When is rice cheapest?

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

Barely moves

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

The cheapest month (February) runs only 0.9% below trend and the dearest (July) 0.8% above: on $1.10 a pound that’s about 2¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Rice: 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 0.6% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.5%; 19 years)Feb−0.9%February: typically 0.9% below trend (half of years between −1.7% and +0.1%; 19 years)MarMarch: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.1%; 19 years)AprApril: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −2% and +0.9%; 18 years)MayMay: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.9% and +1.4%; 18 years)JunJune: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between −0.6% and +1.9%; 18 years)Jul+0.8%July: typically 0.8% above trend (half of years between −1% and +3%; 18 years)AugAugust: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between −1% and +2.2%; 18 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.4% below trend (half of years between −1.5% and +2.7%; 18 years)OctOctober: typically 0.4% below trend (half of years between −2.1% and +1.6%; 17 years)NovNovember: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +1.9%; 18 years)DecDecember: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −1.4% and +1.1%; 18 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−0.6%−1.6% to +0.5%19
February−0.9%−1.7% to +0.1%19
March−0.8%−1.6% to +0.1%19
April−0.1%−2% to +0.9%18
May+0.4%−0.9% to +1.4%18
June+0.5%−0.6% to +1.9%18
July+0.8%−1% to +3%18
August+0.7%−1% to +2.2%18
September−0.4%−1.5% to +2.7%18
October−0.4%−2.1% to +1.6%17
November+0.7%−0.7% to +1.9%18
December−0.5%−1.4% to +1.1%18

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of rice (per pound) was $1.10 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical February price is about $1.10 and the typical July price about $1.11.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month rice was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. February was the single cheapest month in 1 of 17 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in May20232023: cheapest in October20222022: cheapest in February20212021: cheapest in October20182018: cheapest in October20172017: cheapest in April20162016: cheapest in December20152015: cheapest in September20142014: cheapest in December20132013: cheapest in May20122012: cheapest in May20112011: cheapest in July20102010: cheapest in November20092009: cheapest in April20082008: cheapest in March20072007: cheapest in December20062006: cheapest in MarchJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024May
2023October
2022February
2021October
2018October
2017April
2016December
2015September
2014December
2013May
2012May
2011July
2010November
2009April
2008March
2007December
2006March

More from the calendar

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

Questions

What month is rice cheapest?

February. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of rice in February was typically 0.9% below that year's trend, and below it in 14 of 19 years. July is the dearest month (0.8% above).

What is the most expensive month for rice?

July, typically 0.8% above the year's trend price.

How much is rice right now?

The U.S. average was $1.10 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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