Americans are finally getting a break at the breakfast table. The cost of morning staples like eggs, milk and avocados has dropped significantly, offering tangible evidence that the nation’s inflation crisis is cooling.
According to the latest Breakfast Basics Index, prices for these common morning items decreased a substantial 14% between March and September 2025, and fell 1.7% over the past year, according to White House data. It’s part of a broader trend showing price relief across everyday household essentials.
Beyond Breakfast: Widespread Price Drops
The good news extends beyond your morning meal. The Everyday Essentials Index — tracking necessities like toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper and diapers — has also declined over the past year.
Want more specifics? Prices have actually fallen for a wide range of products families rely on daily, including cheese, cereals, fresh fruits, frozen meals, condiments, batteries, computer accessories, medicines, and even toys and games, White House economists noted in their latest analysis.
These price drops coincide with wage growth that’s outpacing restaurant price increases nationally — and in half of the cities studied, according to the report. That means many Americans are seeing their paychecks stretch further than they have in years.
Local Businesses Finding Footing
Is Main Street finally bouncing back? Evidence suggests yes. Approximately 56% of consumers report seeing fewer businesses close in their communities over the past year, the White House indicates.
Perhaps more telling, overall food spending has jumped nearly 5% compared to last year — growing faster than prices themselves — which suggests “consumers are buying more from businesses in their communities,” according to economic findings.
Much of this data comes from DoorDash’s first-ever State of Local Commerce report, which analyzes economic trends across the country. The delivery giant unveiled the comprehensive analysis to provide unique insights into regional economies.
“DoorDash can offer a ground-level view into how cities and towns across the country are changing,” said Jessica Lachs, DoorDash Chief Analytics Officer. “What we’re seeing is resilience: families are finding more ways to stretch their dollar, business owners are rolling up their sleeves to keep their doors open, and people are finding new ways to make ends meet,” she explained.
Economic Impact Goes Beyond Numbers
The delivery platform’s economic footprint is substantial. DoorDash supported over $106 billion in economic activity in 2024, connecting more than 550,000 local merchants with consumers nationwide, according to company figures.
Local officials have taken notice of the changing economic landscape. Lincoln, Nebraska Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird praised the affordability reflected in the report, noting that it allows families to both enjoy life and support local businesses.
“DoorDash’s State of Local Commerce report highlights how our city’s affordability enables families to enjoy life, invest in their future, support local businesses, and contribute to the vibrant community,” Baird said. “When the good life costs less, everyone gets to enjoy a bigger piece of the pie – or in this case, the cheeseburger.”
For Americans who’ve weathered years of painful price increases, these trends represent a welcome shift. The question now is whether this cooling inflation will persist long enough to restore consumer confidence that was badly damaged during the post-pandemic economic turbulence.
