When is ham cheapest?

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

A small season

Ham is cheapest in April, but the season is small.

Over 2006–2025, April ran a typical 2.9% below trend and October 4% above, and April was below trend in 18 of 18 years. Worth knowing if you buy a lot of ham or can stock up; otherwise a store sale beats the calendar.

April is when Easter usually falls, and stores feature ham for it.

Ham: 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%JanJanuary: typically 2.4% below trend (half of years between −3% and −0.5%; 18 years)FebFebruary: typically 2.8% below trend (half of years between −4% and −0.3%; 18 years)MarMarch: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −1.1% and +0.6%; 18 years)Apr−2.9%April: typically 2.9% below trend (half of years between −4% and −1.8%; 18 years)MayMay: typically 1.3% below trend (half of years between −2.4% and −0.2%; 18 years)JunJune: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +2.1%; 18 years)JulJuly: typically 1.4% above trend (half of years between −0% and +2.6%; 18 years)AugAugust: typically 3% above trend (half of years between +1.6% and +4%; 18 years)SepSeptember: typically 3% above trend (half of years between +2.2% and +4%; 18 years)Oct+4%October: typically 4% above trend (half of years between +2.5% and +5%; 17 years)NovNovember: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.9% and +0.9%; 17 years)DecDecember: typically 2.7% below trend (half of years between −5% and −1.5%; 17 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%−3% to −0.5%18
February−2.8%−4% to −0.3%18
March−0.3%−1.1% to +0.6%18
April−2.9%−4% to −1.8%18
May−1.3%−2.4% to −0.2%18
June+0.4%−0.7% to +2.1%18
July+1.4%−0% to +2.6%18
August+3%+1.6% to +4%18
September+3%+2.2% to +4%18
October+4%+2.5% to +5%17
November+0.4%−0.9% to +0.9%17
December−2.7%−5% to −1.5%17

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of ham (per pound) was $4.30 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical April price is about $4.03 and the typical October price about $4.30.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month ham was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. April was the single cheapest month in 5 of 16 years; the rest of the time it moved around.

20242024: cheapest in December20232023: cheapest in April20222022: cheapest in December20182018: cheapest in January20172017: cheapest in January20162016: cheapest in April20152015: cheapest in April20142014: cheapest in April20132013: cheapest in December20122012: cheapest in February20112011: cheapest in April20102010: cheapest in February20092009: cheapest in December20082008: cheapest in February20072007: cheapest in May20062006: cheapest in JanuaryJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024December
2023April
2022December
2018January
2017January
2016April
2015April
2014April
2013December
2012February
2011April
2010February
2009December
2008February
2007May
2006January

More from the calendar

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

Questions

What month is ham cheapest?

April. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of ham in April was typically 2.9% below that year's trend, and below it in 18 of 18 years. October is the dearest month (4% above).

What is the most expensive month for ham?

October, typically 4% above the year's trend price.

How much is ham right now?

The U.S. average was $4.30 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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