When is sugar cheapest?

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

Barely moves

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

The cheapest month (December) runs only 1.5% below trend and the dearest (January) 0.5% above: on $1.00 a pound that’s about 2¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Sugar: 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+0.5%January: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between −0.6% and +1.9%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −0.4% and +0.8%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.2% and +0.7%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −1.3% and +1.3%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −0.7% and +1.2%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −0.8% and +0.7%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +0.7%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 0.3% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +1.7%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between −0.2% and +2.5%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.2% and +1.3%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −2.2% and −0%; 19 years)Dec−1.5%December: typically 1.5% below trend (half of years between −2.7% and −0.4%; 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+0.5%−0.6% to +1.9%20
February−0.1%−0.4% to +0.8%20
March−0.1%−1.2% to +0.7%20
April−0.3%−1.3% to +1.3%19
May−0.1%−0.7% to +1.2%19
June−0.5%−0.8% to +0.7%19
July+0.2%−0.7% to +0.7%19
August+0.3%−0.8% to +1.7%19
September+0.5%−0.2% to +2.5%19
October−0.1%−1.2% to +1.3%19
November−0.8%−2.2% to −0%19
December−1.5%−2.7% to −0.4%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of sugar (per pound) was $1.00 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical December price is about 99¢ and the typical January price about $1.01.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month sugar was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. December was the single cheapest month in 10 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 December20222022: cheapest in May20212021: cheapest in December20202020: cheapest in September20192019: cheapest in December20182018: cheapest in December20172017: cheapest in April20162016: cheapest in December20152015: cheapest in November20142014: cheapest in December20132013: cheapest in December20122012: cheapest in June20112011: cheapest in April20102010: cheapest in August20092009: cheapest in August20082008: cheapest in November20072007: cheapest in December20062006: cheapest in DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024December
2023December
2022May
2021December
2020September
2019December
2018December
2017April
2016December
2015November
2014December
2013December
2012June
2011April
2010August
2009August
2008November
2007December
2006December

More from the calendar

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

Questions

What month is sugar cheapest?

December. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of sugar in December was typically 1.5% below that year's trend, and below it in 15 of 19 years. January is the dearest month (0.5% above).

What is the most expensive month for sugar?

January, typically 0.5% above the year's trend price.

How much is sugar right now?

The U.S. average was $1.00 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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