March promotional pricing showed renewed volatility across produce, particularly in fruit. Blueberries surged sharply (+30% MoM, +24% YoY), while citrus prices also climbed—limes (+43%) and lemons (+28%). Watermelons (+11%) and plums (+10%) increased, while strawberries (–7%), apples (–2%), and bananas (–3%) declined. In vegetables, corn spiked significantly (+139% MoM, +183% YoY), while tomatoes (+21%) and peppers (+17%) also rose. Offsetting declines included broccoli (–31%), asparagus (–6%), and cauliflower (–6%).

In meat and dairy, pricing was mixed. Pork roast rose (+13% MoM), and T-bone (+12%) and sirloin (+2%) steaks increased, while ground beef declined (–3% to –6%). Seafood showed mixed trends with raw shrimp (+3%) and salmon (+1%) slightly up, while scallops dropped (–14%). Eggs rebounded (+5% MoM), and milk increased (+13%), while cheese (–8%) and Greek yogurt (–16%) declined. Traditional yogurt spiked sharply (+66% MoM, +60% YoY).

Center store categories reflected broad price adjustments. Grain bars fell sharply (–31%), along with fruit snacks (–10%) and chips (–12%). In contrast, pasta sauce (+8%), peanut butter (+38%), and ketchup (+9%) increased. Beverage pricing was mixed, with multi-serve juice rising (+17%) while soft drinks declined slightly. OTC categories showed increases in allergy meds (+23%) and internal analgesics (+11%), while sleep aids (–9%) declined. Personal care saw continued inflation in hair care (+9–10%) and toothpaste (+57%), while paper goods rose sharply, including paper towels (+13%) and trash bags (+64%).

Retailer promotional pricing remained highly dispersed. Food King Cost Plus, H.E.B. Plus!, and La Bonita Supermarkets offered the lowest promoted baskets, while D’Agostino Supermarkets, Gristedes, and Market of Choice ranked among the highest—reflecting more than a 3x difference in promotional value

February promotional pricing showed broad declines in produce following January spikes. Citrus and tropical fruits dropped sharply—limes (–35%), lemons (–24%), kiwi (–24%), and grapefruit (–8%)—while berries also softened, including strawberries (–7%) and raspberries (–1%). Vegetables showed mixed movement: broccoli surged (+26%), eggplant (+29%), and cauliflower (+2%), while celery (–27%), corn (–25%), and avocados (–15%) declined.

In meat and dairy, most proteins eased month-over-month. Ground beef declined (–4% to –2% MoM but still +20%+ YoY), while pork cuts also fell (–7% to –11%). Seafood was mixed, with cooked shrimp (+6%) and scallops (+5%) rising, while salmon (–2%) and raw shrimp (–3%) declined. Eggs remained low (flat MoM, –26% YoY), and milk dropped significantly (–14% MoM).

Center store pricing reflected resets across categories. Peanut butter saw a steep drop (–47%), while cereal (+10%) and soup (+9%) increased. Beverage prices rose modestly (soft drinks +3%, 2L soda +14%, juice +8%). OTC categories were volatile, with internal analgesics (+38%) and antacids (+11%) increasing, while allergy meds (–20%) and cold liquids (–8%) declined. Personal care showed mixed shifts, including toothpaste (–65%) and razors (–32%) declining, while hair care continued rising (+16–17%).

Retailer pricing remained widely dispersed. Food King Cost Plus, El Super, and Food City Supermarkets offered the lowest promoted pricing, while D’Agostino Supermarkets, Gristedes, and Haggen ranked among the highest, maintaining a more than 3x difference in promotional basket value

January promotional pricing reflected strong post-holiday adjustments across departments. In produce, citrus and tropical fruit rose sharply—limes (+73%), grapefruit (+34%), lemons (+31%), and pineapple (+17%) increased month-over-month, while strawberries (–18%), nectarines (–37%), peaches (–26%), and cherries (–16%) declined seasonally. Vegetables saw notable gains in broccoli (+23%), celery (+27%), corn (+67%), radishes (+57%), and peppers (+11%), while cucumbers (–8%) and lettuce (–6%) softened.

In meat and dairy, ground beef remained elevated year-over-year (+28%), though lean beef dipped slightly MoM. Pork items eased modestly, while salmon (–17% MoM) and scallops (–15%) declined after holiday peaks. Raw shrimp (+17%) rose, and bacon increased +4%. Eggs fell sharply (–18% MoM, –28% YoY), while cheese shreds (+9%) and yogurt-traditional (+42% MoM, +47% YoY) climbed significantly.

Center store categories showed broad reset pricing. Grain bars (+27%), peanut butter (+43%), toothpaste (+52%), and disposable razors (+16%) rose notably. Salad dressing (+11%) and carbonated soft drinks (12-pk +5%) increased, while cereal (–20%), soup (–13%), ketchup (–25%), frozen vegetables (–25%), and internal analgesics (–29%) declined. Oral care saw sharp movement with toothbrushes (+19%) and mouthwash (+35%).

Retailer basket values again showed wide dispersion. Food King Cost Plus, Lidl, and Migalitos Supermercado offered the lowest promoted pricing. At the high end, D’Agostino Supermarkets, Gristedes, and Food City (K-VA-T) indexed the highest, reflecting more than a 3x difference between lowest and highest promotional basket values

​

Last updated: 5/1/2026