How Portland Grocery Prices Changed In January 2026: The ‘Split Market’ Correction

We're excited to launch our first membership drive of the year today. Our aim? To welcome 50 new members to the Savers Club so we can continue bringing you those awesome weekly deal roundups, grocery store taste tests, and all the tips you need to shop smarter. Plus, as a special thank you, Savers Club members get access to extra goodies, like our monthly deep dives into the real reasons behind the rising grocery costs in our community, the Portland Price Tracker. Here’s a taste of what that looks like.

After a season of rising costs, the total average basket price for essential goods tracked by the Portland Price Tracker project fell by 2.68% in January 2026.

Each month we track the prices of 20 essential grocery items across 21 stores throughout the Portland metro area. To ensure a level playing field, we collected all data within a 48-hour window. In January, the combined average price for this 20-item basket was $91.76 — a decrease of $2.52 from December’s average of $94.28.

However, a deeper look into the data reveals a split market. While the city-wide average is down, the actual relief felt at the register depends entirely on where you shop. For those on the tightest budgets, the new year actually brought a price hike.

The most striking trend in January was the inverse relationship between store tiers. Shoppers who prioritize organic and locally produced goods at specialty markets and co-ops saw the sharpest price decreases. Meanwhile, "Budget Champions" like WinCo and Walmart — stores that typically offer the lowest entry price — saw the highest percentage increases.

Budget stores operate on razor-thin margins. They are often the first to feel the impact of supply chain adjustments, resulting in the 3.68% group hike last month. Conversely, Specialty Markets and Co-ops, which carry the highest baseline prices, experienced a significant correction, dropping their average basket by over $5 as holiday premiums faded.

The "average" price drop hides a deep divide. While the average total basket price trended downward, the market was split, with 11 stores seeing increases and 10 seeing decreases. As usual, a few outliers drove the bulk of the price movement.