7 Foods Americans Used to Love But Can’t Afford Anymore
A trip to the grocery store can bring back memories of familiar family meals, weekend breakfasts, and snacks that once seemed like easy additions to the shopping cart. But when you compare today’s average grocery prices with those from January 2020, some everyday favorites look a little different.
That doesn’t mean Americans have stopped buying these foods or that everyone struggles to afford them. Still, the numbers show how much the price tags on familiar staples have changed.
From ground beef for taco night to coffee for the morning routine, these seven foods offer a snapshot of what shoppers might notice when planning their grocery budgets.
Ground beef
Ground beef has long been a familiar ingredient in home kitchens, whether it’s going into tacos, spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, or homemade burgers. It’s the kind of purchase that can turn into several different dinner ideas, which makes its price worth watching.
In January 2020, the U.S. average retail price for 100% beef ground beef was $3.886 per pound. By September 2026, that average had reached $6.792 per pound.
That’s a difference of nearly $3 per pound. When a recipe calls for several pounds of ground beef, the total can become more noticeable at checkout. A family planning taco night might still put it on the menu, but the price is harder to overlook than it once was.
Sirloin steak
A sirloin steak dinner can make an ordinary Friday night feel a little more special. It also works for a backyard cookout or a modest celebration at home. For shoppers who like buying steak for these occasions, the package total can influence whether it makes the final cut.
The average U.S. retail price for boneless USDA Choice sirloin steak was $8.441 per pound in January 2020. In September 2026, it stood at $14.106 per pound.
That’s an increase of more than $5 per pound between the two comparison months. The figures don’t mean every steak costs that much, and prices can differ from store to store. Still, the comparison helps explain why some shoppers might save sirloin for a planned occasion rather than add it to an ordinary weekly grocery run.
Ground coffee
For people who brew coffee at home, the morning routine often starts long before breakfast. Measuring grounds, filling the coffee maker, and pouring that first cup can become an automatic part of the day. That makes coffee an interesting item to watch when grocery prices change.
The average price for regular ground roast coffee, sold in cans or plastic containers and covering all sizes, was $4.174 per pound in January 2020. By September 2026, it had climbed to $9.332 per pound.
The later average was more than twice the earlier one. This comparison applies to ground roast coffee, not coffee pods, instant coffee, café drinks, or every type of specialty bean.
For someone who buys ground coffee regularly, that difference can make a familiar grocery purchase stand out. The morning ritual may stay the same, but shoppers might pay closer attention to the price before choosing a container.
Related: 10 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog, According to Experts
Potato chips
Potato chips are a familiar extra for sandwiches, movie nights, family gatherings, and backyard cookouts. They’re easy to picture beside a burger or in a bowl set out for guests. But optional items can be among the first things shoppers reconsider when keeping an eye on their grocery spending.
In January 2020, the average U.S. retail price for potato chips was $4.494 per 16 ounces. By September 2026, it was $6.668 per 16 ounces.
That comparison shows a longer-term increase, although it doesn’t represent the price of every bag on store shelves. The September 2026 average was also below the September 2025 figure, so the numbers don’t suggest that prices rose every month.
For shoppers putting together a movie-night spread, chips might still make the list. They may simply become a purchase worth comparing across available options.
Bacon
Bacon can turn a weekend breakfast into something that feels a little more special. It also finds its way into BLTs and onto plates alongside pancakes. For households that enjoy it regularly, the per-pound price offers a useful way to compare what it costs now with what it cost several years ago.
The average U.S. retail price for sliced bacon was $5.505 per pound in January 2020. In September 2026, it was $6.756 per pound.
The difference is smaller than the increases seen in ground coffee and sirloin steak. Bacon’s average price was also higher in October 2022, at $7.608 per pound, and in September 2025, at $7.290 per pound.
That context matters. The latest comparison doesn’t show an uninterrupted climb. Even so, shoppers who remember bacon as a routine breakfast addition may find themselves thinking twice before adding an extra package to the cart.
Ice cream
Few grocery-store freezer sections bring up everyday family memories quite like ice cream. It can be the dessert after dinner, a treat for a family gathering, or something to scoop into bowls during a quiet evening at home.
For prepackaged, bulk, regular ice cream, the average U.S. retail price was $4.824 per half-gallon in January 2020. By September 2026, it had reached $5.931 per half-gallon.
The September 2025 average was higher, at $6.396 per half-gallon, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics retail-price table. That means the latest figure was below the previous year’s average, even though it remained above the January 2020 comparison.
The measurement matters here: these figures refer to a half-gallon, not every carton size or premium pint sold today. For shoppers planning a dessert, checking the package size alongside the price can make comparisons more useful.
Related: 10 Foods You Might Be Surprised Are Banned or Restricted in the United States
White sandwich bread
White sandwich bread is one of those everyday grocery items that can disappear quickly into packed lunches, toast, and peanut-butter sandwiches. Unlike an occasional treat, it often appears on shopping lists simply because it’s part of the household routine.
The average U.S. retail price for white pan bread was $1.351 per pound in January 2020. In September 2026, it was $1.830 per pound.
That’s a smaller dollar difference than the comparisons for coffee or sirloin, but it still shows how an ordinary staple’s average price has changed. These figures are measured per pound, not per loaf, so they shouldn’t be mistaken for the price of a particular package at a local store.
Bread hasn’t become a luxury simply because its average price is higher. But when shoppers add up several everyday items, even modest differences can become part of their grocery-budget decisions.
