India, Jan. 13 -- Aldi, the discount grocery chain, is stepping up its expansion in the U.S., planning to open over 180 new stores this year.

This move comes as many Americans, feeling the pinch from inflation, are choosing to eat at home more often and looking for ways to save on groceries. With ongoing economic uncertainty, people are cutting back on restaurant visits and opting for cheaper alternatives.

Based just outside Chicago, Aldi ramped up its store growth soon after inflation started to spike in 2021, hitting a record for new locations last year.

Even though food inflation has cooled a bit, grocery prices still increased by 2.4 percent last year, and they're about 25 percent higher than they were before the pandemic. The U.S....