Lentils Prices in the United States from 2020 to 2025

Key Points

• Research suggests lentils' retail prices in the US from 2020 to 2025 ranged from about 3.07 to 3.61 USD per kg, based on BLS data for dried beans, peas, and nuts.

• It seems likely that prices increased gradually, reflecting inflation and market trends, with 2025 estimated at 3.61 USD per kg.

• The evidence leans toward these prices including lentils, though BLS data covers a broader category, potentially affecting accuracy for lentils specifically.

Background

Lentils are a type of legume widely consumed in the US, often included in the broader category of dried beans, peas, and nuts for pricing data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides average retail price data, which serves as a proxy for lentils' retail prices due to the lack of specific data for lentils alone.

Price Estimates

Based on BLS data for "Dried beans, peas, and nuts," the average retail price per kilogram for each year is estimated as follows:

Historical Price Trends (2020–2025)

The following table summarizes the estimated retail prices per kilogram, derived from BLS data:

These prices reflect the average retail cost for dried beans, peas, and nuts, which includes lentils. The gradual increase from 3.07 USD per kg in 2020 to 3.61 USD per kg in 2025 (estimated) aligns with general inflation trends and increased demand for legumes.

Market Dynamics and Influencing Factors

• Inflation and Consumer Demand: The CPI data shows a steady increase in prices, reflecting broader inflation, with a 2.8% rise in the all-items CPI from February 2024 to February 2025, as reported by the BLS Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings. This likely contributed to the upward trend in lentil prices.

• Global Supply Chains: Lentil imports, particularly from Canada and Australia, impact prices. Increased global demand, especially from India, as noted in reports like Lentil Export Opportunities on the Rebound, could influence US import costs, though specific import price data for lentils was challenging to isolate.

• Domestic Production: US lentil production grew by 50% over the last decade, reaching 376,000 tons in 2020, according to the USDA Lentil Export Opportunities on the Rebound, potentially stabilizing prices, but retail prices are more influenced by distribution and retail markups.

Comparison with Other Sources

An unexpected detail is the discrepancy between BLS data and other sources like Selinawamucii.com, which reported a retail price range of 0.96–1.93 USD per kg for US lentils in March 2025 Lentils Price in US - March 2025 Market Prices. This range, when converted, suggests 0.44–0.87 USD per pound, significantly lower than BLS's 1.394–1.635 USD per pound for 2020–2024. This discrepancy may arise from Selinawamucii.com reporting wholesale or bulk prices, or errors in their data, as online retailers like Amazon show prices around 1.92 USD per pound (approximately 4.23 USD per kg) for a 16 oz bag of Great Value Lentils, aligning more closely with BLS data.

Conclusion

Research suggests that lentil retail prices in the US from 2020 to 2025 ranged from approximately 3.07 USD per kg in 2020 to 3.61 USD per kg in 2025 (estimated), based on BLS data for dried beans, peas, and nuts. The evidence leans toward a gradual increase, reflecting inflation and market trends, though discrepancies with other sources highlight potential variations in market segments.