Pork chops, center cut, bone-in
Pork chop prices
U.S. city average · May 2026
Pork chops averaged $4.91 per pound in May 2026, up 6.7% from last month and up 8.9% from last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.
Chart shown: January 1980 – May 2026 · Full series: January 1980 – May 2026 (556 observations) · Source: BLS series APU0000704211.
Recent pork chops price history
| Month | Price | Vs. prior month | Vs. year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $4.91 | ▲ 6.7% | ▲ 8.9% |
| April 2026 | $4.60 | ▲ 0.6% | ▲ 3.2% |
| March 2026 | $4.57 | ▲ 0.2% | ▲ 1.6% |
| February 2026 | $4.56 | ▲ 2.5% | ▲ 2.3% |
| January 2026 | $4.45 | ▼ 5.6% | ▼ 3.7% |
| December 2025 | $4.72 | ▲ 4.2% | ▲ 3.0% |
| November 2025 | $4.53 | — | ▼ 2.6% |
| September 2025 | $4.60 | ▲ 0.1% | ▼ 0.4% |
| August 2025 | $4.60 | ▼ 0.2% | ▼ 0.9% |
| July 2025 | $4.61 | ▼ 0.2% | ▲ 0.9% |
| June 2025 | $4.62 | ▲ 2.5% | — |
| May 2025 | $4.51 | ▲ 1.1% | ▼ 0.9% |
| April 2025 | $4.45 | ▼ 1.0% | ▲ 2.8% |
| March 2025 | $4.50 | ▲ 0.8% | ▲ 3.8% |
| February 2025 | $4.46 | ▼ 3.5% | ▲ 1.4% |
| January 2025 | $4.63 | ▲ 1.0% | ▲ 2.0% |
| December 2024 | $4.58 | ▼ 1.4% | ▲ 5.8% |
| November 2024 | $4.65 | ▲ 3.6% | ▲ 8.6% |
Pork chop prices rose 6.7% from April to May 2026 and are 8.9% higher than a year ago. Prices remain at the May 2026 high and well above the 1980 level of $1.96.
From pork chops to the full grocery basket
Pork chops made no dollar contribution to June’s basket change. Its May 2026 price was carried forward because June was not published.
What drives the price of pork chops
Pork chops are a fresh cut from the loin, so of the pork items they reflect live-hog economics most directly — little processing sits between the animal and the package. Hog numbers swing up and down over a roughly four-year rhythm, and because a pig reaches market weight in about half a year, that supply, and the price of the chop, can turn faster than beef does. Feed costs for corn and soybean meal set the floor underneath.
BLS series APU0000704211 tracks the average retail price of pork chops, center cut, bone-in at the U.S. city average, measured per pound and reported monthly back to 1980.
Background: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service — Hogs & Pork. Price data: BLS series APU0000704211.
Pork chops price FAQ
How much does a pound of pork chops cost right now?
As of May 2026, pork chops averaged $4.91 per pound at the national U.S. city average, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.
Are pork chop prices going down in 2026?
The latest 2026 BLS reading shows pork chops prices up 6.7% versus the prior month and up 8.9% versus a year ago (May 2026).
What is the highest price pork chops have reached?
The record high is $4.91 per pound, set in May 2026; the record low is $1.80 in May 1980.
Where does this pork chops price data come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Average Price Data program, retrieved via the BLS Public Data API. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
How much did pork chops cost in 2001?
In 2001, pork chops averaged $3.42 per pound at the U.S. city average — versus $4.91 today (May 2026), about 44% higher now.
Cite this
Basket Report. "Average pork chops price (U.S. city average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved August 1, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/pork-chops/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000704211. <a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/pork-chops/">Average pork chops price (U.S. city average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000704211; retrieved August 1, 2026) Basket Report. (2026). Average pork chops price (U.S. city average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/pork-chops/