When is bread cheapest?

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

Barely moves

Bread barely has a season: buy it when you need it.

The cheapest month (January) runs only 0.7% below trend and the dearest (December) 0.9% above: on $1.86 a pound that’s about 3¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

White bread: 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%Jan−0.7%January: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1% and +0.7%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −0.6% and +0.8%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −1.3% and +0.7%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +0.8%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +0.9%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −0.8% and +0.8%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +0.7%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −1.1% and +0.7%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.4% below trend (half of years between −1.3% and +0.8%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.3% above trend (half of years between −0.6% and +0.8%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1% and +0.4%; 19 years)Dec+0.9%December: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between −0.4% and +1.4%; 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−0.7%−1% to +0.7%20
February+0.1%−0.6% to +0.8%20
March−0.5%−1.3% to +0.7%20
April+0.2%−0.7% to +0.8%19
May+0.1%−0.8% to +0.9%19
June−0.1%−0.8% to +0.8%19
July+0.5%−0.7% to +0.7%19
August−0.5%−1.1% to +0.7%19
September−0.4%−1.3% to +0.8%19
October+0.3%−0.6% to +0.8%19
November−0.7%−1% to +0.4%19
December+0.9%−0.4% to +1.4%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of bread (per pound) was $1.86 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical January price is about $1.84 and the typical December price about $1.87.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month bread was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. January was the single cheapest month in 1 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in November20232023: cheapest in June20222022: cheapest in May20212021: cheapest in August20202020: cheapest in March20192019: cheapest in August20182018: cheapest in February20172017: cheapest in November20162016: cheapest in June20152015: cheapest in November20142014: cheapest in March20132013: cheapest in October20122012: cheapest in March20112011: cheapest in November20102010: cheapest in November20092009: cheapest in September20082008: cheapest in January20072007: cheapest in November20062006: cheapest in FebruaryJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024November
2023June
2022May
2021August
2020March
2019August
2018February
2017November
2016June
2015November
2014March
2013October
2012March
2011November
2010November
2009September
2008January
2007November
2006February

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in January: what’s cheap in January. Pantry: flour (Nov), sugar (Dec), coffee (Dec), rice (Feb), pasta (Oct), potato chips (Feb), cookies (Mar). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is bread cheapest?

January. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of bread in January was typically 0.7% below that year's trend, and below it in 11 of 20 years. December is the dearest month (0.9% above).

What is the most expensive month for bread?

December, typically 0.9% above the year's trend price.

How much is bread right now?

The U.S. average was $1.86 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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