The state of Colorado has been seeing significant inflation over the past year on all goods like gasoline, building materials, and food items.
The price of food has gone up 2.2% in just the past month, reports FOX31.
“We haven’t seen those kinds of numbers in over a decade,” said Chris Howes, president of the Colorado Retail Counsel.
Howes believes the reasons for inflation stem from transportation and gasoline costs along with the recent wage increases for retail employees.
“There’s so much happening in the energy sector, starting with the blizzard that nearly shut down all of Texas,” Howes continued. “There are supply chain problems, and it’s very difficult to get products to market, including most appliances.”
The state saw the biggest jump in May with beef going up 3.3% and pork going up 5%.
“You’ll really see it in meat,” said Howes. “The bacon that you purchased last year is now more expensive than you are used to.”
From April 2020 to April 2021, pork has seen a 12% leap, milk an 8% increase, and sugar and sweet items jumped 7% according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Individual shoppers aren't the only ones being impacted by this price increase. Organizations like the Food Bank of the Rockies have been struggling with the higher prices.
“We are now paying up to triple what we had to pay previously for freight to get here to the Food Bank of the Rockies, so we can distribute food to people in need,” CEO of the food bank Erin Pulling told FOX31. “We are hearing from people that we serve, people saying things like I have never needed help with food before now.”