Potatoes, white

Potato prices

U.S. city average · August 2026

$0.98 per pound

▲ 3.6% MoM ▼ 2.5% YoY

Potatoes averaged $0.98 per pound in August 2026; up 3.6% from last month; down 2.5% from last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.

10% below the August 2023 peak of $1.09

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Potatoes price history Average price (USD per pound) · Monthly

Chart shown: March 1986 – August 2026 · Full series: March 1986 – August 2026 (480 observations) · Source: BLS series APU0000712112.

Quick take

Potato prices rose 3.6% from July to August 2026. Potato prices are 2.5% lower than a year ago. Prices remain below the August 2023 peak of $1.09 but well above the 1986 level of $0.21.

Why do produce prices change so much? →

See potatoes in the Summer Cookout Index →

Potatoes price history by year

Every historical year is consolidated into one complete archive with annual averages, monthly prices, and inflation-adjusted values.

Browse the complete potatoes price history →

Explore this price

From potatoes to the full grocery basket

Potatoes added $0.10 to August’s basket change.

Relevant explainerWhy do produce prices change so much? Price historySee the complete potatoes series 2026 monthly tableJump to this year’s observations Basket Index contributionPotatoes added $0.10 to August’s basket change. Related pricesBrowse produce Regional comparisonCompare this staple across four U.S. regions Similar stapleTomatoes or Lettuce

What drives the price of potatoes

Potatoes are among the calmest fresh vegetables. They are grown across many states — Idaho and Washington lead — and, unusually for produce, they keep for months in controlled storage, which smooths supply between harvests and steadies prices. Growing costs, fuel, and storage are the main influences, with the occasional drought or heat wave trimming yields in a given year.

BLS series APU0000712112 tracks the average retail price of potatoes, white at the U.S. city average, measured per pound and reported monthly back to 1986.

Background: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service — Vegetables and Pulses. Price data: BLS series APU0000712112.

Potatoes price FAQ

How much does a pound of potatoes cost right now?

As of August 2026, potatoes averaged $0.98 per pound at the national U.S. city average, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.

Are potato prices going down in 2026?

The latest 2026 BLS reading shows potatoes prices up 3.6% versus the prior month and down 2.5% versus a year ago (August 2026).

What is the highest price potatoes have reached?

The record high is $1.09 per pound, set in August 2023; the record low is $0.21 in March 1986.

How many potatoes are in a pound?

About 3 to 4 medium white potatoes weigh a pound. At the latest $0.98 per pound, a single medium potato runs roughly $0.28.

Where does this potatoes 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 potatoes cost in 2001?

In 2001, potatoes averaged $0.36 per pound at the U.S. city average — versus $0.98 today (August 2026), about 175% higher now.

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Plain text

Basket Report. "Average potatoes price (U.S. city average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved September 11, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/potatoes/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000712112.

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<a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/potatoes/">Average potatoes price (U.S. city average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000712112; retrieved September 11, 2026)

APA

Basket Report. (2026). Average potatoes price (U.S. city average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/potatoes/