When is chicken breast cheapest?

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

Barely moves

Chicken breast barely has a season: buy it when you need it.

The cheapest month (January) runs only 1.5% below trend and the dearest (August) 0.7% above: on $4.10 a pound that’s about 9¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Chicken breast: 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−1.5%January: typically 1.5% below trend (half of years between −2.1% and −0.8%; 19 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.6% below trend (half of years between −2.6% and +0.4%; 19 years)MarMarch: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.8%; 19 years)AprApril: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +1.8%; 18 years)MayMay: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −0.8% and +1.6%; 18 years)JunJune: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.9% and +1.8%; 18 years)JulJuly: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −0.9% and +1.8%; 19 years)Aug+0.7%August: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between −0.6% and +2.5%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −1.2% and +1.3%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.2% below trend (half of years between −0.8% and +1.8%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −1.2% and +0.7%; 19 years)DecDecember: typically 1.1% below trend (half of years between −1.5% and +0.8%; 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−1.5%−2.1% to −0.8%19
February−0.6%−2.6% to +0.4%19
March−0.1%−1.6% to +0.8%19
April+0.1%−0.8% to +1.8%18
May−0.1%−0.8% to +1.6%18
June+0.4%−0.9% to +1.8%18
July−0.3%−0.9% to +1.8%19
August+0.7%−0.6% to +2.5%19
September+0.2%−1.2% to +1.3%19
October−0.2%−0.8% to +1.8%19
November−0.5%−1.2% to +0.7%19
December−1.1%−1.5% to +0.8%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of chicken breast (per pound) was $4.10 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical January price is about $4.04 and the typical August price about $4.13.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month chicken breast was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. January was the single cheapest month in 2 of 18 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in July20232023: cheapest in January20222022: cheapest in March20212021: cheapest in February20202020: cheapest in March20192019: cheapest in November20182018: cheapest in September20172017: cheapest in February20162016: cheapest in January20152015: cheapest in December20142014: cheapest in February20132013: cheapest in March20122012: cheapest in September20112011: cheapest in May20102010: cheapest in May20092009: cheapest in August20082008: cheapest in December20072007: cheapest in FebruaryJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024July
2023January
2022March
2021February
2020March
2019November
2018September
2017February
2016January
2015December
2014February
2013March
2012September
2011May
2010May
2009August
2008December
2007February

More from the calendar

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

Questions

What month is chicken breast cheapest?

January. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of chicken breast in January was typically 1.5% below that year's trend, and below it in 17 of 19 years. August is the dearest month (0.7% above).

What is the most expensive month for chicken breast?

August, typically 0.7% above the year's trend price.

How much is chicken breast right now?

The U.S. average was $4.10 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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