Avoid Buying These 25 Grocery Items That Are Now More Expensive

Inflation has impacted these foods the most.

By Jordan Rosenfeld Feb 2, 2022 Understanding the Economy

If inflation was once just a concept you vaguely remember reading about in economics class, chances are you’re now very familiar with it — in your wallet. As a result of the pandemic and other economic processes of the past few years, inflation is pinching everyone, in almost every spending category. Probably the most noticeable place you’re feeling it is when you go grocery shopping. You’ll especially feel that pinch on standard meats like beef, ham and pork chops, your favorite carbs such as rice and potatoes and even your soft drinks, wine and your favorite chocolate chip cookies. If you want a quick primer on which foods to avoid buying, — or to try and find coupons for — we sourced 25 items that have gone up the most since December of 2020.

GOBankingRates sourced this data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for December 2021, November 2021 and December 2020.

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25. Ham (per lb)

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Median cost, November, 2021: $3.85
Median cost, December, 2021: $3.71
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.14
Difference in % month-over-month: -3.64%
Median cost, December 2020: $3.26
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.45
Difference in % year-over-year: 13.80%

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24. Uncooked Beef Roasts (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $7.16
Median cost, December, 2021: $6.95
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.21
Difference in % month-over-month: -2.93%
Median cost, December 2020: $5.87
Difference in $ year-over-year: $1.08
Difference in % year-over-year: 18.40%

Read: 25 Cheap Frozen Foods That Are Actually Good for You

23. Uncooked Beef Steak (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $10.23
Median cost, December, 2021: $9.93
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.30
Difference in % month-over-month: -2.93%
Median cost, December 2020: $8.09
Difference in $ year-over-year: $1.84
Difference in % year-over-year: 22.74%

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22. Ground Beef (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $4.72
Median cost, December, 2021: $4.60
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.12
Difference in % month-over-month: -2.54%
Median cost, December 2020: $3.95
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.65
Difference in % year-over-year: 16.46%

21. Rice, White (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $0.84
Median cost, December, 2021: $0.82
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.02
Difference in % month-over-month: -2.38%
Median cost, December 2020: $0.79
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.03
Difference in % year-over-year: 3.80%

20. Potato Chips (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $5.25
Median cost, December, 2021: $5.15
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.10
Difference in % month-over-month: -1.90%
Median cost, December 2020: $5.08
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.07
Difference in % year-over-year: 1.38%

19. Frankfurters (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $4.85
Median cost, December, 2021: $4.79
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.06
Difference in % month-over-month: -1.24%
Median cost, December 2020: $3.79
Difference in $ year-over-year: $1.00
Difference in % year-over-year: 26.39%

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18. Pork Chops (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $4.07
Median cost, December, 2021: $4.02
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.05
Difference in % month-over-month: -1.23%
Median cost, December 2020: $3.74
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.28
Difference in % year-over-year: 7.49%

17. Wine, Red and White (per liter)

Median cost, November, 2021: $13.19
Median cost, December, 2021: $13.35
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.16
Difference in % month-over-month: -1.20%
Median cost, December 2020: $12.86
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.33
Difference in % year-over-year: 2.57%

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16. Soft Drinks (per 2 liters/67 oz)

Median cost, November, 2021: $1.72
Median cost, December, 2021: $1.70
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.02
Difference in % month-over-month: -1.16%
Median cost, December 2020: $1.61
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.09
Difference in % year-over-year: 5.59%

15. Bacon (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $7.21
Median cost, December, 2021: $7.27
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.06
Difference in % month-over-month: -0.83%
Median cost, December 2020: $5.83
Difference in $ year-over-year: $1.38
Difference in % year-over-year: 23.67%

14. Tomatoes (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $1.92
Median cost, December, 2021: $1.91
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.01
Difference in % month-over-month: -0.52%
Median cost, December 2020: $1.89
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.02
Difference in % year-over-year: 1.06%

