Restaurant ingredient cost index

Where 81 common restaurant ingredients are priced wholesale — a typical range and a trend, drawn from public USDA, BLS and FRED data — so you can tell a real market move from a vendor markup. Pick an ingredient for its reading, or open the live tool to see them all at once.

Open the live tool How this index works What is a cost index?

Where the basket sits

−0.5% the weighted basket of 16 restaurant staples, against its baseline window
medium confidence as of 2026-06-01

5 of 16 reading above their baseline · 8 below · 3 flat. A state-of-play reading, not a week-over-week move. The staples are nearly evenly split (agreement 51%), so read it as a soft signal, not a precise figure.

How this figure is built
Weighted composite of 16 tracked staples, each read against its own baseline window from public U.S. market data (USDA, BLS, FRED, EIA, NOAA). A reading against baseline — not a price, and not a change since last week. See all 16 weights and how the composite is assembled in The Muntin Restaurant Basket, or how the index is built.
80%
nominal band
77%
realized coverage
79,086
scored reads

Graded in public, misses included.

The 80%-target band caught the next print about 77% of the time across 79,086 scored reads — its raw, un-tuned rate; anything without a price print reports absent, never guessed. See the full track record →

Public data, refreshed as the sources publish. Last reviewed 2026-07-17. Take the data with you — the whole index: CSV · JSON · public domain (CC0)

What it is

Typical wholesale ranges for common restaurant ingredients, drawn from public USDA, BLS and FRED reports.

Who it’s for

Tell a real market move from your vendor’s markup — before you re-price a dish.

How it’s different

Every number traces to a dated public report you can open. Not a paywalled, assessed quote — a number you can check.

What's moving now

0 of 30 tracked moves cleared our noise + multiple-comparison bar this week; the rest read as context, not a call.

Elevated = up and holding (context, not a call) · Watch = a real move, not yet confirmed · Hold = within its normal range

  • WatchGround beef

    — Too new to call — too little history so far. Treat the price as real until a pattern shows.

    → Watch. full read →

All readings

All 81 readings that clear the publish bar — movers first. No prices here; open an ingredient for its dollar range.

IngredientDirectionSignalMovementAs of
AsparagusupWatch2026-07-16
AvocadodownWatch2026-07-16
BroccoliupWatch2026-07-16
Butter (AA, bulk)downWatch2026-07-04
CabbageupWatch2026-07-16
CelerydownWatch2026-07-16
Cherry tomatoesupWatch2026-07-16
Chicken breast (boneless)downWatch2026-07-06
CilantroupWatch2026-07-16
Collard greensdownWatch2026-07-16
Corn on the cobupWatch2026-07-16
EggplantdownWatch2026-07-16
EggsupWatch2026-07-13
Green beansupWatch2026-07-16
Green leaf lettucedownWatch2026-07-16
Ground beefdownWatch—2026-06-10
Habanero pepperupWatch2026-07-16
Iceberg lettucedownWatch2026-07-16
LimedownWatch2026-07-16
ParsleyupWatch2026-07-16
PineappleupWatch2026-07-16
Poblano pepperdownWatch2026-07-16
RaspberriesupWatch2026-07-16
Red leaf lettucedownWatch2026-07-16
Red onionupWatch2026-07-16
Red potatoupWatch2026-07-16
Romaine lettucedownWatch2026-07-16
Russet potatoesupWatch2026-07-16
Snow peasupWatch2026-07-16
Whole chickenupWatch2026-07-06
ZucchiniupWatch2026-07-16
Acorn squashupHold2026-07-16
ApplesupHold2026-07-16
ArtichokeupHold2026-07-16
Bananasabout flatHold2026-07-16
Basilabout flatHold2026-07-16
Beef tenderloindownHold2026-07-16
BeetdownHold2026-07-16
Bell pepperdownHold2026-07-16
BlueberriesupHold2026-07-16
Bok choydownHold2026-07-16
Brussels sproutsdownHold2026-07-16
Butter lettucedownHold2026-07-16
Butternut squashupHold2026-07-16
Button mushroomupHold2026-07-16
CantaloupeupHold2026-07-16
Carrotabout flatHold2026-07-16
Cauliflowerabout flatHold2026-07-16
Cheddar cheesedownHold2026-07-11
Chicken thighupHold2026-07-06
CucumberupHold2026-07-16
Daikon radishdownHold2026-07-16
DilldownHold2026-07-14
GarlicdownHold2026-07-16
Ginger rootdownHold2026-07-16
GrapefruitupHold2026-07-16
Green onionupHold2026-07-16
JalapeñoupHold2026-07-16
Kaleabout flatHold2026-07-16
Leekabout flatHold2026-07-16
LemondownHold2026-07-16
Mintabout flatHold2026-07-16
Napa cabbagedownHold2026-07-16
OkraupHold2026-07-16
OnionsupHold2026-07-16
Oreganoabout flatHold2026-07-16
PearsdownHold2026-07-16
Pork loindownHold2026-07-16
Pork shoulderdownHold2026-07-16
RibeyedownHold2026-07-16
Rosemaryabout flatHold2026-07-16
Rutabagaabout flatHold2026-07-16
Serrano pepperdownHold2026-07-16
Short ribdownHold2026-07-16
SpinachdownHold2026-07-16
Sweet potatodownHold2026-07-16
Tarragonabout flatHold2026-07-16
Thymeabout flatHold2026-07-16
Tomatoes (round)downHold2026-07-16
Whole turkeyupHold2026-07-06
Yellow squashdownHold2026-07-16

