According to the USDA, the Consumer Price Index, a measure of national inflation for all goods and services, increased 0.6% from August 2026 to September 2026. The CPI was up 3.7% from September 2025.
Grocery prices in September were 2.5% higher than in September 2025, and in September 2026 prices were 0.1% higher than in August 2026.
To get a snapshot of some food prices in Erie, we compared a basket of staples found at five Erie-area supermarkets: Aldi, Giant Eagle, Tops, Walmart and Wegmans.
In October, we found was that our basket total varied widely from store to store, with one basket coming in at $25.26 and another at $36.10. The average for our basket of items came in at $29.03.
This nonscientific survey will be a monthly feature. On Nov. 4, totals changed to $26.26, the lowest, and $36.20, the highest. The average for our basket of items came in at $30.99, up $1.06.
Break it down
What follows is a breakdown of each basket item at each store we surveyed. A few caveats: If the staple item was on temporary sale, it’s marked as such. If store-brand was available for the item, we used that price. Also, keep in mind that sale prices are generally available only to loyalty card holders in the stores that offer the cards, but not every store does. Finally, the prices are collected from supermarkets’ websites, which may vary from in-store prices in some cases.
Aldi
2647 W. 12th St.
Prices, information collected for Aldi on Nov. 4.
- Ground beef, 85% lean, per pound: $5.99
- Gallon of 2% milk: Friendly Farms, $5.45
- Loaf of wheat bread: Store choice: L’oven Fresh Split Top Wheat Bread, $1.65
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast per pound: Store choice, $1.99 a pound for 4.2-pound family pack, sale price
- Frozen cut green beans: Store choice, Season’s Choice brand, out of stock; 10 ounces of organic cut green beans, $1.89, store choice
- Bananas per pound: $0.48, up $0.01
- Lemons, 2 pounds: $4.09
- Spaghetti: Store choice, $2.09 for 32 ounces
- White sugar, 4 pounds: Store choice, Baker’s Corner granulated sugar, $3.09, sale price
- Eggs, 12: Goldhen brand, large grade A, $1.85
- Total basket: $28.57, up $3.31
Giant Eagle
2501 W. 12th St.
Prices, information for Giant Eagle collected Nov. 4
- Ground beef, 85% lean, per pound: $8.99
- Gallon of 2% milk: Giant Eagle brand, $4.99, up $0.10
- Loaf of wheat bread: Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread, 20 ounces, $2.99, sale price
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast per pound: Market District Fresh Enhanced Boneless Chicken Breasts, $3.99, sale price
- Frozen cut green beans, 12 ounces: Giant Eagle brand, $1.29
- Bananas per pound: $0.49
- Lemons, 2 pounds: Wonderful Seedless brand, $5.99
- Spaghetti: Giant Eagle brand, $1.49, 16 ounces
- White sugar, 4 pounds: Giant Eagle brand, $3.99
- Eggs, 12: Crystal Spring brand, large, $1.99
- Total basket: $36.20, up $0.10
Tops
712 W. 38th St.
Prices, information collected for Tops on Nov. 4
- Ground beef 85% lean per pound: TOPS brand 85% lean ground beef, $7.99
- Gallon of 2% milk: TOPS brand 2% reduced fat milk, $4.92, up $0.15
- Loaf of wheat bread: TOPS brand, bread, large, wheat, 20 ounce, $2.19
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast per pound: TOPS brand, $2.99 per pound. up $0.50
- Frozen cut green beans, 16 ounces: TOPS brand, $1.49, down $0.10
- Bananas per pound: $0.69, up $0.10
- Lemons, 2 pounds: $3.99, down $0.50
- Spaghetti, 16 ounces: TOPS brand, $1.25
- White sugar 4 pounds: TOPS brand, $4.39, up $0.90
- Eggs, 12: TOPS brand, extra large, $1.89, down $0.20
- Total basket: $31.79, up $0.85
Walmart
5350 West Ridge Road
Prices, information collected for Walmart on Nov. 4.
- Ground beef, 80% lean per pound: All Natural, $6.93 (85% not available.)
- Gallon of 2% milk: Great Value brand, $4.92, up $0.15
- Loaf of wheat bread: Great Value Honey Wheat Bread, 20 ounces, $2.02
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast per pound: Freshness Guaranteed brand, $2.23, sale price
- Frozen cut green beans: Great Value brand,12 ounces, $0.98
- Bananas, per pound: $0.50
- Lemons, 2 pounds: $3.92
- Spaghetti, 16 ounces: Great Value brand, $1.36, up $0.12
- White sugar, 4 pounds: Great Value brand, $2.97
- Eggs 12: Great Value brand, large, $1.67
- Total basket: $26.26, up $0.76
Wegmans
5028 West Ridge Road
In-store prices, information collected for Wegmans on Nov. 4.
- Ground beef, 80% lean, per pound: Wegmans brand, $6.29 (85% lean not available.)
- Gallon of 2% milk: Wegmans brand, $4.92, up $0.15
- Loaf of wheat bread: Wegmans brand, soft honey wheat bread, 20 ounces, $2.49
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast per pound: Wegmans brand family pack, $2.29
- Frozen cut green beans: Wegmans brand, 12-ounce bag, $0.99
- Bananas, per pound: $0.49, up $0.11
- Lemons, 2 pounds: $3.99
- Spaghetti, 16 ounces: Wegmans brand, $0.99
- White sugar, 4 pounds: Wegmans brand, $3.49
- Eggs 12: Wegmans brand, grade AA large eggs, $1.69
- Total basket: $27.63, up $0.26
Note: Minimum prices for gallons of milk are set by the Pennsylvania Milk Board. Stores can charge what they want above the minimum. For November, in Erie, the minimum for a gallon of 2% milk is $4.92.
