On the surface, December looked like a holiday gift for Portlanders: market-wide grocery inflation was effectively zero. Our 20-item basket moved from an average of $94.07 in November to $94.28 in December — just a 21-cent increase, or 0.22%.
But that number hides the real story. For the person actually pushing the cart, "stable" is the last word they would use to describe the month.
Conventional staples like eggs and cheese saw deep holiday discounts, but those savings were wiped out by a massive 32.6% spike in the cost of organic goods we tracked. In many cases, shoppers didn't choose to spend more; they were forced to.
This is the Portland Price Tracker: Stumptown Savings' monthly deep dive into what it actually costs to feed a family in the Rose City. We track 20 staples across 21 stores to find the signal in the noise.
The December Takeaway by Grocery Group
For the first time in our tracking, the Budget Champions (Costco, WinCo, Walmart) saw the highest group-level inflation — up nearly 4%. Meanwhile, Premium Grocers like Zupan's and New Seasons actually pulled prices down to compete for holiday dinner traffic.
Store Group Price Changes (November 2025 to December 2025)
Category | Change | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
Budget Champions | +3.93% | Driven by a 17% spike at Costco and higher staples at Grocery Outlet. |
Specialty Markets | +1.86% | High costs at People's Food Co-op offset by deep cuts at Sheridan Fruit Co. |
Conventional Contenders | +0.19% | Holiday sales on milk and eggs kept this group locked in. |
Premium Grocers | –2.60% | The Winner: Aggressive corrections at Zupan's and Basics helped lower the ceiling. |
Here's how those categories break out:
Budget Champions: Costco, Grocery Outlet, Walmart, WinCo
Conventional Contenders: Albertsons, Fred Meyer, QFC, Safeway, Trader Joe's
Premium Grocers: Basics Market, Chuck's Fresh Markets, Market of Choice, New Seasons, Roth's Fresh Markets, Whole Foods, Zupan's Markets
Specialty Markets and Co-ops: Alberta Co-op, Barbur World Foods, Natural Grocers, People's Food Co-op, Sheridan Fruit Co.
Get the Full Report: Join the Savers Club
Savers Club members directly support the Stumptown Savings mission, allowing projects like the Portland Price Tracker to happen. Support this mission and get immediate access to tools like the Costco Membership Calculator, the Portland Egg Price Tracker, and monthly Portland Price Tracker installments. See how prices shifted in December, and how your favorite store’s prices compare to their competition. Upgrade to the Savers Club today for access.
Join the Savers Club For Access
Unlock the full Stumptown Savings experience by joining the Savers Club. Gain access to this article and the full archive of guides, tools, stories, and recourses exclusive to Savers Club members
Join the ClubSavers Club Members Get:
- Exclusive Savings Tools & Resources
- Seasonal & Special Shopping Guides
- Behind-the-Scenes Updates
- Invitations to Members-Only Events
- And more!
