Historical comparison · Updated May 2026
Which grocery prices have increased the most since 2020?
The fixed 24-item grocery basket was $111.46 in May 2026, +47.8% versus May 2020; the dollar difference was $36.05 higher.
$75.41 in May 2020 → $111.46 in May 2026
Comparison methodology
Each item uses its observed BLS price in the same month of 2020 and its latest observed price. No missing baseline is imputed.
Baseline observation: 2020-05. Latest observation: 2026-05. The item table includes 21 weighted items with an observed value in both periods; excluded observations are not estimated.
Grocery basket history
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Average Price Data. Retrieved 2026-06-26. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Largest contributors
Coffee contributed $5.04 of increase; Ground beef contributed $4.57 of increase; Orange juice contributed $2.59 of increase; Milk contributed $2.01 of increase; Potato chips contributed $1.59 of increase. Contributions use fixed Basket Report quantities.
Item-level comparison
| Item | 2020-05 | Current | Change | Weighted $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | $4.47 | $9.51 | +113.0% | $5.04 |
| Ground beef | $4.46 | $6.75 | +51.2% | $4.57 |
| Orange juice | $2.38 | $4.97 | +109.3% | $2.59 |
| Milk | $3.21 | $4.22 | +31.4% | $2.01 |
| Potato chips | $4.99 | $6.58 | +32.0% | $1.59 |
| Bacon | $5.35 | $6.71 | +25.5% | $1.36 |
| Tomatoes | $1.85 | $2.49 | +34.5% | $1.28 |
| Eggs | $1.64 | $2.19 | +33.6% | $1.10 |
| Ham | $4.55 | $5.46 | +20.0% | $0.91 |
| Bread | $1.41 | $1.83 | +29.6% | $0.84 |
| Chicken breast | $3.35 | $4.17 | +24.6% | $0.82 |
| Sugar | $0.65 | $1.03 | +59.8% | $0.77 |
| Oranges | $1.21 | $1.54 | +27.5% | $0.67 |
| Rice | $0.75 | $1.07 | +43.2% | $0.65 |
| Pork chops | $4.37 | $4.91 | +12.2% | $0.53 |
| Butter | $3.54 | $3.93 | +11.1% | $0.39 |
| Bananas | $0.59 | $0.65 | +9.7% | $0.17 |
| Flour | $0.46 | $0.54 | +18.0% | $0.17 |
| Cheddar cheese | $5.56 | $5.69 | +2.3% | $0.13 |
| Potatoes | $0.86 | $0.89 | +4.6% | $0.12 |
| Spaghetti & macaroni | $1.26 | $1.37 | +9.0% | $0.11 |
Important limitations
Percentage rankings and weighted dollar contributions answer different questions; both are shown.
Basket Report uses U.S. city-average BLS observations. Store, region, brand, package-size, and household spending patterns vary. No missing value is filled or forecast.
Frequently asked questions
Why can a large percentage move have a small basket effect?
The fixed basket quantity and starting price determine the dollar contribution.
Are unweighted beer and wine included?
No. The ranking is limited to the 24 weighted food items.