When are bananas cheapest?

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

Barely moves

Bananas barely have a season: buy them when you need them.

The cheapest month (December) runs only 0.9% below trend and the dearest (March) 1.1% above: on 66¢ a pound that’s about 1¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Bananas: 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.

−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%JanJanuary: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −1.1% and +0.7%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.1% and +1.2%; 20 years)Mar+1.1%March: typically 1.1% above trend (half of years between +0.2% and +1.9%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between +0.3% and +2.1%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.6% above trend (half of years between −0.4% and +1%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.6% above trend (half of years between −0.2% and +1.1%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −0.3% and +0.5%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 0.6% below trend (half of years between −1.3% and +0.7%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.5%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.4% below trend (half of years between −1.8% and −0.1%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −1.4% and −0.4%; 19 years)Dec−0.9%December: typically 0.9% below trend (half of years between −1.5% and +0.2%; 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+0.2%−1.1% to +0.7%20
February+0.4%−0.1% to +1.2%20
March+1.1%+0.2% to +1.9%20
April+0.7%+0.3% to +2.1%19
May+0.6%−0.4% to +1%19
June+0.6%−0.2% to +1.1%19
July+0.2%−0.3% to +0.5%19
August−0.6%−1.3% to +0.7%19
September−0.3%−1.6% to +0.5%19
October−0.4%−1.8% to −0.1%19
November−0.8%−1.4% to −0.4%19
December−0.9%−1.5% to +0.2%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of bananas (per pound) was 66¢ in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical December price is about 65¢ and the typical March price about 67¢.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month bananas were cheapest relative to that year’s trend. December was the single cheapest month in 3 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in December20232023: cheapest in June20222022: cheapest in December20212021: cheapest in August20202020: cheapest in December20192019: cheapest in April20182018: cheapest in November20172017: cheapest in September20162016: cheapest in August20152015: cheapest in June20142014: cheapest in October20132013: cheapest in October20122012: cheapest in August20112011: cheapest in November20102010: cheapest in September20092009: cheapest in November20082008: cheapest in January20072007: cheapest in November20062006: cheapest in SeptemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024December
2023June
2022December
2021August
2020December
2019April
2018November
2017September
2016August
2015June
2014October
2013October
2012August
2011November
2010September
2009November
2008January
2007November
2006September

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in December: what’s cheap in December. Fruit: strawberries (Jul), grapes (Sep), navel oranges (Apr), grapefruit (Mar), lemons (Mar), peaches (Aug), cherries (Jul). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month are bananas cheapest?

December. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of bananas in December was typically 0.9% below that year's trend, and below it in 14 of 19 years. March is the dearest month (1.1% above).

What is the most expensive month for bananas?

March, typically 1.1% above the year's trend price.

How much are bananas right now?

The U.S. average was 66¢ 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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