Bacon Prices Fall as Wholesale Pork Values Drop

Retail bacon prices reached $6.76 per pound in September 2026, marking a decline from the prior year's levels.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Organic Food

Bacon Prices Fall as Wholesale Pork Values Drop

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Do you expect your grocery spending to decrease when wholesale food costs drop?

As of September 19, 2026, the retail market for refrigerated bacon in the United States experienced a downturn in both sales value and purchase volume. Consumers saw the average retail price for sliced bacon drop to $6.76 per pound from $7.29 in September 2025.

Why it matters

Weak consumer demand for specific pork cuts like bellies and hams has pulled down wholesale market values nationwide. Meanwhile, elevated feed costs continue to pressure margins for producers, complicating the financial outlook for the industry.

Wholesale pork belly values fell 44% year over year, while ham values declined 18%. Smithfield Foods reported a 4.3% decline in retail sales and a 1.2% drop in total product volume sold.

The players

Smithfield Foods

This company is a major American food processing firm that specializes in pork products and hog production.

The details

The decline in wholesale values is tied to the pork cutout, which reflects the combined value of various cuts obtained from a hog during processing. Smithfield Foods, a major player in the Fresh Pork segment, faces significant headwinds as its hog production division anticipates an operating loss of $115 million in 2027.

September 2025: Average retail bacon price was $7.29 per pound.
Four weeks ended Sept 19, 2026: Refrigerated bacon sales value fell 9.3%.
September 2026: Average retail bacon price was $6.76 per pound.
2027: Smithfield Hog Production expects an operating loss of $115 million.

Culture Shift

The decline in pork prices aligns with broader shifts in protein consumption and the volatility tracked by the USDA's historical pork cutout value reporting. These fluctuations highlight how supply-side pressures like feed costs intersect with changing consumer shopping habits.

Shoppers can expect to see lower price tags on sliced bacon at local grocery stores compared to prices from one year ago. This trend toward lower retail pricing reflects the current weakness in wholesale pork markets across the country.

The takeaway

The recent dip in bacon prices highlights how retail costs often fluctuate in response to broader wholesale market pressures and production costs. Consumers may find that these price changes provide temporary relief at the checkout counter despite lingering volatility in hog production expenses.