13. Ground Chuck (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $4.81
Median cost, December, 2021: $4.79
Difference in $ month-over-month: -$0.02
Difference in % month-over-month: -0.42%
Median cost, December 2020: $4.20
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.59
Difference in % year-over-year: 14.05%

12. Potatoes, White (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $0.77
Median cost, December, 2021: $0.77
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.00
Difference in % month-over-month: 0.00 %
Median cost, December 2020: $0.75
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.02
Difference in % year-over-year: 2.67%

11. Sugar, White (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $0.69
Median cost, December, 2021: $0.69
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.00
Difference in % month-over-month: 0.00%
Median cost, December 2020: $0.67
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.02
Difference in % year-over-year: 2.99%

10. Malt Beverages ( per 16 oz)

Median cost, November, 2021: $1.57
Median cost, December, 2021: $1.57
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.00
Difference in % month-over-month: 0.00%
Median cost, December 2020: $1.51
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.06
Difference in % year-over-year: 3.97%

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9. Bananas (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $0.62
Median cost, December, 2021: $0.62
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.00
Difference in % month-over-month: 0.00%
Median cost, December 2020: $0.57
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.05
Difference in % year-over-year: 8.77%

8. Frozen Orange Juice (per 12 oz can)

Median cost, November, 2021: $2.65
Median cost, December, 2021: $2.65
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.00
Difference in % month-over-month: 0.00%
Median cost, December 2020: $2.33
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.32
Difference in % year-over-year: 13.73%

7. Oranges, Navel (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $1.44
Median cost, December, 2021: $1.45
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.01
Difference in % month-over-month: 0.69%
Median cost, December 2020: $1.33
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.12
Difference in % year-over-year: 9.02%

6. Yogurt (per 8 oz)

Median cost, November, 2021: $1.25
Median cost, December, 2021: $1.27
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.02
Difference in % month-over-month: 1.60%
Median cost, December 2020: $1.25
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.02
Difference in % year-over-year: 1.60%

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5. Milk (per gallon)

Median cost, November, 2021: $3.67
Median cost, December, 2021: $3.74
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.07
Difference in % month-over-month: 1.91%
Median cost, December 2020: $3.53
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.21
Difference in % year-over-year: 5.95%

4. Beans, Dried (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $1.47
Median cost, December, 2021: $1.50
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.03
Difference in % month-over-month: 2.04%
Median cost, December 2020: $1.40
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.10
Difference in % year-over-year: 7.14%

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3. Cookies, Chocolate Chip (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $4.00
Median cost, December, 2021: $4.09
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.09
Difference in % month-over-month: 2.25%
Median cost, December 2020: $3.79
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.30
Difference in % year-over-year: 7.92%

2. Coffee, Ground Roast (per lb)

Median cost, November, 2021: $4.81
Median cost, December, 2021: $4.97
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.16
Difference in % month-over-month: 3.33%
Median cost, December 2020: $4.52
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.45
Difference in % year-over-year: 9.96%

1. Eggs (per dozen)

Median cost, November, 2021: $1.72
Median cost, December, 2021: $1.79
Difference in $ month-over-month: $0.07
Difference in % month-over-month: 4.07%
Median cost, December 2020: $1.48
Difference in $ year-over-year: $0.31
Difference in % year-over-year: 20.95%

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Methodology: To compare the current median prices of select groceries against prices of those same goods month-over-month and year-over-year, GOBankingRates sourced data presented by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for December 2021, November 2021, and December 2020. GOBankingRates then calculated the differences between the selected datasets, both as percentages and currency. Finally, items were ranked by greatest percentage increase month-over-month. All data was collected on and up to date as of Jan. 12, 2022.

About the Author

Jordan Rosenfeld

Jordan Rosenfeld is a freelance writer and author of nine books. She holds a B.A. from Sonoma State University and an MFA from Bennington College. Her articles and essays about finances and other topics has appeared in a wide range of publications and clients, including The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Ozy, Paypal, The Washington Post and for numerous business clients. As someone who had to learn many of her lessons about money the hard way, she enjoys writing about personal finance to empower and educate people on how to make the most of what they have and live a better quality of life.