Can We Talk About The Price Of Groceries For A Sec?

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I recently had a shocking experience at the grocery store that left me wondering: "When the hell did the price of groceries get so ridiculous?"

And while I totally acknowledge that this was not a groundbreaking revelation on my part (for years, people have complained about the rising price of groceries), I'm pretty sure this was just the first time that I felt my jaw actually drop while staring at a price tag.

I mean, $13 for a pack of bacon? I think the fuck not.

So in this post, I am answering the often-asked-but-never-answered question: "When the hell did groceries get so expensive?" Because, y'all, we need to talk about this.

"Research" Methodology

To answer this question, I did what I do best – needless research.

Using data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, I selected one food from each piece of the food pyramid to track the prices of over the past ten years. And by doing so, I was able to pinpoint the exact date (or at least year) when groceries got so expensive.

The results actually surprised me.

(Also, maybe I didn't pay nearly enough attention in elementary school, because I swore baked goods were on the food pyramid – I swore they were at the very top – but I guess there is no place for baked goods in the modern day food pyramid.)

The Increased Price of Groceries

Greatest Change: Romaine Lettuce (+55.98%)
Least Change: Boneless Chicken Breast (+14.53%)
Average Change: (+30.38%)

Bakery - Chocolate Chip Cookies (Per Lb)

2015: $3.30
2016: $3.21
2017: $3.46
2018: $3.48
2019: $3.46

2020: $3.69
2021: $4.06
2022: $4.65
2023: $5.09
2024: $5.10

Total Change: $1.80 (+54.55%)

I was actually really surprised by this statistic. Granted, I don't buy a ton of chocolate chip cookies – but I had no idea they've gotten this much more expensive.

Meats - Boneless Chicken Breast (Per Lb)

2015: $3.44
2016: $3.37
2017: $3.21
2018: $3.18
2019: $2.97

2020: $3.22
2021: $3.50
2022: $4.60
2023: $4.14
2024: $3.94

Total Change: $0.50 (+14.53%)

Out of everything on the list, I think this one shocked me the most. I feel like I always hear people complaining about the rising price of chicken... But compared to everything else, boneless chicken breast actually experienced the least price increase.

Dairy - Milk (Per Gallon)

2015: $3.43
2016: $3.06
2017: $3.22
2018: $2.84
2019: $3.03

2020: $3.26
2021: $3.63
2022: $4.16
2023: $3.97
2024: $3.98

Total Change: $0.55 (+16.03%)

Like chicken, this one surprised me because I feel like I've heard lots of people complain about "how expensive milk has gotten." But apparently, the price hasn't changed all too much. In fact, milk has gotten less expensive over the past two years. Dairy drinks (not me), rejoice.

Fruit - Oranges (Per Lb)

2015: $1.38
2016: $1.27
2017: $1.46
2018: $1.54
2019: $1.41

2020: $1.30
2021: $1.35
2022: $1.60
2023: $1.59
2024: $1.63

Total Change: $0.25 (+18.12%)

While prices increased their most "substantially" (18.52%) from 2021 to 2022, I don't have much to say on this one since things have pretty much remained the same. Way to go, oranges.

Bread - White Bread (Per Lb)

2015: $1.45
2016: $1.35
2017: $1.33
2018: $1.29
2019: $1.28

2020: $1.49
2021: $1.49
2022: $1.72
2023: $1.98
2024: $1.98

Total Change: $0.53 (+36.55%)

I knew the price of bread had increased, but I actually thought it had increased more than this. While still a significant increase, I would've guessed the price had doubled. So I suppose seeing a 36% increase is a silver lining here.

Vegetable - Romaine Lettuce (Per Lb)

2015: $1.84
2016: $1.95
2017: $2.02
2018: $2.05
2019: $2.20

2020: $2.02
2021: $2.02
2022: $2.92
2023: $2.67
2024: $2.87

Total Change: $1.03 (+55.98%)

This one actually surprised me a ton. Maybe I don't buy a lot of lettuce (or maybe I don't pay that much attention to the price), but I didn't realize lettuce had increased so significantly. In fact, out of everything on this list, romaine lettuce has increased the most.

Ground Coffee (Per Lb)

2015: $4.79
2016: $4.42
2017: $4.33
2018: $4.29
2019: $4.29

2020: $4.53
2021: $4.56
2022: $6.11
2023: $6.14
2024: $6.30

Total Change: $1.51 (+31.52%)

Not surprised by this one. At all. As an avid coffee drinker, I know my weekly/monthly/yearly coffee budget has increased to keep up with the times.

Wine (Per Liter)

2015: $12.01
2016: $12.39
2017: $12.51
2018: $12.32
2019: $11.99

2020: $12.40
2021: $13.10
2022: $13.33
2023: $13.42
2024: $13.91

Total Change: $1.90 (+15.82%)

I mean, of course I had to calculate the price of wine. And I'm actually (pleasantly) surprised to see such a minimal increase. Maybe my personal taste has gotten more expensive (😂) – because I would've guessed a 100% increase on this one.

So... when the hell did groceries get so expensive?

In short: 2022.

Based on the data above, many groceries experienced increases between 2019 and 2020. But most groceries experienced their most significant price increase between 2021 and 2022. In fact, for some items on the grocery list above, prices peaked in 2022 and are actually lower today.

So I guess the next time you hear someone denounce the price of groceries (and irately ask, "When the hell did groceries get so expensive!?"), you can tell them, "2022."

The more you know, huh?