There is no single factor that can explain why food costs are so high. Those costs have gone up 31 percent since 2019. It is a combination of weather, rising operating costs, fuel and labor costs, supply chain disruptions and corporate profits. Supply chain disruptions caused by all of the above, plus diseases, has affected many essential crops and livestock. Trucking costs have increased 22 percent since 2020. Some food companies have sought to maintain or increase profitability.





