U.S. grocery prices rose 1.8% from a year earlier in September, slowing from August’s 2.2% pace, though uncooked ground beef and coffee still registered annual price increases.
The food-at-home index declined 0.1% from August. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the index was unchanged month to month in August and 2.2% higher than a year earlier, as covered in our report on August grocery prices. September’s monthly decline and annual increase measure different periods: grocery prices edged down from August but remained above their September 2025 level.
For comparison, the all-food index rose 2.5% year over year, and overall consumer prices increased 3.7%.
Compared with September 2025, the uncooked ground beef index was up 5.4%. The September average for a pound of 100% ground beef was $6.79. As of July 1, the U.S. beef-cow herd numbered 28.5 million, 1% below its level a year earlier. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cut its beef production projections for 2026 and 2027 because it expected fewer cattle to go to slaughter, as detailed in our coverage of beef supplies and imports.
Coffee’s index increased 7.1% from a year earlier. For ground roast coffee, the September average was $9.33 a pound; it was $6.47 in September 2024. That retail-price comparison covers two years; the index figure measures one year.
Eggs and butter posted declines. The egg index fell 20.6% from September 2025, with a dozen large Grade A eggs averaging $2.27. After earlier bird flu losses, recovering laying flocks helped lift U.S. table egg output to 676.8 million dozen in August, 6% above a year earlier. The butter index dropped 10.3% year over year; butter averaged $3.96 a pound in September.
The next U.S. consumer-price reading is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET on Nov. 10.
