When are cookies cheapest?

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

Barely moves

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

The cheapest month (March) runs only 1.7% below trend and the dearest (November) 1.4% above: on $5.25 a pound that’s about 16¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Chocolate chip cookies: 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 1% above trend (half of years between −1.3% and +1.2%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 1.4% below trend (half of years between −2.4% and +2.1%; 20 years)Mar−1.7%March: typically 1.7% below trend (half of years between −3% and +1.6%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.9% and +2.2%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between −2.7% and +1.3%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +2.4%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −0.9% and +1.3%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 1.2% below trend (half of years between −3% and +0.9%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −2% and +1%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between −1% and +2.1%; 19 years)Nov+1.4%November: typically 1.4% above trend (half of years between −0.5% and +2.8%; 19 years)DecDecember: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −0.4% and +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+1%−1.3% to +1.2%20
February−1.4%−2.4% to +2.1%20
March−1.7%−3% to +1.6%20
April−0.1%−1.9% to +2.2%19
May+0.9%−2.7% to +1.3%19
June+0.4%−0.7% to +2.4%19
July−0.3%−0.9% to +1.3%19
August−1.2%−3% to +0.9%19
September−0.8%−2% to +1%19
October+0.5%−1% to +2.1%19
November+1.4%−0.5% to +2.8%19
December+0.2%−0.4% to +2%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of cookies (per pound) was $5.25 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical March price is about $5.13 and the typical November price about $5.29.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month cookies were cheapest relative to that year’s trend. March was the single cheapest month in 2 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 November20222022: cheapest in April20212021: cheapest in October20202020: cheapest in January20192019: cheapest in March20182018: cheapest in April20172017: cheapest in March20162016: cheapest in August20152015: cheapest in May20142014: cheapest in January20132013: cheapest in May20122012: cheapest in September20112011: cheapest in August20102010: cheapest in April20092009: cheapest in September20082008: cheapest in January20072007: cheapest in February20062006: cheapest in AprilJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024December
2023November
2022April
2021October
2020January
2019March
2018April
2017March
2016August
2015May
2014January
2013May
2012September
2011August
2010April
2009September
2008January
2007February
2006April

More from the calendar

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

Questions

What month are cookies cheapest?

March. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of cookies in March was typically 1.7% below that year's trend, and below it in 13 of 20 years. November is the dearest month (1.4% above).

What is the most expensive month for cookies?

November, typically 1.4% above the year's trend price.

How much are cookies right now?

The U.S. average was $5.25 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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