> When you break down CPI, the inflation is almost entirely on the back of rising mortgage interest costs.
This is only true recently as the interest rate hikes took a while to filter down to actual mortgages and then make it into the CPI numbers. Prior to that, groceries were a huge component of inflation.
> Prior to that, groceries were a huge component of inflation.
Years ago, sure. That whole war in Ukraine thing, coupled with the EU shutting down fertilizer plants in 2021, along with some devastating weather in the US breadbasket and an ounce of COVID-19 sent the food industry into a complete tizzy, indeed. As a Canadian farmer, the price I was being paid for food had doubled by 2022 as compared to 2019. But it was short-lived. Things are pretty much back to normal now and have been for a while. The farm gate price has returned to 2019 levels (in nominal dollars). There isn't any remaining pressure on groceries. "Currently" is what was specified in the original comment.
This is only true recently as the interest rate hikes took a while to filter down to actual mortgages and then make it into the CPI numbers. Prior to that, groceries were a huge component of inflation.