The price of a basic grocery basket featuring common items like eggs, milk and ground beef has far outpaced inflation since it first surged during the pandemic—a whopping 55.6% jump since 2020—while other increasing costs, like energy prices, continue to strain Americans’ finances.
Energy prices have surged, but inflation has increased the cost of common food items for years.
2020: By Forbes estimates, this grocery basket of 11 staples cost $46.95 in June 2020, when annual inflation was last under 1%: Bananas ($1.16 per bunch), a loaf of bread ($1.83), a box of butter ($3.49), one package of chicken breasts ($8.01), a large bag of potato chips ($3.96), a tub of coffee grounds ($7.75), one package of chocolate chip cookies ($3.01), a dozen eggs ($1.55), one package of ground beef ($4.73), a large bottle of orange juice ($6.78) and a 12-pack of soda ($4.68).
2026: Now, this same grocery basket costs $73.07 as of April: Bananas ($1.30 per bunch), a loaf of bread ($2.32), a box of butter ($4.21), one package of chicken breasts ($9.98), a large bag of potato chips ($5.26), a tub of coffee grounds ($16.70), one package of chocolate chip cookies ($4.20), a dozen eggs ($2.25), one package of ground beef ($6.89), a large bottle of orange juice ($14.08) and a 12-pack of soda ($5.88).
