Are food prices rising, and how much has the average cost of groceries changed in the past 10 years? How much do groceries cost nowadays as compared to a decade ago? We’ve plotted out average grocery prices by item for typical, essential foodstuffs like chicken, lemons, bananas, or a pound of bacon. How much do eggs cost, and has the price gone up? What about milk, bread, and other essential groceries? These examples of rising food prices can help us calculate grocery bills for the average American. Check out how the average price of grocery items on this list has gone up and down since the recession and see where the average food cost stands today.
American Grocery Item Costs Over 10 Years infographicThe Cost of 30 Common American Grocery Items Over 10 Years
How has the price of groceries changed?
| Food | Category | U.S. City Yearly Averages | Current Average Price | % Change | |||||||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |||
| All-Purpose Flour (1 pound) | Grains | $0.36 | $0.51 | $0.48 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.53 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.56 | $0.52 | 44% |
| White Rice (1 pound) | Grains | $0.55 | $0.73 | $0.77 | $0.74 | $0.74 | $0.70 | $0.72 | $0.73 | $0.69 | $0.72 | $0.72 | 31% |
| Sugar (1 pound) | Other/Sweets | $0.51 | $0.53 | $0.57 | $0.63 | $0.68 | $0.69 | $0.64 | $0.61 | $0.65 | $0.64 | $0.65 | 27% |
| Pasta (1 pound) | Grains | $0.88 | $1.12 | $1.16 | $1.14 | $1.24 | $1.32 | $1.30 | $1.28 | $1.32 | $1.30 | $1.28 | 45% |
| White Bread (1 pound) | Grains | $1.20 | $1.37 | $1.39 | $1.37 | $1.44 | $1.42 | $1.41 | $1.40 | $1.44 | $1.37 | $1.34 | 12% |
| Wheat Bread (1 pound) | Grains | $1.71 | $1.94 | $1.88 | $1.78 | $1.96 | $1.99 | $2.04 | $2.03 | $1.99 | $1.96 | $1.99 | 16% |
| Whole Milk (1 gallon) | Dairy | $3.50 | $3.80 | $3.11 | $3.26 | $3.57 | $3.49 | $3.46 | $3.69 | $3.42 | $3.20 | $3.24 | -7.00% |
| Salted Butter (1 pound) | Dairy | $3.07 | $2.81 | $3.49 | $3.28 | $2.92 | $3.03 | $3.14 | $2.84 | $3.12 | $3.60 | $3.38 | 10% |
| American Cheese (1 pound) | Dairy | $3.84 | $4.04 | $3.90 | $3.91 | $4.07 | $4.19 | $4.17 | $4.49 | $4.46 | $4.37 | $4.28 | 11% |
| Eggs (1 dozen) | Protein | $1.68 | $1.99 | $1.66 | $1.66 | $1.77 | $1.84 | $1.91 | $2.02 | $2.47 | $1.68 | $1.43 | -15.00% |
| Red Delicious Apples (1 pound) | Fruit | $1.12 | $1.32 | $1.18 | $1.22 | $1.35 | $1.38 | $1.39 | $1.35 | $1.36 | $1.44 | $1.29 | 15% |
| Bananas (1 pound) | Fruit | $0.51 | $0.61 | $0.61 | $0.58 | $0.61 | $0.60 | $0.60 | $0.60 | $0.58 | $0.57 | $0.56 | 10% |
| Navel Oranges (1 pound) | Fruit | $1.28 | $1.12 | $1.05 | $1.06 | $1.10 | $1.05 | $1.15 | $1.32 | $1.30 | $1.25 | $1.33 | 4% |
| Seedless Grapes (1 pound) | Fruit | $2.09 | $2.21 | $2.11 | $2.18 | $2.39 | $2.49 | $2.49 | $2.64 | $2.59 | $2.76 | $2.67 | 28% |
| Strawberries (12 ounces) | Fruit | $2.20 | $2.29 | $2.10 | $2.19 | $2.08 | $1.99 | $2.02 | $2.29 | $2.22 | $2.44 | $2.21 | 0.40% |
| Lemons (1 pound) | Fruit | $1.86 | $2.01 | $1.52 | $1.63 | $1.58 | $1.56 | $1.58 | $1.97 | $1.98 | $2.04 | $2.01 | 8% |
| Tomatoes (1 pound) | Fruit | $1.65 | $1.74 | $1.62 | $1.69 | $1.67 | $1.46 | $1.53 | $1.71 | $1.84 | $1.93 | $1.90 | 16% |
| Broccoli (1 pound) | Vegetables | $1.59 | $1.67 | $1.60 | $1.58 | $1.70 | $1.60 | $1.85 | $1.76 | $1.79 | $1.63 | $1.81 | 14% |
| Dried Beans (1 pound) | Protein | $0.94 | $1.21 | $1.39 | $1.33 | $1.36 | $1.44 | $1.42 | $1.47 | $1.49 | $1.41 | $1.36 | 45% |
| Potatoes (1 pound) | Vegetables | $0.52 | $0.63 | $0.62 | $0.58 | $0.68 | $0.66 | $0.67 | $0.67 | $0.65 | $0.68 | $0.72 | 38% |
| Ground Beef (1 pound) | Protein | $2.85 | $3.04 | $3.10 | $3.18 | $3.46 | $3.72 | $3.82 | $4.30 | $4.63 | $4.25 | $4.12 | 45% |
| Top Round Steak (1 pound) | Protein | $4.11 | $4.24 | $4.14 | $4.28 | $4.61 | $4.79 | $4.88 | $5.68 | $6.15 | $5.90 | $5.78 | 41% |
| Sirloin Steak (1 pound) | Protein | $5.97 | $5.99 | $5.83 | $5.83 | $6.23 | $6.65 | $6.83 | $7.69 | $8.57 | $8.39 | $8.07 | 35% |
| Boneless Pork Chops (1 pound) | Protein | $3.60 | $3.74 | $3.64 | $3.81 | $4.05 | $3.96 | $3.96 | $4.37 | $4.33 | $4.09 | $3.82 | 6% |
| Boneless Chicken Breast (1 pound) | Protein | $3.43 | $3.40 | $3.33 | $3.30 | $3.19 | $3.24 | $3.45 | $3.46 | $3.41 | $3.25 | $3.21 | -6.00% |
| Frozen Turkey (1 pound) | Protein | $1.15 | $1.25 | $1.40 | $1.48 | $1.58 | $1.62 | $1.65 | $1.60 | $1.51 | $1.55 | $1.59 | 38% |
| Sliced Bacon (1 pound) | Protein | $3.66 | $3.66 | $3.61 | $4.11 | $4.63 | $4.56 | $5.29 | $5.78 | $5.45 | $5.42 | $5.79 | 58% |
| Creamy Peanut Butter (1 pound) | Other/Sweets | $1.79 | $2.03 | $2.12 | $2.03 | $2.09 | $2.78 | $2.73 | $2.60 | $2.68 | $2.58 | $2.56 | 43% |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies (1 pound) | Other/Sweets | $2.70 | $2.88 | $3.17 | $3.25 | $3.35 | $3.62 | $3.64 | $3.41 | $3.35 | $3.35 | $3.47 | 29% |
| Ice Cream (½ gallon) | Other/Sweets | $3.95 | $4.21 | $4.32 | $4.46 | $4.93 | $5.04 | $4.99 | $4.89 | $4.74 | $4.76 | $4.70 | 19% |
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