October promotions reflected price shifts across categories. In produce, blueberries (+14%), cantaloupe (+15%), and mangoes (+4%) rose, while lemons (–13%) and grapefruit (–32%) declined. Watermelons (–9%) dropped seasonally, while kiwi (+12%) and grapes (–12%) shifted significantly. Vegetables showed notable moves with corn (–35%), asparagus (–26%), and radishes (–64%) dropping sharply. Broccoli (+6%) and peppers (+18%) saw strong gains.

In the meat case, seafood led increases—sea scallops (+22% MoM) and cooked shrimp (+12%). Ribeye steak continued its upward trend (+6% MoM, +34% YoY). Packaged bacon was up +3% MoM, while bone-in pork items declined slightly. Eggs dropped –16%, reversing September’s spike, and milk was down –9% MoM.

Center store prices were mixed. Cookies (–3%), toaster pastries (–6%), and grain bars (–2%) declined, while juice (–14%) corrected after a spike in September. Allergy meds rebounded +29%, cold/flu liquids rose (+16%), and razor prices jumped +46% MoM. Hair care increased sharply again (conditioner +20%, shampoo +16%).

Retailer basket indices remained wide-ranging. Food King Cost Plus, H.E.B. Plus!, and Lucky (NAI) had the lowest promoted pricing, while D'Agostino Supermarkets, Gristedes, and Market of Choice had the highest—marking over a 2.5x difference in promoted basket value

September promotions showed pricing volatility across categories. In produce, blueberries (+17%), mangoes (+17%), and corn (+127%) spiked month-over-month. Radishes nearly doubled (+99%), while eggplant (+17%), broccoli (+20%), and cauliflower (+13%) also rose. Price drops were seen in navel oranges (–23%), squash (–11%), and cucumbers (–12%).

In meat and dairy, ribeye steak (+9% MoM, +28% YoY) and sirloin (+4% MoM) continued trending upward. Bone-in pork roast jumped +15%, and hot dogs rebounded +13%. Eggs climbed +12% after a dip in August, while milk stayed relatively flat.

Center store trends were mixed. Carbonated soft drinks (12-pk) dropped sharply (–23%), while multi-serve juice jumped +28%. Grain bars (–24%) saw a steep drop, while cold tablets (+10%) and peanut butter (+9%) rose. Mustard (+17%) and pasta sauce (+19%) also surged MoM.

Retailer basket indices again showed wide range. Food King Cost Plus, Woodman’s, and Aldi offered the lowest promoted pricing, while Gristedes, D’Agostino, and Market Fresh remained highest—reflecting over a 2.5x difference in index values.

August saw varied promotional pricing trends across fresh, dairy, and center store categories. Produce price shifts were mixed: kiwi (+42%), mangoes (+22%), and navel oranges (+21%) rose, while lemons (–19%) and cherries (+14% MoM but still down YoY) moved in opposite directions. Vegetable standouts included artichokes (+14%), asparagus (+9%), and squash (+9%), while cucumbers (–12%) and onions (–7%) declined.

In the meat case, bacon saw a +9% increase month-over-month, while bone-in pork chops dropped –20%. Packaged hot dogs rebounded +4% after July’s sharp drop. Ribeye and ground beef prices remained elevated YoY (+26%). Eggs fell –8% from July but remained up YoY (+1%).

Center store pricing featured sharp shifts: frozen vegetables jumped +20%, while allergy medications surged +77% MoM. Grain bars rose +17%, and cereal was up +5%. Downward trends included yogurt-Greek (–6%), cold liquids (–14%), and bar soap (–19%).

Retailer promotional baskets again varied widely. Food King Cost Plus, La Bonita, and Food City Supermarkets offered the lowest promoted prices, while Gristedes, D’Agostino Supermarkets, and New Seasons Market were at the high end of the spectrum, reflecting a more than 2.5x spread in index values.

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Last updated: 11/17/2025