The groceries at or near their lowest price of the year in November, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: turkey, flour, butter, coffee.
The percentage is how far below that year’s trend price the food typically sits in November, the median across every year since 2006. “Today’s prices” = the latest national average (October 2026) moved to November’s typical level.
Flour (in all 18 years) and butter are at their cheapest this month: stock up for the baking season. Turkey is on sale, typically 6% below trend, and December runs about the same, so a second bird for the freezer bought after Thanksgiving costs no more than the first. Potatoes keep falling into December. Planning the bird itself? The turkey calculator gives the thaw day and oven time for your weight.
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 October. Next: what’s cheap in December.
Going by 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: turkey (6% below trend), flour (4% below trend), butter (3% below trend), coffee (1.1% below trend), sugar (0.8% below trend), bananas (0.8% below trend), steak (0.8% below trend), bread (0.7% below trend).
At or near their dearest month: iceberg lettuce (6% above trend), romaine (4% above trend), cookies (1.4% above trend), milk (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.