Grocery bills have moved sharply in 2026. The Consumer Price Index hit a three-year high of 3.8% in April, driven in part by food costs, and grocery prices rose 0.7% that month — the largest single-month increase in nearly four years. USDA’s Economic Research Service has nearly doubled its 2026 forecast for food-at-home prices, now projecting a 3.1% increase.
In the latest episode of CAST Pulse, Dr. David L. Ortega — Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at Michigan State University, and CAST’s 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award recipient — joins us to unpack what’s behind the numbers. Tariffs, the conflict in the Middle East, drought, and fuel costs are converging at once: coffee prices are up nearly 20% over the past year, ground beef more than 15%, and diesel and fertilizer prices are reportedly up 20–40% since the Iran conflict began. Drought across most of the Lower 48 has left the U.S. with its smallest cattle herd in 75 years.
Ortega breaks down which of these factors is hitting food prices hardest, what’s being underreported, and how he approaches explaining all of it to a general audience.
This episode is a preview of CAST’s free live “Meet the Expert” conversation with Dr. Ortega on July 7 at 12 p.m. CT, streaming on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. No registration required — add it to your calendar or get the link.
Also this week:
- Nominations are open for the 2026 CAST Lifetime Achievement Award — recognizing career-long contributions to agricultural science, communication, or policy. Nominations close July 31. Self-nominations are not accepted.
- Applications are open for the 2026 CAST Science Communication Scholarship — a $1,000 award for a student who can translate complex agricultural topics into clear, accurate messaging. Applications close July 31.
Both will be presented at the CAST Awards Ceremony on December 10 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Listen to Episode 7: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bRM6u31y3osi8NUBGkk4h
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8cj9RpPnX34
