Food inflation feels random when you only look at receipts after the money is gone. A better routine is to make the decision before the shopping trip: which store is cheaper for the items you actually buy this week?
Step 1: Keep one regular basket
Write down the items that show up again and again: milk, eggs, bread, cereal, pasta, chicken, coffee, snacks, produce, and household basics. This becomes your reusable grocery basket.
Step 2: Compare before you drive
Do not compare one item at a time. A store can win on eggs and lose on everything else. Compare the basket total so you know where the whole trip is likely to cost less.
Step 3: Save the cheaper cart
Once you know the cheaper option, save or copy the cart so you are not rebuilding the list in the aisle. The more boring the habit feels, the more likely you are to repeat it.
Step 4: Check the same basket over time
When you compare the same regular items week after week, you start seeing your personal inflation rate. That is more useful than national inflation because it reflects your own household.