Grocery Inflation: How Much More You Pay for Food (2019–2026)
Track grocery inflation in 2026. See how prices for eggs, ground beef, chicken, and other staples have changed since 2019 with BLS data.
Grocery prices have surged since 2019, with the BLS food-at-home index up roughly 25%. But the experience varies wildly by item — eggs are up 84%, while chicken wings are actually cheaper. This page aggregates all our grocery inflation data, charts, statistics, and analysis in one place. See our Grocery Price Changes and Price of Groceries by Item pages for detailed breakdowns, and compare with Wages vs Inflation.
The Egg Index: 2015–2026
Average price per dozen, Grade A Large Eggs (U.S. City Average)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (FRED series APU0000708111)keepingupwithinflation.com
Then (2019)
$1.40
Now (2026)
$2.58
Change
+84%
The Ground Beef Index: 2015–2026
Average retail price per pound, 100% ground beef (U.S. City Average)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (FRED series APU0000703112)keepingupwithinflation.com
Then (2017)
$3.77/lb
Now (2026)
$6.75/lb
Change
+79%
The Chicken Wing Index: 2015–2025
Wholesale chicken wing composite price per pound (FOB plant)
Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, industry reportskeepingupwithinflation.com
Then (2019)
$1.53/lb
Now (2025)
$1.10/lb
Change
-28%
Key Grocery Price Changes
Eggs: $1.40 (2019) to $2.58 (2026) — +84%. Ground beef: $3.77 (2017) to $6.75 (2026) — +79%. Chicken wings: $1.53 (2019) to $1.10 (2025) — -28%. The overall food-at-home CPI has risen about 25% since 2019.
Why Grocery Prices Rose
Supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, avian influenza devastating egg production, drought shrinking cattle herds, labor shortages at processing plants, and higher transportation costs all contributed to persistent grocery inflation.
Will Grocery Prices Come Down?
Some items (eggs, chicken wings) have shown they can correct when supply recovers. But ground beef, dairy, and many staples are unlikely to return to 2019 levels. The structural costs — labor, energy, feed — have permanently reset higher.
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