EGGS $2.19/doz ▼2.6%MILK $4.22/gal ▲2.0%BREAD $1.83/lb ▼2.1%FLOUR $0.54/lb ▲0.2%RICE $1.07/lb ▼0.5%SPAGHETTI & MACARONI $1.37/lb ▲2.3%GROUND BEEF $6.75/lb ▼2.2%CHICKEN $2.04/lb ▲0.5%CHICKEN BREAST $4.17/lb ▲0.1%BACON $6.71/lb ▼1.7%HAM $5.46/lb ▲1.0%PORK CHOPS $4.91/lb ▲6.7%TOMATOES $2.49/lb ▼7.4%POTATOES $0.89/lb ▲4.0%LETTUCE $1.96/lb ▲20.6%BANANAS $0.65/lb ▼1.2%ORANGES $1.54/lb ▲2.5%LEMONS $2.09/lb ▲2.9%COFFEE $9.51/lb ▼2.2%SUGAR $1.03/lb ▲2.8%BUTTER $3.93/lb ▼6.8%CHEDDAR CHEESE $5.69/lb ▼5.7%ORANGE JUICE $4.97/16oz ▲1.4%POTATO CHIPS $6.58/16oz ▼2.5%EGGS $2.19/doz ▼2.6%MILK $4.22/gal ▲2.0%BREAD $1.83/lb ▼2.1%FLOUR $0.54/lb ▲0.2%RICE $1.07/lb ▼0.5%SPAGHETTI & MACARONI $1.37/lb ▲2.3%GROUND BEEF $6.75/lb ▼2.2%CHICKEN $2.04/lb ▲0.5%CHICKEN BREAST $4.17/lb ▲0.1%BACON $6.71/lb ▼1.7%HAM $5.46/lb ▲1.0%PORK CHOPS $4.91/lb ▲6.7%TOMATOES $2.49/lb ▼7.4%POTATOES $0.89/lb ▲4.0%LETTUCE $1.96/lb ▲20.6%BANANAS $0.65/lb ▼1.2%ORANGES $1.54/lb ▲2.5%LEMONS $2.09/lb ▲2.9%COFFEE $9.51/lb ▼2.2%SUGAR $1.03/lb ▲2.8%BUTTER $3.93/lb ▼6.8%CHEDDAR CHEESE $5.69/lb ▼5.7%ORANGE JUICE $4.97/16oz ▲1.4%POTATO CHIPS $6.58/16oz ▼2.5%
THE GROCERY PRICE INDEX

Chicken, fresh, whole

U.S. city average · May 2026
$2.04 per lb ▲ 0.5% MoM · ▼ 1.2% YoY
3% below the June 2025 peak of $2.09 · BLS series APU0000706111
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$0.51$0.93$1.36$1.78$2.20 $2.04 198019891998200720162026

January 1980 – May 2026 · 555 monthly observations · BLS series APU0000706111.

As of May 2026, chicken cost $2.04 per lb at the U.S. city average — up 0.5% from the prior month and down 1.2% over the past year. This is the average shelf price reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, not an estimate.

That sits 3% below the record high of $2.09 set in June 2025, and 223% above the record low of $0.63 in May 1980. BLS has published this price monthly since January 1980 (555 observations).

FAQ

How much do chicken cost right now?

As of May 2026, chicken averaged $2.04 per lb at the national U.S. city average, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.

Are chicken getting more expensive?

Chicken are ▲ 0.5% versus the prior month and ▼ 1.2% versus a year ago (May 2026).

What is the highest price chicken have reached?

The record high is $2.09 per lb, set in June 2025; the record low is $0.63 in May 1980.

Where does this chicken 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.

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// Source: Basket Report · BLS APU0000706111