Historical comparison · Updated May 2026
How much higher are grocery prices now than in 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
The baseline is the observation from the same month in 2020. Current and historical totals use unchanged item quantities.
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
Results describe the Basket Report index and do not capture substitutions, promotions, or local store prices.
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
Is 2020 treated as a pandemic average?
No. The page uses one documented same-month observation rather than constructing an unsupported pandemic average.
Can the baseline change?
The historical observation is fixed; only the current endpoint advances with validated monthly data.