The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects food prices will rise 3 to 4 percent in 2012. That's if you're buying groceries. The agency predicts eating out will cost 2 to 3 percent more, although Denny's just announced it will raise menu prices as much as 5 percent this year.
"The steady up-creep in prices is coming at a time when incomes aren't really growing and it's really squeezing people's buying power," said Greg McBride, a financial analyst from Bankrate.com.
Finally gassing up your car costs an average of 20 cents per gallon more today than it did last year at this time.
