When are bell peppers cheapest?

The best time to buy bell peppers, from 14 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

Worth timing

Buy bell peppers in September if you can.

Over 2006–2019, bell peppers in September ran a typical 4% below the year’s trend price, and September was below it in 6 of 8 years. December is the dearest month (5% above): a 9-point swing.

Bell peppers: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2006–2019. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−8%−6%−4%−2%trend+2%+4%+6%+8%JanJanuary: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between −3% and +3%; 9 years)FebFebruary: typically 1.7% below trend (half of years between −6% and +2.2%; 9 years)MarMarch: typically 3% below trend (half of years between −4% and +2.8%; 9 years)AprApril: typically 1.1% above trend (half of years between −1.2% and +5%; 8 years)MayMay: typically 3% above trend (half of years between +0.7% and +6%; 8 years)JunJune: typically 1.4% below trend (half of years between −4% and +1%; 8 years)JulJuly: typically 0.6% below trend (half of years between −3% and +2%; 8 years)AugAugust: typically 2.9% below trend (half of years between −6% and −0.6%; 8 years)Sep−4%September: typically 4% below trend (half of years between −6% and −2.5%; 8 years)OctOctober: typically 3% below trend (half of years between −4% and −0.6%; 8 years)NovNovember: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between −0.3% and +2.7%; 9 years)Dec+5%December: typically 5% above trend (half of years between −0.6% and +7%; 9 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%−3% to +3%9
February−1.7%−6% to +2.2%9
March−3%−4% to +2.8%9
April+1.1%−1.2% to +5%8
May+3%+0.7% to +6%8
June−1.4%−4% to +1%8
July−0.6%−3% to +2%8
August−2.9%−6% to −0.6%8
September−4%−6% to −2.5%8
October−3%−4% to −0.6%8
November+0.7%−0.3% to +2.7%9
December+5%−0.6% to +7%9

A note on the years

BLS stopped publishing a national average price for bell peppers after March 2020 (the last one was $2.44 a pound), so this pattern covers 2006–2019. Seasons like this come from harvests and holidays and change slowly, but treat the size of the swing as history.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month bell peppers were cheapest relative to that year’s trend. September was the single cheapest month in 0 of 6 years; the rest of the time it moved around.

20182018: cheapest in October20172017: cheapest in February20142014: cheapest in April20132013: cheapest in June20122012: cheapest in March20072007: cheapest in AugustJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2018October
2017February
2014April
2013June
2012March
2007August

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in September: what’s cheap in September. Vegetables: tomatoes (Aug), iceberg lettuce (Aug), romaine (Jun), broccoli (May), potatoes (Dec). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month are bell peppers cheapest?

September. Over 2006–2019 the U.S. average price of bell peppers in September was typically 4% below that year's trend, and below it in 6 of 8 years. December is the dearest month (5% above).

What is the most expensive month for bell peppers?

December, typically 5% above the year's trend price.

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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