Grocery prices increased about 5% last month...

Grocery prices increased about 5% last month in Southern California while the cost of eating out declined, according to The Times monthly survey of key goods and services commonly purchased by households in the region. The average price of eating out was influenced by Burger King’s recent decision to join the aggressive discounting in the industry. However, the Times basket of other goods and services showed a 25% increase, primarily because of discounting in February by some service providers in the survey.

Highlight: Southern California grocery shoppers were in for a shock in March when they reached for fresh broccoli. The vegetable usually retails at 49 cents to 89 cents per pound, says Jan DeLyser, executive vice president of the Fresh Produce Council. But dwindling supplies in late March more than doubled the price. Supplies declined for two reasons: Early broccoli plantings were damaged by the freeze, and recent rains have kept workers from the fields, delaying harvesting.

Percent Groceries February March change 1-pound chicken (best of fryer cut up) $1.465* $1.76 +20% 13-ounce can of coffee $2.73 $2.67 -2% 1 dozen eggs (grade AA large) $2.038 $2.002 -1.7% 24-ounce wheat bread $1.99 $1.99 -- 1 pound pinto beans $0.564 $0.60 +6% 10-pound bag of potatoes $1.99 $2.09 +5% Navel oranges (per pound) $1.04 $1.005 -3% 1 gallon homogenized milk $2.5125 $2.50 ** 1 pound broccoli (fresh) $0.632 $1.61 +155% 8-ounce package of chocolate candy $1.365 $1.756 +28% Six-pack beer (12-ounce cans) $4.274 $4.205 -1.6% 1 dozen corn tortillas -- $0.46 -- 10-pound bag dry dog food $6.472 $5.986* -7.5% Super-concentrated detergent (30-load) $7.03* $7.202 +2% Toilet tissue (four-roll package) $1.496* $1.554* +3.8% Eating out Fast-food cheeseburger $0.895 $0.835 -6.7% Other goods and services 1 gallon unleaded self-serve gas $0.919 $0.955 +3.9% Three-pack, boys’ Size-12 cotton briefs $2.99* $4.15 +38.7% Dry cleaning, man’s two-piece suit $5.60* $7.11 +26.9% Professional drain cleaning $41.75 $44.56 +6.7% Manicure -- $7.75 --

*includes at least one sale price.

**Less than 1% change