What things cost in 1980
In 1980, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.25, a dozen large eggs $0.844 and a pound of white bread $0.509 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 3.9 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1980 bought about as much as $3.91 did in 2025.
By category
Energy in 1980: a gallon of regular gas $1.25, a gallon of heating oil $1.01 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.06. Bread, grains and baking in 1980: a pound of white bread $0.509, a pound of whole wheat bread $0.726, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.21, a pound of white rice $0.512 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $1.58. In meat and poultry, a pound of whole chicken cost $0.709, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $0.937, a pound of sliced bacon cost $1.46, a pound of pork chops cost $1.95, a pound of hot dogs cost $1.72 and a pound of bologna cost $2.01. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $0.844 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $1.82. Fruit and vegetables in 1980: a pound of bananas $0.342, a pound of lemons $0.702, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.452 and a pound of tomatoes $0.674. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.427 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $2.04. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $3.14.
What changed
1980 is the first year in this data, so there is no earlier year to compare with.
Since 1980, 2 of these 23 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a dozen large eggs and a pound of sliced bacon. The other 21 are cheaper in real terms than in 1980; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (57% lower), a pound of bananas (52% lower) and a pound of frozen whole turkey (48% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.
Every item in 1980
| Item | Price in 1980 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $1.25 | $4.88 | $3.26 (2025) | −33% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $1.01 | $3.95 | $3.62 (2025) | −8% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.06 | $0.234 | $0.185 (2025) | −21% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.509 | $1.99 | $1.87 (2025) | −6% |
| A pound of whole wheat bread | $0.726 | $2.84 | $2.70 (2025) | −5% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.21 | $0.82 | $0.56 (2025) | −32% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.512 | $2.00 | $1.05 (2025) | −48% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $1.58 | $6.17 | $5.05 (2025) | −18% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.709 | $2.77 | $2.06 (2025) | −26% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $0.937 | $3.66 | $1.52 (2019) | −48% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $1.46 | $5.70 | $7.02 (2025) | +23% |
| A pound of pork chops | $1.95 | $7.62 | $4.56 (2025) | −40% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $1.72 | $6.72 | $4.01 (2021) | −29% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.01 | $7.85 | $2.70 (2019) | −57% |
| A dozen large eggs | $0.844 | $3.30 | $4.25 (2025) | +29% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $1.82 | $7.11 | $6.37 (2025) | −10% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.342 | $1.34 | $0.647 (2025) | −52% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.702 | $2.74 | $2.00 (2025) | −27% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.452 | $1.77 | $1.59 (2025) | −10% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.674 | $2.63 | $1.84 (2025) | −30% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.427 | $1.67 | $1.02 (2025) | −39% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.04 | $7.97 | $6.71 (2025) | −16% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $3.14 | $12.27 | $8.18 (2025) | −33% |
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (average price data), averaged over each calendar year. A year is included only when the Bureau published at least nine months of prices for it. Values in 2025 dollars use the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) annual average. See how Sticker Shock builds its data. Figures may contain errors and are not financial advice.