Food Price Inflation: Shocks, Disruptors, and What It Means for Consumers
Tuesday, May 5 | 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Food prices shape everyday decisions. This talk examines the drivers and consequences of food price inflation in the United States, from supply chain disruptions and shifts in consumer spending to the impact of tariffs, trade policy uncertainty, and geopolitical shocks that translate into real-world impacts at the grocery store. Beyond these traditional pressures, a new set of disruptors is compounding the picture, including the rise of GLP-1 medications reshaping household purchasing patterns, new dietary guidelines that discourage highly processed foods, and evolving consumer trends. Together, these forces are redefining what Americans buy, what they can afford, and what comes next.
Session Speaker
David Ortega
Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy, Michigan State University
Dr. David L. Ortega is a Professor and the Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at Michigan State University. His research examines how consumers, producers, and agribusinesses make decisions within complex food systems, with a focus on food price inflation, agricultural trade, consumer demand, and agrifood supply chains. His work draws on more than fifteen years of international field research. Dr. Ortega has testified before the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees and has advised federal and state policymakers, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Reserve Banks. His economic analysis and policy commentary are regularly featured in national and international media outlets, including The New York Times, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Financial Times, CNN, and Time.