What things cost in 1983
In 1983, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.24, a dozen large eggs $0.894 and a pound of white bread $0.542 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 3.2 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1983 bought about as much as $3.23 did in 2025.
By category
In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.24, a gallon of heating oil cost $1.10 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.078. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.542, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $0.843, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.218, a pound of white rice cost $0.473 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $1.82. In meat and poultry, a pound of whole chicken cost $0.725, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $0.922, a pound of sliced bacon cost $1.94, a pound of pork chops cost $2.37, a pound of hot dogs cost $1.81 and a pound of bologna cost $2.18. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $0.894 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.16. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.386, a pound of lemons $0.748, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.554 and a pound of tomatoes $0.784. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.362 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.50. Coffee, beer and wine in 1983: a pound of ground coffee $2.47.
What changed
Compared with 1982, the biggest increases were for a pound of bananas (up 9%), a pound of tomatoes (up 6%) and a pound of white sugar (up 5%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of heating oil (down 9%), a pound of white rice (down 6%) and a pound of sliced bacon (down 5%).
Since 1983, 5 of these 23 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a dozen large eggs, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of white bread, a pound of ground coffee and a gallon of heating oil. The other 18 are cheaper in real terms than in 1983; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (52% lower), a pound of bananas (48% lower) and a pound of pork chops (40% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.
Every item in 1983
| Item | Price in 1983 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $1.24 | $4.01 | $3.26 (2025) | −19% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $1.10 | $3.56 | $3.62 (2025) | +2% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.078 | $0.252 | $0.185 (2025) | −27% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.542 | $1.75 | $1.87 (2025) | +7% |
| A pound of whole wheat bread | $0.843 | $2.72 | $2.70 (2025) | −1% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.218 | $0.705 | $0.56 (2025) | −21% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.473 | $1.53 | $1.05 (2025) | −31% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $1.82 | $5.88 | $5.05 (2025) | −14% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.725 | $2.34 | $2.06 (2025) | −12% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $0.922 | $2.98 | $1.52 (2019) | −36% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $1.94 | $6.27 | $7.02 (2025) | +12% |
| A pound of pork chops | $2.37 | $7.66 | $4.56 (2025) | −40% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $1.81 | $5.85 | $4.01 (2021) | −19% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.18 | $7.05 | $2.70 (2019) | −52% |
| A dozen large eggs | $0.894 | $2.89 | $4.25 (2025) | +47% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.16 | $6.98 | $6.37 (2025) | −9% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.386 | $1.25 | $0.647 (2025) | −48% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.748 | $2.42 | $2.00 (2025) | −17% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.554 | $1.79 | $1.59 (2025) | −11% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.784 | $2.53 | $1.84 (2025) | −27% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.362 | $1.17 | $1.02 (2025) | −13% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.50 | $8.08 | $6.71 (2025) | −17% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $2.47 | $7.98 | $8.18 (2025) | +2% |
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.