The groceries at or near their lowest price of the year in October, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: bell peppers.
The percentage is how far below that year’s trend price the food typically sits in October, the median across every year since 2006. “Today’s prices” = the latest national average (October 2026) moved to October’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 September. Next: what’s cheap in November.
Going by 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices: bell peppers (3% below trend), beef roast (1.3% below trend), pasta (1.1% below trend), whole chicken (0.8% below trend).
At or near their dearest month: navel oranges (15% above trend), grapefruit (12% above trend), turkey (5% above trend), lemons (4% above trend), ham (4% above trend), bacon (2.2% above trend), cheddar (1.1% 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.