What’s cheap in January?

The groceries at or near their lowest price of the year in January, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: ham, sirloin steak.

At their cheapest in January

Chuck roast −2.4% cheapest month
Barely moves all year · about $8.94 a lb at today’s prices
Ham −2.4%
Held in 18 of 18 years · about $4.05 a lb at today’s prices
Sirloin steak −1.7%
Held in 15 of 20 years · about $13.73 a lb at today’s prices
Pork chops −1.7% cheapest month
Barely moves all year · about $4.08 a lb at today’s prices
Chicken breast −1.5% cheapest month
Barely moves all year · about $4.04 a lb at today’s prices
Ground beef −1.4%
Barely moves all year · about $6.67 a lb at today’s prices
Beef roast −1.2%
Barely moves all year · about $9.03 a lb at today’s prices
Chicken legs −1.2% cheapest month
Barely moves all year · about $1.72 a lb at today’s prices
Steak −1%
Barely moves all year · about $12.75 a lb at today’s prices
Potato chips −0.9%
Barely moves all year · about $6.53 a 16 oz bag at today’s prices
White bread −0.7% cheapest month
Barely moves all year · about $1.84 a lb at today’s prices
Rice −0.6%
Barely moves all year · about $1.10 a lb at today’s prices

The percentage is how far below that year’s trend price the food typically sits in January, the median across every year since 2006. “Today’s prices” = the latest national average (October 2026) moved to January’s typical level.

Dearest in January: buy less, swap, or wait

Tomatoes +8% cheapest in August
Eggs +5% cheapest in June
Romaine lettuce +4% cheapest in June
Broccoli +3% cheapest in May
Ice cream +2.1% cheapest in July
Butter +2.1% cheapest in November

In stores or not

Mostly out of stores (BLS can’t find enough to price): peaches, cherries.

The whole year

Every food’s cheapest month is on the grocery price calendar. Next: what’s cheap in February.

Questions

What groceries are cheapest in January?

Going by 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: chuck roast (2.4% below trend), ham (2.4% below trend), sirloin steak (1.7% below trend), pork chops (1.7% below trend), chicken breast (1.5% below trend), ground beef (1.4% below trend), beef roast (1.2% below trend), chicken legs (1.2% below trend), steak (1% below trend), potato chips (0.9% below trend), bread (0.7% below trend), rice (0.6% below trend).

What is expensive in January?

At or near their dearest month: tomatoes (8% above trend), eggs (5% above trend), romaine (4% above trend), broccoli (3% above trend), ice cream (2.1% above trend), butter (2.1% 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.

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