This week’s best buys on meat and poultry
Week of October 23, 2026. Average of the prices U.S. supermarkets advertised this week, reported by USDA. Your store’s price may differ.
Pork tenderloin, pork ribs and chicken thighs are the best buys this week. Pork chops are pricey; pork tenderloin is the better buy.
Thanksgiving prices: what to buy now and what to wait for
Best buys
- $3.40/lb
Pork tenderloin
17% below usual for late October.
- $2.95/lb
Pork ribs
16% below usual for late October.
- $1.22/lb
Chicken thighs
13% below usual for late October. Featured by 4,675 stores, more than usual.
- $5.82/lb
Bacon
12% below usual for late October. Featured by 27,536 stores, more than usual.
- $2.68/lb
Chicken breasts
9% below usual for late October.
- $1.16/lb
Chicken drumsticks
7% below usual for late October. Featured by 9,141 stores, more than usual.
- $7.60each
Rotisserie chicken
7% below usual for late October.
- $4.32/lb
Italian sausage
6% below usual for late October.
Pricey right now
- Strip steak$15.51/lb, 33% above usual
- Sirloin steak$11.20/lb, 28% above usual
- Ribeye steak$17.59/lb, 27% above usual
- Stew beef$8.31/lb, 16% above usual
- London broil$7.43/lb, 15% above usual
- Chuck roast$7.22/lb, 13% above usual
- T-bone steak$11.82/lb, 13% above usual
- Pork chops$3.72/lb, 11% above usual
Try pork tenderloin instead
All prices this week
| Item | Price | For the time of year | Quality now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon | $5.82/lb | Great price12% below usual | |
| Boneless chicken thighs | $3.07/lb | Typical price | |
| Breakfast sausage | $4.50/lb | Typical price5% below usual | |
| Chicken breasts | $2.68/lb | Great price9% below usual | |
| Chicken drumsticks | $1.16/lb | Great price7% below usual | |
| Chicken thighs | $1.22/lb | Great price13% below usual | |
| Chuck roast | $7.22/lb | Pricey13% above usual | |
| Ground beef | $5.41/lb | Pricey10% above usual | |
| Ground turkey | $4.55/lb | New this year | |
| Italian sausage | $4.32/lb | Great price6% below usual | |
| Lean ground beef | $7.37/lb | Pricey10% above usual | |
| London broil | $7.43/lb | Pricey15% above usual | |
| Pork chops | $3.72/lb | Pricey11% above usual | |
| Pork loin roast | $2.64/lb | Typical price | |
| Pork ribs | $2.95/lb | Great price16% below usual | |
| Pork shoulder | $2.36/lb | Pricey6% above usual | |
| Pork tenderloin | $3.40/lb | Great price17% below usual | |
| Ribeye steak | $17.59/lb | Pricey27% above usual | |
| Rotisserie chicken | $7.60each | Great price7% below usual | |
| Sirloin steak | $11.20/lb | Pricey28% above usual | |
| Spiral ham | $2.99/lb | Great price9% below usual | |
| Stew beef | $8.31/lb | Pricey16% above usual | |
| Strip steak | $15.51/lb | Pricey33% above usual | |
| T-bone steak | $11.82/lb | Pricey13% above usual | |
| Turkey breast | $1.69/lb | New this year | |
| Whole chicken | $1.41/lb | Typical price8% below usual | |
| Whole turkey | $1.30/lb | Typical price |
How this works
Quality is what to expect this time of year: new crop and peak harvest rate excellent; storage, imports, end-of-season and growing-area changeovers rate fair or poor. Tap or hover over a rating for the reason. A low price on poor-quality produce is never listed as a best buy.
Every week USDA records the produce prices supermarkets advertise each week, from about 27,536 stores for the most common items. We compare this week’s average price with the same weeks in the last five to ten years, adjusted for inflation: the cheapest quarter of those weeks is a great price, the highest quarter is pricey. “In season” is from USDA’s seasonal produce guide. These are advertised prices; your store’s everyday shelf price may differ.
Buy for a restaurant, store or distributor? See wholesale market prices and two-week forecasts.