by Alexander Coolidge
Cincinnati.com
As Americans begin preparing their holiday favorites through the end of the year, inflation at the supermarket has eased to the point where at least one item is cheaper than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic: tomatoes. A pound of tomatoes averages $1.98 nationwide and is 2.8% cheaper than in March of 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks inflation. Still, everything else in the store (out of more than 100 closely-tracked and seasonally-adjusted food items) is more expensive. On average food purchased for consumption at home is 25.5% more expensive than when the pandemic broke out – outpacing overall inflation of 22.2% in the same time period.