Grocery Signals, Budget Swaps & a Victorian Curveball
Small July drop, higher costs remain
Grocery prices fell 0.1% in July but remain 2.7% higher than a year ago.
Fresh fruit and vegetable prices were up 5.5% year over year, with apples +11.1% and tomatoes +12.8%, while beef and veal rose 9.4% and coffee climbed more than 10%.
Eggs were 25.7% cheaper year over year and lettuce fell 15.1% month over month, so consider swapping toward those lower-cost staples.
Wheat supplies tighten
The USDA outlook forecasts total U.S. wheat supplies down 13% from the prior year.
2026/27 food use is unchanged at 960 million bushels, a supply signal to watch for flour-based staples rather than a direct retail-price prediction.
This Week’s Recipes
Egg & Lettuce Breakfast Sandwich
Whisk or fry the two eggs in a small pan until set. Toast the bread, layer the cooked eggs and lettuce, season to taste, and serve warm as a handheld breakfast or quick lunch. Ready in under 10 minutes.
Why now: ABC News reported eggs down 25.7% year over year and lettuce down 15.1% month over month, making egg-and-lettuce combos a timely low-cost choice.
Mock Turtle Soup
“Victorian turtle soup, minus the turtle.”
Ingredients
- Calf's head or cheaper veal cuts (as a turtle substitute)
- Beef or veal broth
- Mushrooms, lemon, herbs, and a splash of wine (seasoning and enrichments as in period recipes)
Instructions
Simmer the calf or veal pieces slowly to make a rich broth, strain and add mushrooms, lemon and wine to taste, and thicken slightly if desired; serve hot. Victorian recipes often used offal and gelatinous cuts to recreate the mouthfeel of turtle.