Historical comparison · Updated September 2026
How much higher are grocery prices now than in 2020?
The fixed 24-item grocery basket was $111.35 in September 2026, +34.4% versus September 2020; the dollar difference was $28.51 higher.
$82.84 in September 2020 → $111.35 in September 2026
Comparison methodology
The baseline is the observation from the same month in 2020. Current and historical totals use unchanged item quantities.
Baseline observation: 2020-09. Latest observation: 2026-09. 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 2026-10-14. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Largest contributors
Ground beef contributed $5.43 of increase; Coffee contributed $4.85 of increase; Orange juice contributed $2.56 of increase; Eggs contributed $1.84 of increase; Potato chips contributed $1.64 of increase. Contributions use fixed Basket Report quantities.
Item-level comparison
| Item | 2020-09 | Current | Change | Weighted $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef | $4.08 | $6.79 | +66.6% | $5.43 |
| Coffee | $4.49 | $9.33 | +108.0% | $4.85 |
| Orange juice | $2.26 | $4.82 | +113.4% | $2.56 |
| Eggs | $1.35 | $2.27 | +67.9% | $1.84 |
| Potato chips | $5.02 | $6.67 | +32.7% | $1.64 |
| Milk | $3.45 | $4.11 | +19.1% | $1.32 |
| Bacon | $5.62 | $6.76 | +20.2% | $1.14 |
| Chicken | $1.54 | $2.06 | +33.9% | $1.04 |
| Ham | $4.54 | $5.45 | +20.1% | $0.91 |
| Chicken breast | $3.30 | $4.20 | +27.3% | $0.90 |
| Pork chops | $4.07 | $4.91 | +20.6% | $0.84 |
| Sugar | $0.63 | $1.02 | +61.7% | $0.78 |
| Rice | $0.78 | $1.12 | +43.9% | $0.68 |
| Bread | $1.49 | $1.83 | +22.7% | $0.68 |
| Potatoes | $0.80 | $0.99 | +23.9% | $0.57 |
| Cheddar cheese | $5.61 | $6.13 | +9.3% | $0.52 |
| Butter | $3.57 | $3.96 | +10.9% | $0.39 |
| Tomatoes | $1.85 | $1.99 | +7.9% | $0.29 |
| Bananas | $0.57 | $0.66 | +14.3% | $0.25 |
| Flour | $0.45 | $0.55 | +20.8% | $0.19 |
| Spaghetti & macaroni | $1.26 | $1.38 | +9.5% | $0.12 |
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.