See how the prices have changed for popular grocery items
The prices of popular grocery items can vary quite a bit, depending on where you shop and when. While some stores offer more consistent prices, in general grocery prices have been known to fluctuate over time. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI), we can analyze the changing trends of popular grocery items.
In general, food prices have increased slightly over the past five years. For example, while the average price of a dozen eggs from 2013 to 2017 was around $1.50, by 2019 it had increased to $1.67. The price of a half gallon of milk has also risen, from around $1.70 in 2013 to $1.90 by 2019. Similarly, a gallon of orange juice increased by about $2.00, going from around $4.00 in 2013 to $6.00 by 2019.
Prices of meat, on the other hand, have seen the biggest change, increasing dramatically in the same five-year period. Boneless chicken breast, for example, increased from around $2.80 a pound in 2013 to around $4.00 a pound by the end of 2019. Boneless center cut pork chops saw a similarly dramatic increase, increasing from around $3.98 a pound to around $6.13 a pound.
Overall, the trend for grocery prices appears to be an upward one, with many of the most popular items becoming more expensive over time.