Food inflation remained sticky in October as select items drove prices higher.

The cost of groceries climbed 1.1% compared to a year ago, per data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 0.1% compared to September. The overall food category increased 2.1%, driven higher by the cost to dine out, which was up 3.8%. The growth in prices of restaurant meals has outpaced the growth in grocery prices in 2024 as rising wages continue to contribute to costs.

Overall, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.6% over the prior year in October.

"During the pandemic, we had a tremendous amount of acceleration, and that's essentially fully back to sort of where it was prior to the pandemic," BLS economist Steve Reed said of grocery prices.

Egg prices, which are historically volatile, contributed to the stubborn grocery inflation. The item saw a 30.4% year-over-year increase but a 6.4% decline month over month, the largest since April.

A dozen large Grade A eggs cost $3.37 on average in October, compared to $3.82 in September and $2.52 at the start of 2024.

The price of beef and veal grew 1.9% year over year but fell 1.1% month over month, the biggest monthly decline since June of 2022.

A pound of 100% ground beef chuck cost $5.59 in October, a penny more than in September. Fresh whole chicken went from $1.98 to $1.99 per pound, maintaining the same pricing as January 2024.

Tyson (TSN) CEO Donnie King told Yahoo Finance over the phone that he's watching beef very closely as it's facing a "very challenging environment." Fewer cattle are expected next year as droughts hit ranchers.

"Our focus right now today is working end to end, up and down the beef supply chain, to extract every dollar of value that we can," he said.

"The consumer is still eating a lot of beef out there, and the demand is still very good," King added. "The price gaps between beef and boneless skinless breast, it's at an all-time high."

The price of oranges, including tangerines, also boosted overall food prices. The fruit has been affected by drought, extremely high temperatures caused in part by the El Ni?o climate pattern, and citrus greening, a bacterial disease. Production in Brazil is down 9% year over year, per the US Department of Agriculture.

Orange juice supplies "remain tight," David Branch of Wells Fargo told Yahoo Finance.

"I don't see it [prices] coming down until we have another crop year," he said. The impact of weather changes has taken a toll on Brazil, which produces roughly 75% of global orange juice exports.