The inflation-proof grocery items that won't break the bank

The food and drink that beats the price surge

Since 2020, American food prices have climbed a painful 28%. Depressingly, the cost of numerous items, from beef to coffee, continues to skyrocket. And while egg prices have cooled after their notorious hikes, they still set you back far more than they did at the start of the decade. Ditto almost everything else in your shopping cart. But some defiant exceptions remain.

A small mix of humble basics and price-locked hero products has risen only modestly, not at all, or even become more affordable.

Click or scroll on to discover the groceries that have weathered the inflation storm and stayed stubbornly cheap.

Pork chops

While the price of beef and many other meats has soared since 2020, pork chops are only 15% higher, making them one of the few bargains in the meat aisle. In fact, their price has fallen roughly 36% over the past 25 years when adjusted for inflation, according to Michigan State economist Jaime Luke.

A persistent 'loin surplus' driven by weak demand from younger shoppers keeps supply high and prices in check. Bacon, on the other hand, hogs the limelight, with strong demand and higher processing costs helping push its price up 25% since 2020, more in line with overall food inflation.

Bananas

Bananas remain among the cheapest foods, having risen by only 14% since 2020 to average a still very reasonable 67 cents per pound. Given the fruit is a go-to loss leader, some retailers push prices even lower. Aldi, for instance, is selling bananas for 49 cents per pound right now.

In March 2024, Trader Joe’s raised its long-held 19 cents per banana price to 23 cents, a hike of over 20% and the first price increase in 20 years. Walmart now wins when it comes to individual banana prices, charging just 20 cents per fruit.

Cheese

Cheese prices have increased just 7% since 2020, even as many imported favorites are soaring. The Trump administration's tariffs have pushed up the cost of staples including Parmigiano Reggiano, Edam, and Emmenthal in a major way.

Yet cheese produced at home has fallen in price in some cases, courtesy of a glut in the nation's vast domestic industry, coupled with softening demand as people turn to healthier options.

Apples

America's favorite fruit is also one of its steadiest bargains, up only 7% since 2020. The key reason is a run of bumper harvests in the nation's top growing regions, including record-setting crops in 2023, 2024, and 2025. They've led to an oversupply of the fruit, with millions reportedly left to rot in orchards.

Unlike delicate berries, apples store exceptionally well in cold storage for months, keeping supply flowing year-round. This amplifies their availability and keeps costs down further, even as flashier superfruits push prices up elsewhere in the produce aisle.

Potatoes

Potatoes are one of the quietest winners in the grocery aisle, up just 2% since 2020, with prices actually dipping in 2021, 2024, and again this year. As is the case with apples, a succession of exceptional domestic harvests has created periods of oversupply, leaving growers with more spuds than the market can easily absorb.

At the same time, demand has dropped as shoppers increasingly favor smaller, convenience-sized packs over traditional bulk bags. This combo of abundant supply and muted buying pressure has kept this everyday homegrown staple reassuringly cheap.

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Canned tomatoes

The typical price of a can of tomatoes has remained virtually unchanged since 2020, increasing by a mere 1.5%. Unlike fresh tomatoes, which face higher costs from tariffs on Mexican imports, most canned tomatoes are domestically sourced. California produces more than 90% of the nation's processing tomatoes, insulating prices from trade shocks.

Recent bountiful harvests have kept supplies plentiful, allowing grocers to hold prices at 2020 levels even as other canned goods climbed.

Costco Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken

Beyond cheap staples, a different kind of inflation fighter stands out: deliberately price-locked products designed to keep shoppers coming back. Costco's famous rotisserie chicken has stayed at $4.99 since 2009.

It joins two other iconic frozen-in-time deals; the $1.99 food court pizza slice, unchanged since 1993, and the legendary $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, which has been locked in since 1984.

AriZona Iced Tea

Now often more affordable than a bottle of water, AriZona's tall cans have stayed at 99 cents since the company's launch in 1992. Over the years, this remarkable price freeze has become the drink's major selling point.

Chairman Don Vultaggio has said the firm prioritizes affordability over price hikes, even as costs rise. Be that as it may, there has been some slight shrinkflation. In 2022, the can discreetly slimmed down from 23 ounces to 22 ounces, though the shelf price hasn't moved an inch.

Publix Thanksgiving USDA Grade A Turkey

Not every inflation fighter is year-round. Each holiday season, Publix rolls out a classic loss leader: its whole broad-breasted, USDA Grade A turkeys, which range from 10 to 24 pounds.

Their promo price was cut from 59 cents per pound in 2017 and has held at 49 cents ever since. It's a limited-time offer, but one that turns a Thanksgiving centerpiece into a powerful traffic magnet for the retailer.

Walmart Great Value Rigatoni

This one is a rare case of a grocery item that has gotten cheaper. A pack of six 16-ounce Walmart Great Value Rigatoni boxes is currently priced at a bargain $4.44, down from $5.88 in 2019.

The price drop is all the more helpful given the rising cost of pasta shipped in from Italy. While the Trump administration has backed down from tariffs as stiff as 92%, duties are nevertheless higher than they were before, putting upward pressure on prices in the grocery store.

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