Historical comparison · Updated July 2026
How much higher are grocery prices now than in 2020?
The fixed 24-item grocery basket was $110.50 in July 2026, +31.2% versus July 2020; the dollar difference was $26.25 higher.
$84.25 in July 2020 → $110.50 in July 2026
Comparison methodology
The baseline is the observation from the same month in 2020. Current and historical totals use unchanged item quantities.
Baseline observation: 2020-07. Latest observation: 2026-07. 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 2026-08-13. 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 $5.24 of increase; Coffee contributed $4.78 of increase; Orange juice contributed $2.48 of increase; Milk contributed $2.12 of increase; Eggs contributed $1.58 of increase. Contributions use fixed Basket Report quantities.
Item-level comparison
| Item | 2020-07 | Current | Change | Weighted $ difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef | $4.26 | $6.89 | +61.5% | $5.24 |
| Coffee | $4.54 | $9.32 | +105.4% | $4.78 |
| Orange juice | $2.34 | $4.82 | +105.9% | $2.48 |
| Milk | $3.26 | $4.31 | +32.5% | $2.12 |
| Eggs | $1.40 | $2.19 | +56.2% | $1.58 |
| Potato chips | $5.10 | $6.56 | +28.5% | $1.46 |
| Chicken breast | $3.22 | $4.15 | +28.9% | $0.93 |
| Ham | $4.57 | $5.49 | +20.1% | $0.92 |
| Bacon | $5.78 | $6.58 | +14.0% | $0.81 |
| Sugar | $0.63 | $1.02 | +63.3% | $0.79 |
| Bread | $1.49 | $1.82 | +22.6% | $0.67 |
| Rice | $0.77 | $1.10 | +42.5% | $0.66 |
| Chicken | $1.71 | $2.01 | +17.1% | $0.59 |
| Pork chops | $4.35 | $4.91 | +12.7% | $0.55 |
| Butter | $3.57 | $3.92 | +9.8% | $0.35 |
| Potatoes | $0.85 | $0.94 | +10.3% | $0.26 |
| Cheddar cheese | $5.52 | $5.74 | +4.1% | $0.22 |
| Bananas | $0.58 | $0.65 | +12.1% | $0.21 |
| Flour | $0.46 | $0.54 | +17.8% | $0.16 |
| Spaghetti & macaroni | $1.30 | $1.38 | +6.6% | $0.09 |
| Tomatoes | $1.98 | $2.00 | +1.3% | $0.05 |
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.