The basket is 39.1% higher than the 2019 average.
The current 24-item basket is $111.35 versus a 2019 average of $80.07, calculated from the same fixed weights and BLS average-price series.
Direct comparison
The comparison uses the exact same Basket Report fixed weights and the same BLS item series used in the current Grocery Basket Price Index. In 2019, that 24-item basket averaged $80.07. In September 2026, it is $111.35, a signed dollar difference of $31.28. The basket is 39.1% higher than the 2019 average.
Item-level contributions
The largest signed dollar contributions versus the 2019 average come from ground beef, coffee and orange juice. Those are weighted basket contributions, so a high-priced item with a larger basket quantity moves the total more than a low-weight item with the same percentage change.
Inflation-adjusted context
Nominal dollars are the shelf-price comparison. Adjusted with CPI-U to 2026 dollars, the 2019 basket would be about $105.53. The current basket is 5.5% higher than the inflation-adjusted 2019 average. The result is a historical comparison, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
Does this use the same Basket Index weights?
Yes. The comparison uses the same fixed 24 food-item weights used in the current Grocery Basket Price Index. Beer and wine are tracked reference series and are not included in the basket calculation.
Is the 2019 comparison nominal or inflation-adjusted?
Both are shown. The nominal 2019 basket averaged $80.07; adjusted with CPI-U to 2026 dollars it is about $105.53.
Which items have the largest signed contributions?
Ground beef, Coffee and Orange juice are the largest weighted contributors versus the 2019 average.
Sources and methodology
- BLS average retail food and energy prices
- BLS CPI data tables and databases
- Basket Report methodology
- Basket Report data downloads
Updated for September 2026 data · Source data is independently analyzed by Basket Report and does not imply BLS endorsement.
See the full basket history
Open the Basket Index for the month-by-month chart, downloads, and methodology.