Food prices are still climbing, but the pace is mild by recent standards — a small relief for shoppers, though restaurant meals and produce keep biting.

• Food prices overall rose under 3% from a year ago.
• Fruits and vegetables, drinks, and eating out are rising fastest.
• Meat, fish, and poultry barely moved, and dairy actually got slightly cheaper.
• Bread and cereal went up in line with the overall food average.
• Hawaii shoppers pay more than the national figures suggest, because sky-high land costs push up what supermarkets pay in rent.

Outlook: Expect grocery prices to keep creeping up at a slow pace, with restaurant meals staying the most expensive part of the food budget.