All prices are U.S. city averages.
Quick answer: Pick any staple and this tool charts its official U.S. average price month by month for the last 10 years, plus yearly averages, record high and record low. As of the August 2026 report a dozen large eggs averages $2.27, a gallon of whole milk $4.23, a pound of ground chuck $6.92 and a pound of ground coffee $9.30. The chart updates itself each month, so you can always see whether a price is near its historical peak or back to normal.
Evergreen method
Compare usable cost, not package price
The durable comparison is price per common unit adjusted for the share you will actually use.
Formula
usable unit cost = price ÷ (quantity × usable share)Reproducible steps
- 1.Convert every option to the same unit.
- 2.Estimate the share your household will use before spoilage.
- 3.Choose the lower usable unit cost only if storage and cash flow also work.
Data note — Evergreen model: The formula works with your own inputs and does not depend on a specific price or year.
FAQ
Questions, answered
How much have grocery prices gone up in 10 years?
It depends heavily on the item, which is why this tool charts each staple separately. Coffee, ground beef and rice have risen far more than bananas or cheese over the last decade. Select any item to see its exact 10-year change, its record high and its record low from the official BLS average-price series.
Where does this grocery price history come from?
Every point comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Average Price Data (U.S. city average), the same monthly survey used for the Consumer Price Index. The site pulls the full 10-year series directly from the BLS API, so the newest month appears automatically - the August 2026 report is the latest included.
Why do egg prices spike and then fall so fast?
Eggs have a short production cycle and are highly exposed to avian influenza outbreaks, so a supply shock pushes the national average up within weeks and it falls back just as quickly once flocks recover. The monthly chart makes those spikes and recoveries easy to see, unlike a yearly average that smooths them away.
Should I use the monthly or the yearly view?
Use the monthly view to spot short spikes, seasonal patterns and whether today price is near a peak. Use the yearly average view to judge the long-run trend without the noise - useful when comparing your grocery budget across years.
Are these prices the same as what I pay at my store?
No. These are national city averages, so your local shelf price varies with region, store format, brand and promotions. Use the history to judge direction and scale, then compare your own receipt against the current average with the Grocery Price Benchmark tool.
Related
Keep going
Unit Price Calculator
Free unit price calculator — compare price per ounce, price per pound, or price per count across any package sizes to see instantly which grocery item is the better deal.
Grocery Price Comparison Calculator
Compare up to 4 grocery products side by side to see real unit costs and which one is actually the best deal - free, fast, no sign-up needed.
Bulk Buying Calculator
Is the bigger pack really cheaper? Our bulk buying calculator compares cost per unit and factors in spoilage risk before you buy in bulk.
Grocery Price Benchmark
Compare what you paid for eggs, milk, bread, chicken, beef, coffee and 15 other staples against the official national average price, refreshed every month from BLS data.
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