Beef

Ribeyeper lb, wholesale reference
Hold
Beef tenderloinper lb, wholesale reference
Hold
Ground beefper lb, wholesale reference
Watch
Short ribper lb, wholesale reference
Hold

Poultry

Chicken breast (boneless)per lb, wholesale reference
Watch
Whole chickenper lb, wholesale reference
Watch
Chicken thighper lb, wholesale reference
Hold
Whole turkeyper lb, wholesale reference
Hold

Pork

Pork loinper lb, wholesale reference
Hold
Pork shoulderper lb, wholesale reference
Hold

Produce

Romaine lettuceper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Tomatoes (round)per carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Onionsper sack, wholesale reference
Hold
Russet potatoesper sack, wholesale reference
Watch
Bell pepperper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Garlicper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Avocadoper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Lemonper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Button mushroomper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Cucumberper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Broccoliper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Cauliflowerper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Spinachper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Asparagusper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Carrotper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Corn on the cobper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Kaleper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Basilper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Cilantroper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Sweet potatoper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Limeper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Pineappleper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Celeryper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Cabbageper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Eggplantper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Zucchiniper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Beetper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Leekper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Ginger rootper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Yellow squashper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Jalapeñoper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Green onionper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Green beansper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Parsleyper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Brussels sproutsper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Butternut squashper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Iceberg lettuceper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Bok choyper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Artichokeper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Okraper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Snow peasper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Butter lettuceper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Green leaf lettuceper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Red leaf lettuceper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Collard greensper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Napa cabbageper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Rutabagaper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Daikon radishper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Cherry tomatoesper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Acorn squashper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Serrano pepperper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Poblano pepperper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Habanero pepperper carton, wholesale reference
Watch
Mintper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Rosemaryper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Thymeper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Oreganoper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Tarragonper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Dillper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Red onionper sack, wholesale reference
Watch
Red potatoper sack, wholesale reference
Watch
Grapefruitper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Applesper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Pearsper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Bananasper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Cantaloupeper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Blueberriesper carton, wholesale reference
Hold
Raspberriesper carton, wholesale reference
Watch

Dairy & eggs

Butter (AA, bulk)per lb, wholesale reference
Watch
Cheddar cheeseper lb, wholesale reference
Hold
Eggsper dozen, wholesale reference
Watch

Expanding coverage

We track these, but don't publish a price yet — the index shows a number only when free public data supports an honest one.

Salmon filletcoverage in progress
Shrimpcoverage in progress
Vegetable oilcoverage in progress
Whole salmoncoverage in progress
Tuna loincoverage in progress
Whole lobstercoverage in progress
Watermeloncoverage in progress
Halibut (whole)coverage in progress
Trout (whole)coverage in progress
Scallopscoverage in progress
Crab (whole)coverage in progress
Octopuscoverage in progress
Salmon (skin-on fillet)coverage in progress

Upstream, prices move with a handful of commodities tracked under “why it's moving”: corn and soybeans (feed), diesel, and electricity. For what's moving right now, open the live tool.

Sourced: public market data (USDA AMS/LMR, BLS, FRED, EIA, NOAA), via the live tool.