Menu Prices Surged Again In January, Driven Mostly By Labor-Cost Increases; Wholesale Food Prices Were Higher

Menu prices jumped 0.4% in January, compared to December, and are back to running 3.1% higher than a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The large gain came on the heels of a 0.3% monthly gain in December. And the increases continue a pattern of…