White Pan Bread Prices in the United States from 2020 to 2025

White Pan Bread Prices in the U.S. (2020–2025,USD per Pound)

• 2020: $1.50

Prices started the year around $1.45, rising slightly to $1.54 by December due to pandemic-driven demand spikes (e.g., home baking) and supply chain hiccups. The yearly average settled at $1.50, a modest increase from prior years.

• 2021: $1.54

The average crept up to $1.54, with prices hitting $1.57 by December. Inflation began to stir, and production costs (flour, labor, transport) edged higher, though bread remained relatively stable compared to other goods.

• 2022: $1.81

A big jump to $1.81 on average, with prices reaching $1.91 by year-end. This 17.5% increase from 2021 was fueled by soaring wheat costs (Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted supply), energy price hikes, and a 11.64% inflation rate for bread—the highest since 2008’s 14.61%. August saw a loaf at $2.50 in some reports, though the BLS average reflects broader data.

• 2023: $1.97

Prices averaged $1.97, peaking at $2.03 in December per BLS data (though Statista notes $2.02 for white pan bread). A 9.57% inflation rate persisted, driven by lingering supply chain issues and corporate profit boosts—e.g., Cargill’s profits doubled to $6.7 billion since 2020, hinting at price gouging amid inflation.

• 2024: $1.91

The average dropped slightly to $1.91, with December at $1.89. Inflation slowed (food-at-home CPI up just 1.3% annually), and wholesale flour prices eased, though bread stayed pricier than pre-2022 levels. BLS data shows white pan bread at $1.925 in January 2025, suggesting 2024’s end aligned with this cooling trend.

• 2025 (up to February 26): $1.93 (January: $1.925, February estimate: $1.93–$1.95)

January’s BLS figure was $1.925, and early 2025 shows stability with a slight uptick possible by February due to seasonal post-holiday adjustments (food-at-home CPI up 0.8% from December 2024 to January 2025). For the full year, expect an average of $1.90–$1.95, assuming a predicted 3.3% food-at-home price rise (USDA Economic Research Service) moderated by steady wheat supply and competition.

Trend Overview

From 2020 ($1.50) to February 2025 (~$1.93), white pan bread prices rose about 28.7%, with the steepest climb between 2021–2023 (up 28% from $1.54 to $1.97). The 2022–2023 surge tied to global events and inflation has since tapered, with 2024–2025 showing a leveling off near $1.90–$1.95. 

Major Influencing Factors:

• Commodity Prices (Wheat):

Wheat is the primary ingredient in white bread. Fluctuations in global wheat prices, driven by factors like weather, supply and demand, and geopolitical events, directly impact production costs.   

• Energy Costs:

Baking bread is energy-intensive. Rising energy costs for heating ovens and transporting goods increase the overall cost of production.   

Fuel prices also effect the cost of transportation of the raw materials to the bakeries, and the finished product to the stores.   

• Labor Costs:

Wages for bakery workers, truck drivers, and retail staff contribute to the final price. Increases in minimum wage or general labor costs affect the price of bread.

• Transportation and Logistics:

The cost of transporting wheat, flour, and finished bread products is a significant factor. Fuel prices, transportation regulations, and supply chain disruptions can all influence bread prices.   

• Inflation:

General inflation in the economy erodes purchasing power and increases the cost of all goods, including bread.   

• Retailer Markup:

Grocery stores and other retailers add their own markup to the wholesale price of bread. This markup can vary depending on the retailer, location, and market competition.

• Consumer Demand:

While bread is a staple, shifts in consumer preferences towards other bread types, or other food products in general, can influence the demand for white pan bread, which in turn can effect pricing.

How These Factors Interact:

For example, a drought in a major wheat-producing region can drive up wheat prices, which in turn leads to higher flour prices. Combined with rising energy and labor costs, this results in a significant increase in the price of white pan bread.   

Conversely, if there is a glut of wheat on the world market, then the cost of wheat goes down, and that can have a downward pressure on the price of bread.

Therefore, the price of white pan bread is a reflection of various economic forces at play.