The groceries at or near their lowest price of the year in December, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: turkey, flour, potatoes, ham, butter.
The percentage is how far below that year’s trend price the food typically sits in December, the median across every year since 2006. “Today’s prices” = the latest national average (October 2026) moved to December’s typical level.
December ties November as the cheapest month for frozen turkey (6% below trend in the years BLS priced it) and is the cheapest for potatoes and sugar, and ham is cheaper than in the fall. It is the dearest month for strawberries (31% above trend) and eggs: if a recipe can swap fresh berries for frozen, December is the month to do it.
Mostly out of stores (BLS can’t find enough to price): peaches, cherries.
Every food’s cheapest month is on the grocery price calendar. Last month: what’s cheap in November. Next: what’s cheap in January.
Going by 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: turkey (6% below trend), flour (3% below trend), potatoes (3% below trend), ham (2.7% below trend), butter (2.6% below trend), coffee (2.3% below trend), sirloin steak (1.9% below trend), steak (1.6% below trend), sugar (1.5% below trend), beef roast (1.1% below trend), ground beef (1.1% below trend), cheddar (1.1% below trend), chicken breast (1.1% below trend), pork chops (1% below trend), potato chips (1% below trend), pasta (0.9% below trend), bananas (0.9% below trend), rice (0.5% below trend).
At or near their dearest month: strawberries (31% above trend), eggs (5% above trend), bell peppers (5% above trend), romaine (3% above trend), milk (1.4% above trend).
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.