Chicago Grocery Costs Rose Over the Year, With Sharp Differences by Store

Overview

• Overall grocery costs in Chicago climbed by double digits over the past year based on monthly tracking of 35 common items at four major chains.
• Prices moved unevenly by retailer, with many items rising at Jewel-Osco, more declines recorded at Walmart, and mostly flat or higher prices at Mariano’s and Target.
• Folgers ground coffee jumped about 38.5% at Jewel-Osco and Mariano’s since January 2025, underscoring stubborn increases on key staples.
• Egg prices that spiked during last year’s avian flu surge — including a $9.49 dozen of Eggland’s Best at Mariano’s in March 2025 — have since come down from those peaks.
• Tide liquid detergent was reduced from 84 to 80 ounces as prices rose, and Procter & Gamble said a more concentrated formula preserves advertised loads; experts also point to climate impacts, tariffs and labor constraints as ongoing price pressures.