When is bacon cheapest?

The best time to buy bacon, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

A small season

Bacon is cheapest in February, but the season is small.

Over 2006–2025, February ran a typical 2.3% below trend and September 2.5% above, and February was below trend in 17 of 20 years. Worth knowing if you buy a lot of bacon or can stock up; otherwise a store sale beats the calendar.

Bacon: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2006–2025. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−5%−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%+5%JanJanuary: typically 0.9% below trend (half of years between −2.1% and −0.2%; 20 years)Feb−2.3%February: typically 2.3% below trend (half of years between −3% and −0.9%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 1.5% below trend (half of years between −3% and −0.7%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 1.9% below trend (half of years between −3% and −0.5%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −3% and +0.8%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −1.4% and +1.5%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 1.6% above trend (half of years between −0.1% and +2.2%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 2.2% above trend (half of years between −0.5% and +4%; 19 years)Sep+2.5%September: typically 2.5% above trend (half of years between +1.6% and +4%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 2.2% above trend (half of years between −0% and +5%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1.7% and +1.4%; 19 years)DecDecember: typically 0.9% below trend (half of years between −2% and −0.1%; 19 years)
cheaper than the year’s trend dearer middle half of years
See the numbers as a table
MonthTypical vs trendMiddle half of yearsYears
January−0.9%−2.1% to −0.2%20
February−2.3%−3% to −0.9%20
March−1.5%−3% to −0.7%20
April−1.9%−3% to −0.5%19
May−0.7%−3% to +0.8%19
June+0.2%−1.4% to +1.5%19
July+1.6%−0.1% to +2.2%19
August+2.2%−0.5% to +4%19
September+2.5%+1.6% to +4%19
October+2.2%−0% to +5%19
November−0.7%−1.7% to +1.4%19
December−0.9%−2% to −0.1%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of bacon (per pound) was $6.69 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical February price is about $6.39 and the typical September price about $6.70.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month bacon was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. February was the single cheapest month in 4 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around.

20242024: cheapest in February20232023: cheapest in June20222022: cheapest in February20212021: cheapest in March20202020: cheapest in March20192019: cheapest in February20182018: cheapest in June20172017: cheapest in January20162016: cheapest in December20152015: cheapest in May20142014: cheapest in February20132013: cheapest in April20122012: cheapest in June20112011: cheapest in January20102010: cheapest in December20092009: cheapest in November20082008: cheapest in April20072007: cheapest in March20062006: cheapest in MayJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024February
2023June
2022February
2021March
2020March
2019February
2018June
2017January
2016December
2015May
2014February
2013April
2012June
2011January
2010December
2009November
2008April
2007March
2006May

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in February: what’s cheap in February. Meat: turkey (Dec), ham (Apr), pork chops (Jan), sirloin steak (Feb), steak (Dec), beef roast (Oct), chuck roast (Jan), ground beef (Feb), chicken breast (Jan), whole chicken (Oct), chicken legs (Jan). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is bacon cheapest?

February. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of bacon in February was typically 2.3% below that year's trend, and below it in 17 of 20 years. September is the dearest month (2.5% above).

What is the most expensive month for bacon?

September, typically 2.5% above the year's trend price.

How much is bacon right now?

The U.S. average was $6.69 a pound in October 2026 (BLS Average Price Data).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), the shelf prices BLS collects every month for the Consumer Price Index, through October 2026. Seasonal pattern and every number on this page computed by Online List Maker; how.

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