Cheese Prices in the United States from 2020 to 2025

Retail Prices

Retail prices for cheese in the U.S. reflect what consumers pay at stores, typically measured per pound. For processed American cheese and natural cheddar cheese, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (via Statista) shows the following trends:

2020: 

• Processed American cheese averaged around $4.23 per pound.

• Cheddar cheese (natural) was approximately $5.35 per pound.

2021: 

• Processed cheese slightly decreased to $4.18 per pound.

• Cheddar cheese dropped to $5.24 per pound.

2022: 

• Processed cheese rose to $4.66 per pound, a noticeable jump.

• Cheddar cheese increased to $5.73 per pound.

2023: 

• Processed cheese reached $4.96 per pound, up 30 cents from 2022.

• Cheddar cheese climbed to $5.55 per pound.

2024 (Partial Data): 

• Processed American cheese estimated $5.10 per pound (partial year average, based on trends and inflation).

• Cheddar cheese (natural) estimated $5.70 per pound (partial year, inferred from prior years and inflation)

2025 (Through March 5): 

No comprehensive retail data exists yet for 2025, but early-year sentiment prices remain elevated, potentially exceeding 2023 levels due to ongoing inflationary pressures. A rough estimate based on trends might place processed cheese near $5.20–$5.50 per pound and cheddar around $5.80–$6.00 per pound, though this is speculative without full-year data.

From 2020 to 2023, processed cheese retail prices increased by approximately 17% (from $4.23 to $4.96), while cheddar rose by about 3.7% (from $5.35 to $5.55). 

Wholesale Prices

Wholesale prices, often tracked via the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) for cheddar blocks and barrels, show more volatility:

2020: 

Prices spiked mid-year to a record $2.81 per pound for cheddar blocks in June (NY Times, 2020), driven by pandemic demand shifts, but averaged closer to $1.90–$2.00 per pound annually.

2021: 

Prices stabilized somewhat, averaging around $1.70–$1.80 per pound.

2022: 

Cheddar blocks averaged $1.95–$2.05 per pound, with some late-year softening to $1.39 per pound (Hart Design, 2024).

2023: 

Prices fluctuated, ending the year with bearish tones; barrels hit $1.39 and blocks $1.39 by late December (Hart Design, 2024).

2024: 

Early 2024 saw a slight recovery (blocks at $1.42–$1.45 per pound), but full-year projections suggested prices might hover around $1.77 per pound by year-end (Statista, 2024 forecast).

2025 (Projected): 

Forecasts from Statista (Web ID: 5) predict a wholesale price of $1.77 per pound by 2033, implying a stable or slightly declining trend from 2024 into 2025, barring major disruptions.

Export/Import Prices

Export and import prices per kilogram provide insight into the global competitiveness of U.S. cheese:

2020: 

Export price was $4.49 per kg ($2.04 per pound); import price matched at $4.49 per kg (Selina Wamucii, 2020).

2021: 

Export price dipped to $4.46 per kg ($2.02 per pound); import price was $4.46 per kg.

2022: 

Export price rose to $5.05 per kg ($2.29 per pound); import price hit $5.05 per kg, up 18.3% from 2021.

2023–2025: 

Limited data exists, but Selina Wamucii projected import prices to stabilize around $4.50 per kg ($2.04 per pound) for 2023–2024. As of March 2025, no significant shift is documented, though rising production costs could push this higher.

Trends and Influences

• 2020–2021: The pandemic caused wild swings—high retail demand early on, followed by oversupply and price drops at wholesale levels.

• 2022–2023: Inflation, rising milk costs, and supply chain issues drove retail prices up, while wholesale prices softened late in 2023 due to weaker export demand and inventory adjustments.

• 2024–2025: Continued inflation and potential milk supply constraints (e.g., declining cow numbers noted in Hart Design, 2024) suggest retail prices remain high. Wholesale prices may stay competitive globally, as U.S. cheese is cited as the cheapest option (Hart Design, 2024), boosting export potential.

Summary

• 2020 Baseline: Retail processed cheese at $4.23/lb, cheddar at $5.35/lb; wholesale around $1.90–$2.00/lb.

• 2023 Peak (so far): Retail processed at $4.96/lb, cheddar at $5.55/lb; wholesale around $1.39–$1.45/lb.

• 2025 Estimate (as of March 5): Retail possibly $5.20–$6.00/lb depending on type; wholesale likely near $1.70–$1.80/lb, aligning with long-term forecasts.

For precise 2024 and 2025 figures, further data post-March 5, 2025, would be needed. Cheese prices have undeniably risen since 2020, driven by economic factors, though the pace varies by metric (retail, wholesale, or trade).