Historical comparison · Updated May 2026
What does $100 of groceries in 2019 cost today?
The fixed 24-item grocery basket was $111.46 in May 2026, +47.1% versus May 2019; the dollar difference was $35.67 higher.
$75.79 in May 2019 → $111.46 in May 2026
What a historical grocery amount costs now
A $100.00 basket in May 2019 is equivalent to $147.06 at the latest Basket Index level.
- Historical Basket Index
- $75.79
- Current Basket Index
- $111.46
- Dollar difference
- $47.06
- Percentage difference
- +47.1%
Comparison methodology
Current equivalent equals the historical amount multiplied by the current Basket Index and divided by the selected historical Basket Index.
Baseline observation: 2019-05. Latest observation: 2026-05. The item table includes 23 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
Ground beef contributed $5.85 of increase; Orange juice contributed $2.52 of increase; Milk contributed $2.51 of increase; Potato chips contributed $2.17 of increase; Eggs contributed $1.66 of increase. Contributions use fixed Basket Report quantities.
Item-level comparison
| Item | 2019-05 | Current | Change | Weighted $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef | $3.82 | $6.75 | +76.5% | $5.85 |
| Orange juice | $2.45 | $4.97 | +102.5% | $2.52 |
| Milk | $2.96 | $4.22 | +42.3% | $2.51 |
| Potato chips | $4.41 | $6.58 | +49.3% | $2.17 |
| Eggs | $1.36 | $2.19 | +60.9% | $1.66 |
| Tomatoes | $1.82 | $2.49 | +36.5% | $1.33 |
| Ham | $4.15 | $5.46 | +31.6% | $1.31 |
| Chicken | $1.48 | $2.04 | +37.7% | $1.11 |
| Bread | $1.29 | $1.83 | +42.0% | $1.08 |
| Chicken breast | $3.09 | $4.17 | +34.9% | $1.08 |
| Sugar | $0.58 | $1.03 | +78.3% | $0.91 |
| Bacon | $5.81 | $6.71 | +15.5% | $0.90 |
| Pork chops | $4.02 | $4.91 | +22.0% | $0.89 |
| Lettuce | $1.11 | $1.96 | +77.3% | $0.86 |
| Rice | $0.76 | $1.07 | +40.7% | $0.62 |
| Oranges | $1.33 | $1.54 | +15.9% | $0.42 |
| Potatoes | $0.77 | $0.89 | +15.8% | $0.37 |
| Cheddar cheese | $5.33 | $5.69 | +6.7% | $0.36 |
| Bananas | $0.58 | $0.65 | +11.6% | $0.20 |
| Butter | $4.11 | $3.93 | −4.4% | $-0.18 |
| Flour | $0.45 | $0.54 | +19.8% | $0.18 |
| Spaghetti & macaroni | $1.20 | $1.37 | +14.8% | $0.18 |
| Lemons | $2.17 | $2.09 | −3.5% | $-0.15 |
Important limitations
This is an index-equivalent calculation, not a reconstruction of an individual household’s shopping or financial advice.
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 this my personal grocery inflation rate?
No. Personal results vary by products, quantities, stores, and location.
Does the calculator store my amount?
No. The amount and date may appear in the share URL, but no personal identity is collected.