Bread, white, pan
U.S. city average · May 2026January 1980 – May 2026 · 556 monthly observations · BLS series APU0000702111.
As of May 2026, bread cost $1.83 per lb at the U.S. city average — down 2.1% from the prior month and down 2.5% over the past year. This is the average shelf price reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, not an estimate.
That sits 10% below the record high of $2.03 set in January 2024, and 266% above the record low of $0.50 in January 1980. BLS has published this price monthly since January 1980 (556 observations).
FAQ
How much do bread cost right now?
As of May 2026, bread averaged $1.83 per lb across U.S. cities, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.
Are bread getting more expensive?
Bread are ▼ 2.1% versus the prior month and ▼ 2.5% versus a year ago (May 2026).
What is the highest price bread have reached?
The record high is $2.03 per lb, set in January 2024; the record low is $0.50 in January 1980.
Where does this bread 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.