PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Supermarket retail food prices in Arizona increased slightly in the second quarter of 2012, according to an Arizona Farm Bureau Federation Market Basket survey.
The informal survey said the price of 16 basic grocery items was $50.19, an increase of 40 cents or one percent.
Of the 16 items surveyed, seven decreased, eight increased and one item stayed the same compared with the 2012 first-quarter survey.
Retail prices for sliced deli ham, flour, ground chuck, white bread, apples, bacon and eggs fell. Prices for sirloin tip roast, shredded cheese, boneless chicken breast, toasted oat cereal, vegetable oil, orange juice, salad mix and milk all increased, while the price of potatoes stayed the same.
Retail food price increases have been moderate, but 2013 could see prices continue to rise, said AZFB spokesperson Julie Murphree. She warns that the current drought could be a big factor in driving retail prices up.
The Farm Bureau Market Basket survey is unscientific, but Murphree said it serves as good gauge of actual price trends across the state. The survey seeks to identify the best in-store price, excluding promotional coupons and special deals.
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