When is chuck roast cheapest?

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

Barely moves

Chuck roast barely has a season: buy it when you need it.

The cheapest month (January) runs only 2.4% below trend and the dearest (November) 0.9% above: on $9.08 a pound that’s about 30¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Chuck roast: 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.

−5%−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%+5%Jan−2.4%January: typically 2.4% below trend (half of years between −4% and −0.6%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −2.3% and +1.6%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −1% and +1.2%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.5% and +1%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −1.5% and +2%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between −1.9% and +1.9%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.3% above trend (half of years between −1.8% and +2%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between −2% and +1.4%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −2% and +2.3%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −1.8% and +0.6%; 19 years)Nov+0.9%November: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between −1% and +3%; 19 years)DecDecember: typically 0.2% below trend (half of years between −1% 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−2.4%−4% to −0.6%20
February+0.1%−2.3% to +1.6%20
March+0.2%−1% to +1.2%20
April−0.1%−1.5% to +1%19
May+0.2%−1.5% to +2%19
June+0.7%−1.9% to +1.9%19
July+0.3%−1.8% to +2%19
August+0.7%−2% to +1.4%19
September−0.5%−2% to +2.3%19
October−0.8%−1.8% to +0.6%19
November+0.9%−1% to +3%19
December−0.2%−1% to +0.2%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of chuck roast (per pound) was $9.08 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical January price is about $8.94 and the typical November price about $9.24.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month chuck roast was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. January was the single cheapest month in 6 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in October20232023: cheapest in March20222022: cheapest in February20212021: cheapest in April20202020: cheapest in March20192019: cheapest in October20182018: cheapest in January20172017: cheapest in January20162016: cheapest in January20152015: cheapest in February20142014: cheapest in January20132013: cheapest in May20122012: cheapest in September20112011: cheapest in January20102010: cheapest in May20092009: cheapest in June20082008: cheapest in April20072007: cheapest in January20062006: cheapest in AugustJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024October
2023March
2022February
2021April
2020March
2019October
2018January
2017January
2016January
2015February
2014January
2013May
2012September
2011January
2010May
2009June
2008April
2007January
2006August

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), ground beef (Feb), chicken breast (Jan), whole chicken (Oct), chicken legs (Jan). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is chuck roast cheapest?

January. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of chuck roast in January was typically 2.4% below that year's trend, and below it in 16 of 20 years. November is the dearest month (0.9% above).

What is the most expensive month for chuck roast?

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

How much is chuck roast right now?

The U.S. average was $9.08 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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