Prices for Essential Goods Decline, According to DoorDash Analysis
A recent analysis from DoorDash, released Monday, indicates a downward trend in the prices of essential items like breakfast foods, computers, toys, and outdoor gear since 2024.
DoorDash’s Breakfast Basics Index, which tracks items such as three eggs, a glass of milk, a bagel, and an avocado, has decreased by 14% since March. Overall, it’s fallen about 1.7% over the past year, going from $5.07 in March to $4.35 by September of this year.
Interestingly, President Donald Trump claimed last week that his administration has managed to reduce egg prices by an astonishing 85% since March, attributing this drop as the primary factor affecting the Basic Breakfast Index.
Price variations exist nationwide, with Arlington, Texas, having the lowest breakfast index at around $3.21, while Honolulu, Hawaii boasts the highest at $6.66.
Furthermore, several grocery and retail prices are projected to be lower in 2025 compared to 2024. For instance, cereals and bars are expected to drop from $5.27 to $5.16, condiments from $4.75 to $4.72, and creamer from $5.41 to $5.38.
Meanwhile, the prices for computers and accessories are anticipated to decrease from $95.91 in 2024 to $93.16 in 2025. Phone accessories have similarly seen a slight decline. Prices in the Toys and Games category have also fallen, with an average drop from $17.51 to $16.72 in 2024. Additionally, outdoor gear has seen a national average decrease of about 23 cents.
The report highlighted that many essential goods have either decreased in price or stayed constant over the past year, suggesting that the Trump administration has effectively managed to contain inflation that peaked during the previous administration.
From September 2024 to September 2025, various items have seen price changes: laundry detergent fell from $10.88 to $10.66, painkillers from $8.61 to $8.51, and toothpaste, which went from $5.48 to $5.36.
On the other hand, prices for shampoo rose by an average of 29 cents, while toilet paper increased slightly from $8.23 to $8.36. Diapers remained relatively unchanged, from $12.59 to $12.61 year over year.
President Trump also managed to keep restaurant price increases in check compared to fluctuations seen under the prior administration. Restaurant prices rose by 4.8% in September 2024 compared to the previous year, but only increased by 3.2% in September 2025.
DoorDash’s findings are particularly relevant given the reporting delays from the Departments of Labor and Commerce due to a government shutdown.
This report coincides with ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to enhance affordability. For example, Walmart’s Thanksgiving set is now available for under $40, serving ten people, which translates to about $4 per person—significantly down from last year’s cost of approximately $7 per person.
Additionally, President Trump has signed agreements with major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Eli Lilly to notably reduce the prices of essential drugs. For instance, Ozempic and Wegovy used to cost around $1,000 and $1,350 per month, respectively, and information on these initiatives will be available on the TrumpRX website starting in January.
Moreover, typical new mortgage costs have decreased by about $3,000 annually, and the Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates by two percentage points, bringing them into the 3.75-4.0% range.
