Boneless Chicken Breast Prices: What Federal Data Shows and How to Save
Boneless chicken breast remains one of the most common staple proteins in household shopping carts across the United States. Keeping track of benchmark grocery costs helps families spot genuine deals and avoid overpaying at checkout. Here is what official government price figures show through September 2026 and how you can lower your grocery spending.
What is the current average price for boneless chicken breast?
According to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Price Data, the national average price for boneless chicken breast reached $4.20 per pound (raw value 4.203) in September 2026. This reflects not seasonally adjusted figures gathered from urban grocery retailers across the country.
Prices nudged higher going into the autumn. Between August 2026 and September 2026, the average retail price rose by +0.7%, climbing from $4.17 per pound to the current $4.20 level.
How do current chicken breast prices compare to prior years?
Looking at multi-year benchmarks provides helpful context for household budgets. Compared to September 2025, when the price stood at $4.17 per pound, today's average is up by +0.7%. Stepping back two years to September 2024, when the per-pound cost was $3.97, the price has risen by +5.8%.
Longer-term comparisons highlight even steeper increases. In September 2021, shoppers paid an average of $3.52 per pound, meaning September 2026 prices reflect an increase of +19.5%. Before the disruptions of recent years, in January 2020, the average was $3.06 per pound, representing a +37.4% rise to the current level.
Despite these increases, prices remain below historic peaks. Within the data window running from January 2016 through September 2026, the highest monthly average occurred in September 2022 at $4.75 per pound. The lowest monthly value recorded in this same window was $2.90 per pound back in September 2018.
| Period | Price Per Pound | Change to September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 (Latest) | $4.20 | N/A |
| September 2025 (One Year Earlier) | $4.17 | +0.7% |
| September 2024 (Two Years Earlier) | $3.97 | +5.8% |
| September 2021 (Five Years Earlier) | $3.52 | +19.5% |
| January 2020 (Pre-Pandemic Benchmark) | $3.06 | +37.4% |
| September 2022 (Window High) | $4.75 | Lower than peak |
| September 2018 (Window Low) | $2.90 | Higher than low |
What do annual averages show about longer-term poultry costs?
Reviewing full-year averages illustrates how prices have shifted over the past decade. In 2016, the annual average for boneless chicken breast was $3.25 per pound. It dipped to $3.20 in 2017, followed by $3.08 in 2018 and $3.02 in 2019.
Prices reversed direction in subsequent years. The annual average rose to $3.22 in 2020, followed by $3.45 in 2021. In 2022, annual prices jumped to an average of $4.32 per pound before easing slightly to $4.23 in 2023 and $4.05 in 2024. In 2025, the average stood at $4.16 across 11 months of published figures. For 2026, the computed average through the first nine months (January through September) stands at $4.17 per pound.
How have monthly prices moved over the past 13 months?
Data from the BLS poultry price series demonstrates relative stability across the 13 months leading to September 2026:
- August 2025: $4.21
- September 2025: $4.17
- November 2025: $4.15
- December 2025: $4.15
- January 2026: $4.17
- February 2026: $4.14
- March 2026: $4.17
- April 2026: $4.17
- May 2026: $4.17
- June 2026: $4.18
- July 2026: $4.15
- August 2026: $4.17
- September 2026: $4.20
How can shoppers pay less for boneless chicken breast?
While average retail prices hover above four dollars, shoppers can adopt simple buying habits to avoid paying top dollar:
- Check unit pricing: Stores often charge different rates for standard packages compared to bulk family packs. Comparing the cost per unit rather than the total package sticker helps you identify true value. Review our practical guide on Unit Pricing: The Grocery Math That Beats Most Coupons to calculate your actual savings.
- Monitor seasonal price drops: Retailers frequently feature poultry as a loss leader in promotional flyers. Understanding sales patterns allows you to purchase extra when cuts are marked down; read our overview on How to Track Price Drops (and Know When to Buy).
- Divide and freeze bulk purchases: Buying larger family packages when discounted and portioning them into freezer containers preserves savings without risking spoilage.
Sources
Published October 28, 2026. No affiliate links on this page. Facts come from the sources linked above; check them for updates.