20 Foods That Are Getting More Expensive

Inflation might be slowing down at the grocery store, but things haven’t gotten cheap by any means, and plenty of foods are steadily getting more expensive. From climate-driven price hikes to production issues, we used the average retail food prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which foods are getting more expensive.

1. Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate

Average price in June 2023: $3.27 per 16 ounces

Average price in June 2024: $4.25 per 16 ounces

Percent change: 30.2%

Both climate changes and a citrus disease contributed to orange shortages and unfortunately, the lack of oranges has made the price of those frozen tubes of O.J. skyrocket.

2. Eggs

Average price in June 2023: $2.21 per dozen

Average price in June 2024: $2.71 per dozen

Percent change: 22.4%

The great Eggflation Epidemic has definitely cooled, but the price of eggs is still steadily increasing. 

3. Bacon

Average price in June 2023: $6.22 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $6.82 per pound

Percent change: 9.7%

Guess it’s time to switch to sausage alongside pancakes because bacon prices are getting hog wild. 

4. Sugar

Average price in June 2023: $0.91 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $1.00 per pound

Percent change: 9.4%

The sugar industry is one of the latest to fall victim to climate change, and the global cost of sugar is the highest it’s been since 2011.

5. Iceberg Lettuce

Average price in June 2023: $1.60 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $1.74 per pound

Percent change: 8.5%

Back-and-forth warm and cool temperatures along with hail and rain delivered a hit to the production of iceberg lettuce, causing prices to jump. Switching up to leafy greens for your salads might be your best bet for now.

6. Wheat Bread

Average price in June 2023: $2.56 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $2.77 per pound

Percent change: 8.2%

Waterlogged wheat harvests have caused the price of wheat bread to jump, so if you’re looking to save on sandwiches, white bread may be your best bet for now.

7. Beef Roasts

Average price in June 2023: $7.02 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $7.47 per pound

Percent change: 6.4%

Beef prices are nearing record highs, and roasts are the most expensive type of beef on the market right now.

8. Romaine Lettuce

Average price in June 2023: $2.72 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $2.88 per pound

Percent change: 5.7%

While romaine is seeing less of a price hike than iceberg, this popular lettuce variety is still rising in price.

9. Ice Cream

Average price in June 2023: $5.81 per half gallon

Average price in June 2024: $6.13 per half gallon

Percent change: 5.6%

This one’s a shot to the heart. Our best advice is to buy whatever brand of ice cream is on sale, because avoiding this frozen delicacy completely is a cruel and unusual punishment as far as we’re concerned.

10. Processed Cheese

Average price in June 2023: $4.69 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $4.94 per pound

Percent change: 5.2%

Is it just us or have “cheeses” like Velveeta and Kraft Singles always been overpriced for what they are? The proof is in the price hike data now, and if processed cheese isn’t cheap, we can’t reason with buying it. 

11. Ground Beef

Average price in June 2023: $5.43 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $5.71 per pound

Percent change: 5.1%

You might have better luck buying your beef from a local farmer for an affordable price than how you’d fare at the grocery store with ground beef prices averaging well over $5 a pound. 

12. Grapefruit

Average price in June 2023: $1.58 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $1.66 per pound

Percent change: 4.8%

Grapefruit production fell to the same citrus disease that’s been tainting oranges, causing a price hike for the bitterly sour fruit.

13. Potato Chips

Average price in June 2023: $6.28 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $6.56 per pound

Percent change: 4.5%

Potato chips are supposed to be cheap. Isn’t that a law? These days, chips are too expensive to put in the cart. 

14. Flour

Average price in June 2023: $0.55 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $0.57 per pound

Percent change: 4.4%

First sugar and now flour?! These rising costs are really putting a damper on our baking habits. 

15. Wine

Average price in June 2023: $13.34 per liter

Average price in June 2024: $13.87 per liter

Percent change: 4.0%

Something tells us this won’t make winos waver. Some things are just worth spending money on, even if they cost more than they used to.

16. Pork Chops

Average price in June 2023: $4.24 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $4.39 per pound

Percent change: 3.7%

Bacon isn’t the only type of pork experiencing price surges. Pork chops — especially the center-cut style — are getting more expensive too.

17. Navel Oranges

Average price in June 2023: $1.53 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $1.58 per pound

Percent change: 3.1%

That darn citrus disease we keep mentioning did it again.

18. Whole Chicken

Average price in June 2023: $1.95 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $2.00 per pound

Percent change: 2.8%

Well, there’s always Costco’s already-cooked whole rotisserie chickens, which are permanently guaranteed to cost $5. 

19. Coffee

Average price in June 2023: $6.09 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $6.25 per pound

Percent change: 2.7%

So what you’re saying is it’s more expensive to wake up now? 

20. Beef Steak

Average price in June 2023: $10.35 per pound

Average price in June 2024: $10.63 per pound

Percent change: 2.7%

Steak dinners are more of a luxury than a standard meal these days and with the rising cost of beef steak, that isn’t changing anytime soon.