(The Center Square) – Milk prices decreased in the past month, bread was up only pennies, and eggs and beef are remaining stable among consumer grocery staples in North Carolina’s capital city.
On average in Raleigh, as analyzed by The Center Square monthly, capital city consumers are spending $3.14 for a gallon of milk, $3.38 for a loaf of fresh white bread, $4.85 for a dozen large eggs and $7.78 for a pound of beef round. On the first of June, milk was $3.25, bread $3.34 and the prices were the same for eggs and beef, according to Numbeo, a crowd-sourced database with costs of living and other factors for cities and countries globally.
For context, across the country just as in Raleigh, different areas could be experiencing fluctuations and not across the board increases or decreases.
Compared to Inauguration Day on average in Raleigh, milk (36 cents) and bread (23 cents) are less; eggs (79 cents) and beef (8 cents) remain up.
Consumer prices have been a focus of the Trump administration, and predictably, the economy and family costs are pivotal to a number of campaigns in the 2026 midterms. Notable among those is U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper’s “make stuff cost less” tour of towns and cities.
There have been tariff battles and new trade agreements, all part of the president’s desire to fulfill campaign promises on the economy. The Center Square monitors consumer staples as part of its mission in government accountability.
Here’s a look at some measures of consumer prices for Raleigh and the nation:
• Milk (regular, 1 gallon): $3.14, on a range of $1.82 to $5.49. The national average is $4.01, on a range of $2.80 to $8.44.
• Eggs (regular, large, dozen): $4.85, on a range of $1.96 to $6.50. The national average is $4.35, on a range of $1.99 to $8.71.
• Beef round (1 pound, equivalent back leg red meat): $7.78, on a range of $6 to $9. The national average is $7.73, on a range of $4.78 to $12.
• Bread (load, fresh white, 1 pound): $3.38, on a range of $1.99 to $5. The national average is $3.30, on a range of $1.81 to $6.66.
The latest rate of inflation released in June for May is 4.2%, a jump of 1.8% from February. The next release is June 14 for the June period.
