What the average US bread price measures
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the average retail price of white pan bread per pound in US cities each month, collected for the Consumer Price Index. The chart shows the series since 1980 in current dollars. A typical loaf weighs 20 to 24 ounces, so the price of a loaf is somewhat higher than the per-pound figure.
How to read this chart
Bread is one of the steadiest grocery prices: the line climbs gradually with only brief pauses. Wheat makes up only a small share of the price; most of it is labor, packaging, energy for baking and transport, and retail margins. That is why bread rose sharply in 2008 and 2022, when all of those costs climbed together, and why it rarely falls afterward.
The latest reading in context
- At $1.83, the latest reading is below its 5-year average of $1.85 and above its 10-year average of $1.61.
- That is higher than 93% of all monthly readings since January 1980 – near the top of its historical range.
- Direction: up 0.4% over the past month; up 1.2% over the past six months; down 2.0% over the past year.
- The highest value on record is $2.03 (January 2024, 2 years ago); the lowest is $0.50 (January 1980, 46 years ago).
- The full history spans 6 US recessions, shaded grey on the chart.
Why it matters
As a basic staple bought by almost every household, bread is a good everyday measure of the cost of living. Its steady climb shows how general increases in wages and energy, rather than commodity prices, set the price of most processed foods.
What moves the average US bread price
- Wages at bakeries, in trucking and in stores
- Energy for baking and delivery
- Wheat and flour prices
- Packaging costs
- Retail competition and store brands
Key moments in its history
- 1980Started the series at about 50 cents a pound.
- 2008Rose sharply with record wheat and fuel prices.
- 2011–2020Edged up slowly, with no lasting declines.
- 2022Jumped about 15% in a year as wheat, energy and labor costs rose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Bread Prices data tables
Average by decade
| Decade | Average | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s (so far) | $1.75 | $2.03 | $1.35 |
| 2010s | $1.38 | $1.51 | $1.26 |
| 2000s | $1.10 | $1.42 | $0.91 |
| 1990s | $0.80 | $0.92 | $0.68 |
| 1980s | $0.56 | $0.69 | $0.50 |
Last 12 months
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | $1.83 | +0.4% |
| Aug 2026 | $1.82 | +0.2% |
| Jul 2026 | $1.82 | +0.3% |
| Jun 2026 | $1.81 | −0.9% |
| May 2026 | $1.83 | −2.1% |
| Apr 2026 | $1.87 | +3.4% |
| Mar 2026 | $1.81 | −2.3% |
| Feb 2026 | $1.85 | +0.4% |
| Jan 2026 | $1.84 | +0.5% |
| Dec 2025 | $1.83 | +2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | $1.79 | |
| Oct 2025 | n/a | not published |
Monthly values. Decade figures are averages of the monthly values in each decade. The complete history is available as a CSV file.
Use this chart on your website
Set the options, check the preview, then copy the code into any HTML page, blog post or sidebar. There is nothing to install and no account to create; the chart refreshes itself when new data is published.
Preview
Free for personal and commercial sites. The only condition: leave the two credit links in the code visible. Every setting is explained on the Embed page, where you can also pick any of our charts.
Bread Prices: questions and answers
How much of the price of bread is wheat?
Usually only about 10–15%. Labor, energy, packaging, transport and retail margins make up most of the price.
Is this the price of a loaf?
It is the price per pound. Loaves usually weigh 20 to 24 ounces, so a loaf costs roughly 25–50% more than the figure shown.
Does this include whole wheat bread?
No. It tracks white pan bread. BLS publishes a separate average for whole wheat bread.
Where does the data on this chart come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. ChartWidgets downloads the series (APU0000702111) from FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis database, and checks for new releases every day. The last update was on November 1, 2026.