BARRING ANY SIGNIFICANT

cutbacks in your dietary habits, it's nearly impossible these days to keep your food bills from getting fatter.

A gallon of milk now costs 23% more than it did in March 2007, egg prices are up a whopping 35% and a loaf of bread is 16% more expensive, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. "If you want to eat the same way you did six months ago, you're paying up to 70% more [for your total grocery bill]," says Michael Rizzo, senior economist with think tank American Institute of Economic Research.

Shoppers may begin to see some temporary relief in coming months as supermarkets and restaurants use sales to lure customers back into their stores. But it won't be until the economy starts to stabilize, that prices will come down in any sustainable fashion. (Given the ongoing credit crunch and other economic woes, a recovery won't be happening anytime soon, cautions Rizzo). Farmers will also have a big impact on retail food prices. Many plan to plant more of today's high-demand commodities like wheat and corn next year, which should help increase supplies and deflate prices.

As for all the news about the rationing of rice, flour and cooking oil at big-name retailers like Costco and Sam's Club, shoppers shouldn't panic. Most of the limits target small-business owners like bakeries, caterers and restaurants that are stockpiling these staples in order to lock in prices before they rise further, explains Michael Clayman, editor of Warehouse Club Focus, a trade publication. "Entrepreneurs are buying as much as they can," says Clayman, "so the clubs look at it as they need to limit purchases to a certain extent so that other consumers have access." Costco, for example, is limiting members to one 20-pound bag of rice per purchase that much rice should meet the needs of the average customer.

Still, when filling your shopping cart, it pays to weigh each purchase carefully. From dining out for less to simple ways to cut costs at the checkout counter, here are some smart-shopping resources to help you pare your food bills:

Here's how to lessen the pain of skyrocketing food prices when buying groceries.

Think twice before using a credit card offering grocery rewards and discounts.

Here are ways to avoid the lofty markups on organic products.

Menus reflect higher food prices, but consumers can easily trim restaurant bills by 50% or more.

Also See:

• Attention Shoppers: Settlements May Offer Sizable Windfall

• How to Choose a Personal Health Record

• Businesses Reward Those Opting Out of Paper, Plastic