Food prices continue to rise. 8 money moves to cut costs at the grocery store

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Prices are rising faster than they have in years — and that means your trips to the grocery store are getting more expensive. Luckily, we have some tips to help offset that premium.

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.5% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted basis in May 2026, pushing the annual inflation rate to 4.2%, the first time it has been above the 4% mark in three years. This surge is mostly due to rising energy costs prompted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (energy prices rose 23.5% year-over-year).

To help you minimize rising costs as much as possible, CNBC Select has eight tips to save money on your next supermarket run.

You can actually offset your grocery bill at checkout with a grocery rewards credit card — as long as you pay the full statement balance on time, each month (otherwise you'll accumulate interest, which will cut into whatever you may save).

If you're looking for a card without an annual fee, start with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates and fees). With this card, you can earn 3% cash back in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%. Terms apply.

But, if you want the most bang for your buck, you should consider choosing a card with an annual fee. These cards tend to have better rewards, so you'll be able to save more, even though there's an upfront cost.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of CNBC Select's top picks for grocery shopping. You can get 6% cash back in the form of statement credits at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%. Terms apply.

With an average annual grocery spend of $5,703, you can earn about $342 per year in cash back. If you factor in the $95 annual fee after the $0 intro the first year (see rates and fees), that's $247 in annual value, compared to the $171 value you'd get with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Terms apply.

We also like Bilt Obsidian (see rates and fees), which has a $95 annual fee. With this card, you can earn 3X Bilt Points on groceries up to $25,000 per year (then 1X after). These points can be used for rent, student loan payments, travel and more.

Most grocery stores offer free loyalty programs. By signing up, you can benefit from member-only discounts that automatically deduct at checkout, without the need to clip coupons.

There are also premium memberships available that may help you save at certain stores if you're a frequent shopper.

For example, Walmart — one of the biggest grocery stores in the U.S. — offers Walmart+ for $98 per year (or $12.95 per month). This paid membership will earn you rewards on eligible purchases, which you can use toward a discount on your grocery bill.

You'll also get early access to deals, along with free pharmacy delivery, shipping, online pet care, flat tire repair and Paramount+ and Peacock subscriptions.

If you prefer to get your groceries delivered or shop at Whole Foods, Amazon offers Amazon Prime for $14.99 per month or $139 per year, which could help you save with exclusive deals and discounted same-day shipping on grocery purchases. You'll also get similar perks in-person and online at Whole Foods with this membership.

There's nothing like old-fashioned couponing and bargain hunting. These low-tech options are still a great way to save:

• Collect coupons: Look out for your favorite store's weekly circular in the mail, cut out any coupons that matter to you and save them for your next grocery run. If you prefer a more modern couponing experience, download your favorite grocery store's mobile app, browse available discounts and click to load coupons onto your digital loyalty card. Most of the time, the discounts will be applied automatically when you check out.
• Seek out sales: Keep an eye out for promotions that can help you save on everything from staples like milk and eggs to sweets like ice cream and cookies.

Wholesale clubs like Costco can help you rack up savings for buying in bulk. If you have a large family, joining a wholesale club can be a good idea. But remember that buying in bulk isn’t for everyone since you’ll have to spend more money upfront, even though you’re saving overall. This may not be an option depending on your cash flow.

Also, note that clubs come with membership fees. Currently, the cost of a Costco membership starts at $65 for Gold Star and doubles to $130 for Gold Star Executive. The cost can be worthwhile if you frequently stock up on items. Plus, you can optimize savings by using the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (which has no annual fee, but requires an active Costco membership). (Read our review of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card.)

If you live near several grocery stores, compare prices and consider shopping at different stores for different products. Shopping around may not always be more affordable if you have to travel farther to other grocery stores, but it's worth considering.

If you currently shop at a high-end grocery store, consider switching to a store known for lower prices, like Walmart, Aldi or Trader Joe's.

While you're shopping at a particular grocery store, you can also shop by comparing unit prices. A unit price is the cost of an item per ounce, pound, quart or other unit of measure the item goes by. This lets you compare products to make sure you're getting the best value. You can calculate the unit price by dividing the total price of the item by the quantity (how much of the item there is). So, if a bag of 10 oranges costs $4.00, the unit price is $0.40 per orange.

Supermarkets are known to place costly, name-brand items at eye level, which can tempt you to spend more. But if you look at the top or bottom of the shelves, you’ll often find the best deals.

Buying the store-brand version of a product at Walmart, Kroger or Target can save shoppers up to 75%, according to an April 2026 NetCredit study comparing 171 grocery store items.

A gallon of store-brand whole milk, for example, averaged 61% in savings at these three stores compared to the name-brand version.

A handful of rebate apps, such as Ibotta and Rakuten, give you cash back when you buy groceries.

You can register for free with one of these services to save more on top of loyalty benefits and credit card rewards. Depending on the app, you may need to link a loyalty card or submit receipts to receive a rebate.

If you go to the supermarket without a list, it's easy to grab things you don’t need. 

That's because your mind tends to switch between a deliberative state (where you're trying to make a decision) and an implementation state (where you're trying to take an action based on that decision), Annie Wilson, a senior lecturer of marketing at The Wharton School, told CNBC Select for a previous version of this article.

"So if you don't have a list, you're in that deliberative mindset and reacting to everything in the aisle you're in," she said. "That's why you end up purchasing things that are unplanned."

The next time you go to the grocery store, make sure you have a list and stick to it so you don’t overspend. You may also want to consider eating first to avoid a spur-of-the-moment item.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

We interviewed Annie Wilson, a senior lecturer of marketing at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.