Grocery prices feel different every trip, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks the average price of common foods every month in U.S. cities. Here is the full list for August 2026, compared with a year earlier.
The short version
- Of 18 staples, 6 got more expensive and 12 got cheaper from August 2025 to August 2026.
- Biggest increases: ground beef (+9.6%), dried beans (+5.4%), rice (+4.9%), coffee (+4.8%).
- Biggest drops: eggs (−36.7%), ice cream (−10.0%), bacon (−8.4%), oranges (−4.8%).
- USDA forecasts overall food-at-home prices to rise 2.4% in 2026.
The full list
| Item | Unit | Aug 2026 | Aug 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef | lb | $6.92 | $6.32 | +9.6% |
| Dried beans | lb | $1.63 | $1.55 | +5.4% |
| Rice | lb | $1.11 | $1.06 | +4.9% |
| Coffee | lb | $9.30 | $8.87 | +4.8% |
| Tomatoes | lb | $1.98 | $1.93 | +2.7% |
| Milk (whole) | gallon | $4.23 | $4.17 | +1.4% |
| Chicken breast | lb | $4.17 | $4.21 | −0.9% |
| White bread | lb | $1.82 | $1.84 | −1.0% |
| Sugar | lb | $1.02 | $1.04 | −1.5% |
| Flour | lb | $0.55 | $0.56 | −1.6% |
| Bananas | lb | $0.65 | $0.67 | −2.1% |
| Cheddar cheese | lb | $5.98 | $6.12 | −2.3% |
| Potatoes | lb | $0.98 | $1.00 | −2.5% |
| Whole chicken | lb | $2.01 | $2.08 | −3.1% |
| Oranges (navel) | lb | $1.71 | $1.80 | −4.8% |
| Bacon | lb | $6.61 | $7.21 | −8.4% |
| Ice cream | half gallon | $5.85 | $6.51 | −10.0% |
| Eggs (Grade A large) | dozen | $2.27 | $3.59 | −36.7% |
Each item has its own page with a 13-month price history on our grocery price tracker, which updates automatically each month.
What is driving the biggest moves
Eggs fell the most because the supply of laying hens recovered after the bird flu losses of late 2024 and early 2025. USDA reports 50.7 million hens were lost in that wave. Our guide to why eggs got so expensive explains the full story. For beef and coffee, BLS data shows the rise but not the cause, and we don’t guess at reasons we can’t source.
What a basic basket costs
Here is a simple weekly basket using these averages: 1 gallon of milk, 1 dozen eggs, 1 lb of bread, 2 lb of ground beef, 2 lb of chicken breast, 3 lb of bananas, 5 lb of potatoes and 1 lb of coffee.
| Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Basket total | $46.53 | $46.65 |
The basket is almost unchanged in a year, up just 12¢: cheaper eggs offset pricier beef and coffee. Your own cart decides whether your bill went up, which is why a flat national number can feel wrong at the checkout.
Example
Marcus and Tanya in Columbus, Ohio, eat beef three nights a week. Switching one of those nights to whole chicken saves about $4.91 per 1-lb swap at these averages ($6.92 vs. $2.01), roughly $255 a year if they do it every week.
Why your store’s prices differ
- BLS prices are city averages across many stores, brands and regions.
- Organic, premium and specialty versions cost more than the standard items tracked here.
- Store brands, sales and loyalty pricing can put your price well below average.
Spend less without eating less
- Swap toward items that fell: eggs, chicken and potatoes are among the best values per pound right now.
- Buy whole chicken and cut it yourself: about $2.01 a lb vs. $4.17 for boneless breast.
- Compare unit prices on shelf tags rather than package prices.
- Set a weekly target with our grocery budget calculator.
More ideas are in how to cut your grocery bill.
Track your own grocery inflation
National averages tell you the trend; your receipts tell you what matters to you. A simple way to see your own grocery inflation:
- Pick 10 items you buy most weeks.
- Write down what you paid for each this month, from receipts or your store’s app.
- Check the same items in three months, at the same store.
- Divide the new total by the old total, subtract 1, and multiply by 100.
If your basket rose faster than the national figures, look at which items drove it. That tells you where a swap or a different store would save the most.
Price per pound across protein options
| Item | Average price (Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Dried beans | $1.63 a lb |
| Whole chicken | $2.01 a lb |
| Eggs (Grade A large) | $2.27 a dozen |
| Chicken breast, boneless | $4.17 a lb |
| Bacon | $6.61 a lb |
| Ground beef | $6.92 a lb |
Beans, whole chicken and eggs are the low-cost anchors right now. Building a few meals a week around them is one of the most reliable ways to keep a grocery bill in check.
When the data updates
BLS publishes average prices once a month along with the Consumer Price Index, usually about two weeks after the month ends. Our grocery pages pick up each release automatically.
