The groceries at or near their lowest price of the year in May, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: tomatoes, lemons, broccoli, ice cream.
The percentage is how far below that year’s trend price the food typically sits in May, the median across every year since 2006. “Today’s prices” = the latest national average (October 2026) moved to May’s typical level.
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 April. Next: what’s cheap in June.
Going by 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: tomatoes (6% below trend), lemons (3% below trend), broccoli (3% below trend), milk (1.4% below trend), ice cream (1.1% below trend), ground beef (0.5% below trend), cheddar (0.5% below trend), chicken legs (0.5% below trend).
At or near their dearest month: grapes (20% above trend), coffee (1.8% above trend), whole chicken (1.2% 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.