Food prices rose 0.5% in October as beef and vegetables got pricier
After a flat September, food got pricier in October, at the store and at restaurants alike. Coffee was the exception, down 3.6%.
What changed in October
Change in US food prices from September to October 2026, seasonally adjusted, for the food indexes in the BLS release. Totals in bold.
Up to and including October 2026
- Lettuce+7.9%
- Fresh vegetables+2.2%
- Snacks+1.0%
- Beef+0.9%
- Other groceries+0.7%
- Sit-down restaurants+0.7%
- Dairy+0.6%
- Fruits and vegetables+0.6%
- Eggs+0.6%
- All food+0.5%
- Eating out+0.5%
- Meat, poultry, fish and eggs+0.5%
- Groceries+0.4%
- Fast food and takeout+0.4%
- Cereals and bakery0%
- Drinks, nonalcoholic-0.3%
- Coffee-3.6%
| Food | September to October |
|---|---|
| Lettuce | +7.9% |
| Fresh vegetables | +2.2% |
| Snacks | +1.0% |
| Beef | +0.9% |
| Other groceries | +0.7% |
| Sit-down restaurants | +0.7% |
| Dairy | +0.6% |
| Fruits and vegetables | +0.6% |
| Eggs | +0.6% |
| All food | +0.5% |
| Eating out | +0.5% |
| Meat, poultry, fish and eggs | +0.5% |
| Groceries | +0.4% |
| Fast food and takeout | +0.4% |
| Cereals and bakery | 0% |
| Drinks, nonalcoholic | -0.3% |
| Coffee | -3.6% |
The month's change for each food index, and the ten foods' prices in October 2026, September 2026, September 2025 and since August 2019, as a gzipped CSV.
Download CSV (gzip)Grocery prices since 2019
Percent change in average US store prices since August 2019, for the 10 foods with the largest weight in the Consumer Price Index, and each price's change in October.
Up to and including October 2026
- Soft drinksUp 43%$2.27 a 2 liters, from $1.58 in Aug 2019-0.0% in October
- ChickenUp 34%$2.03 a lb, from $1.51 in Aug 2019-1.8% in October
- CheeseUp 14%$6.13 a lb, from $5.37 in Aug 2019-0.1% in October
- Beef steaksUp 68%$12.85 a lb, from $7.65 in Aug 2019+1.2% in October
- Ground beefUp 77%$6.75 a lb, from $3.82 in Aug 2019-0.5% in October
- CoffeeUp 122%$9.25 a lb, from $4.17 in Oct 2019-0.9% in October
- MilkUp 35%$4.10 a gallon, from $3.04 in Aug 2019-0.1% in October
- BreadUp 46%$1.86 a lb, from $1.27 in Aug 2019+1.7% in October
- RiceUp 39%$1.10 a lb, from $0.79 in Aug 2019-1.5% in October
- EggsUp 90%$2.32 a dozen, from $1.22 in Aug 2019+2.1% in October
About the data
- The month's changes are from the BLS consumer price index release for October 2026: the food indexes, seasonally adjusted, as BLS reports changes over a month. BLS does not adjust limited service meals (fast food and takeout).
- Food prices are BLS average prices for the US city average, the same ten foods as the home page: the ones with the largest weight in the Consumer Price Index that BLS also prices on its own. They are not seasonally adjusted, so a price's change in the month can differ from its index. Chicken is whole chicken; cheese is cheddar.
- BLS collected no prices in October 2025, during the federal shutdown, so it publishes no 12-month change for October 2026. The longer view compares with September 2025, 13 months.
- Prices are not adjusted for inflation.