Your grocery cart might look the same as it did last year, but the checkout total tells a different story. From everyday breakfast favorites to dinner staples, many familiar foods are becoming more expensive across America.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), grocery prices increased 1.8% between September 2025 and September 2026. Some products rose much more, including apples, rice, coffee, and seafood.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also forecasts a 2.3% increase in average grocery prices for 2026, with beef and certain other categories experiencing particularly strong pressure.
Here are foods and food categories that became more expensive over the past year, based on the latest available September 2026 consumer price data. The percentages compare September 2026 with September 2025, not necessarily prices from one shopping trip to the next.
Ground Beef
Price increase: 5.4%
Hamburger night is costing families more. Ground beef prices rose 5.4% over the past year, making everything from homemade burgers to spaghetti sauce more expensive.
USDA data points to reduced beef production for much of 2026, keeping pressure on meat prices.
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Beef Steaks
Price increase: 2.7%
A steak dinner remains a popular treat, but it’s getting harder to fit into a tight grocery budget.
Uncooked steak prices rose 2.7% year over year, though they fell slightly in September.
Beef Roasts
Price increase: 0.6%
Traditional Sunday roasts haven’t escaped rising prices entirely.
Although beef roast prices increased only modestly over the year, they remain part of a broader beef category that the USDA expects to become substantially more expensive in 2026.
Related:10 Clever Frugal Living Tips: Save Big on a Tiny Budget
Ham
Price increase: 4.0%
Whether served in sandwiches or prepared for a family gathering, ham has become more expensive.
Prices rose 4% from September 2025, potentially adding to grocery costs for families planning holiday meals.
Breakfast Sausage
Price increase: 3.1%
That familiar breakfast combination of sausage and toast now costs slightly more.
Breakfast sausage and related products rose 3.1% over the past year, according to federal inflation data.
Hot Dogs
Price increase: 1.9%
Hot dogs are often associated with inexpensive backyard meals.
However, the BLS reported a 1.9% annual increase in frankfurter prices. Even budget-friendly cookout favorites aren’t completely immune to food inflation.
Turkey and Other Poultry
Price increase: 8.4%
With holiday meal planning approaching, turkey deserves attention.
The BLS category covering other uncooked poultry, including turkey, increased 8.4% year over year.
That doesn’t mean every Thanksgiving turkey costs 8.4% more, but it signals pressure within the category.
Fresh Fish and Seafood
Price increase: 6.0%
Seafood lovers may notice higher prices at the fish counter.
Fresh fish and seafood prices increased 6%, making it especially worthwhile to compare weekly specials before choosing dinner.
Frozen Fish and Seafood
Price increase: 8.5%
Frozen seafood isn’t necessarily offering the savings shoppers expect.
Prices rose 8.5% over the year, demonstrating that choosing the freezer section doesn’t automatically mean avoiding inflation.
Canned Fish and Seafood
Price increase: 8.9%
Shelf-stable fish and seafood products saw an even larger increase.
At 8.9%, this category experienced one of the steepest annual price jumps on the list, potentially affecting households that rely on convenient pantry ingredients.
Apples
Price increase: 7.5%
An apple may still be a familiar lunchbox favorite, but its price has climbed noticeably.
Apple prices rose 7.5% over the past year, even though they fell in September.
Citrus Fruits
Price increase: 2.6%
Citrus fruit prices increased 2.6% overall.
However, oranges and tangerines declined slightly year over year, showing why shoppers should compare individual fruits rather than assume everything in one category costs more.
Other Fresh Fruits
Price increase: 6.5%
Beyond apples and citrus, other fresh fruits rose 6.5% year over year.
The broader fresh-fruit category climbed 4.9%, making seasonal selection and store comparisons especially useful.
Tomatoes
Price increase: 6.8%
Tomatoes are essential ingredients in countless American kitchens, from sandwiches to homemade sauces.
Prices rose 6.8% over the year and another 1.2% in September alone.
Lettuce
Price increase: 2.6%
A simple salad is getting a little more expensive.
Lettuce prices increased 2.6% year over year, despite considerable monthly fluctuations throughout the summer.
What Is Driving Grocery Prices Higher?
No single factor explains every rising grocery bill.
Reduced production has affected beef prices, while fruit and vegetable prices can fluctuate with weather, growing seasons, and agricultural conditions.
Coffee and seafood markets are also influenced by international production and distribution.
According to the USDA’s October 2026 Food Price Outlook, beef and veal prices are forecast to rise 8.7% on average during 2026, while sugar and sweets are forecast to increase 6.5%.
However, not every grocery item is becoming more expensive.
Egg prices were 20.6% lower in September 2026 than a year earlier. Butter and cheese prices also declined.
That means families may find ways to offset rising costs by adjusting purchases instead of assuming the entire grocery store is seeing the same price increases.
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