest increase in the last year of 2.9 percent.

A Pennsylvania family of four that used to spend $750 a month on groceries now has to pay an extra $61.50 a month. In Colorado, that amount went up by substantially less at $21.75.

Among metro areas, Philadelphia had the highest grocery price increases in the nation. The price of the 15-category basket has risen by 7.1 percent in the last 12 months.

A family of four that before spent $9,000 a year on these grocery items over a year now spends $645 more than they did a year earlier.

Read more about the rising cost of groceries in Consumer Affairs.

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