Grocery prices rise, but these staples are getting cheaper

Grocery prices are on the rise, but not all foods are seeing increases, according to a new price analysis of some common food staples.

CouponFollow analyzed the monthly consumer price index average food price data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics for the last two years to take a look at what's happening to your food market basket.

Overall, while 11 of the 25 common grocery staples fell in price in the last two years, the food items that are climbing have offset those savings, the analysis showed. USA TODAY was given an exclusive first look at the data.

What grocery items got more expensive?

Proteins and beverages saw the biggest increases, according to the analysis.

Here are the top five products that saw the largest increase from February 2024 to this February:

• Coffee: The price per pound for ground roast coffee has increased 55.2% as it rose from $6.09 in February 2024 to $9.46 in February.
• Lettuce: The price per pound for romaine lettuce went up 38.6% from $2.57 to $3.56.
• Ground beef: 100% ground beef per pound rose 31.3% from $5.13 to $6.74.
• Steak: USDA choice boneless sirloin per pound rose 21.1% from $11.72 to $14.19.
• Orange juice: a 16-ounce can of frozen concentrate rose 15.4% from $4.21 to $4.86.

There has been a high degree of variation in price fluctuation across categories, said David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University.

There have been several "shocks" that have affected the agricultural and food industry, Ortega said, such as bird flu devastating the egg markets, climate-driven droughts hammering coffee and fresh produce production and tariffs layering additional costs onto import-heavy categories.

"These shocks hit products in different ways, which is why you get such a mixed picture when you look item by item. But the net result is that families are still paying more at the register," Ortega told USA TODAY.

Coffee and beef prices are likely to stay elevated, Ortega said. Average coffee prices are up 55% in two years, driven by consecutive poor harvests in Brazil and Vietnam plus U.S. tariffs on major producing countries, he said.

While Brazil's 2026 harvest is expected to be stronger, it takes months for lower commodity prices to reach store shelves, Ortega said.

Average ground beef prices are up 31%, and that traces back to the U.S. cattle herd sitting at a 75-year low and strong consumer demand, Ortega said. Beef prices are likely to stay elevated through 2027 or 2028, he said.

What grocery items got cheaper?

Here are the top five products that saw the biggest decrease in price from February 2024 to February of this year:

• Eggs: A dozen Grade A large eggs saw the largest decline of any item, down 16.6% in two years, but they still cost 73% more than their February 2020 price. They cost $3.00 in February 2024 and $2.50 in February.
• Potatoes: A pound of white potatoes is 10.8% cheaper, going from 97 cents to 87 cents.
• Tomatoes: The price per pound of field-grown tomatoes is down 10.8% from $2.13 to $1.90.
• Bread: The price per pound of white bread is down 7.8% from $2.01 to $1.85.
• Pasta: The price per pound of spaghetti and macaroni is down 7.6% from $1.43 to $1.32.

Changes to everyday meal prices

Consumers can mitigate some of the price increases by the meal choices they make, said Clay Cary, Senior Trends Analyst at CouponFollow.

For instance, the price of making a taco night for a family of four has increased 18.6% from $20.79 in February 2025 to $24.65 in February.

 "Swapping in a cheaper protein or doing at least one or two meatless meals per week will make a noticeable difference," Cary told USA TODAY.

An egg and toast breakfast in 2026 has gone down 9%, from $5.57 in 2024 to $5.07.

But that same egg and toast breakfast also hit $7.48 in February 2025 at the peak of the avian flu egg crisis.

The price of eggs has since dropped dramatically.

A meal of homemade biscuits is the most affordable and stable meal tracked in the study, with ingredients costing $2.13, down 7% from $2.30 in 2024.

Besides deciding which foods you want to purchase, stacking savings methods will also be helpful, Cary said.

"Using coupons, purchasing your grocery items with store brands [if they are similar], and buying in bulk [staples] at reduced price levels when available, as well as comparing the 'unit price' for each item, will assist you in creating a series of small actions that contribute to long-term financial advantages," he said.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, Facebook, or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.