Beer and Pizza Getting Pricey

Even cheap foods like pizza and bagels are getting pricey these days over a mix of inflationary pressures, MSNBC reports. Last year's shocking 4% food price hike was driven by more than gas prices, one analyst says: It's diesel that fuels the trucks and trains that transport goods. "It's everything that gets shipped," he said—which makes diesel costs "much scarier" than the cost of gas.

Other factors weigh in too: Flour for pizza dough has more than tripled to $25 a bushel, and wheat shortages are driving up bagel costs. Ingredients for beer and hot dogs are also more expensive. "There are no simple solutions," one food industry consultant said. "The trend will be to reduce product costs, and some of that may very well affect quality.” (More consumer prices stories.)