What things cost in 1984
In 1984, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.21, a dozen large eggs $1.00 and a pound of white bread $0.541 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 3.1 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1984 bought about as much as $3.10 did in 2025.
By category
In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.21, a gallon of heating oil cost $1.12 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.082. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.541, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $0.876, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.213, a pound of white rice cost $0.478, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.734 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $1.87. Meat and poultry in 1984: a pound of ground beef $1.29, a pound of whole chicken $0.81, a pound of frozen whole turkey $0.989, a pound of sliced bacon $1.86, a pound of pork chops $2.38, a pound of hot dogs $1.80 and a pound of bologna $2.13. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $1.00, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $3.07, a pound of American cheese cost $2.51 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $2.22. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.359, a pound of lemons cost $0.752, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.513 and a pound of tomatoes cost $0.807. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.363, a pound of margarine $1.01 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.57. Coffee, beer and wine in 1984: a pound of ground coffee $2.58.
What changed
Compared with 1983, the biggest increases were for a dozen large eggs (up 12%), a pound of whole chicken (up 12%) and a pound of frozen whole turkey (up 7%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 7%), a pound of bananas (down 7%) and a pound of sliced bacon (down 4%).
Since 1984, 7 of these 28 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a pound of ground beef, a dozen large eggs, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of white bread, a gallon of heating oil, a pound of ground coffee and a pound of iceberg lettuce. The other 21 are cheaper in real terms than in 1984; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (48% lower), a pound of spaghetti (42% lower) and a pound of bananas (42% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.
Every item in 1984
| Item | Price in 1984 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $1.21 | $3.75 | $3.26 (2025) | −13% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $1.12 | $3.47 | $3.62 (2025) | +4% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.082 | $0.254 | $0.185 (2025) | −27% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.541 | $1.68 | $1.87 (2025) | +12% |
| A pound of whole wheat bread | $0.876 | $2.71 | $2.70 (2025) | −1% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.213 | $0.66 | $0.56 (2025) | −15% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.478 | $1.48 | $1.05 (2025) | −29% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $0.734 | $2.27 | $1.32 (2025) | −42% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $1.87 | $5.79 | $5.05 (2025) | −13% |
| A pound of ground beef | $1.29 | $4.00 | $6.09 (2025) | +52% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.81 | $2.51 | $2.06 (2025) | −18% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $0.989 | $3.06 | $1.52 (2019) | −38% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $1.86 | $5.76 | $7.02 (2025) | +22% |
| A pound of pork chops | $2.38 | $7.37 | $4.56 (2025) | −38% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $1.80 | $5.58 | $4.01 (2021) | −15% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.13 | $6.60 | $2.70 (2019) | −48% |
| A dozen large eggs | $1.00 | $3.10 | $4.25 (2025) | +37% |
| A pound of cheddar cheese | $3.07 | $9.51 | $5.84 (2025) | −39% |
| A pound of American cheese | $2.51 | $7.78 | $4.95 (2025) | −36% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.22 | $6.88 | $6.37 (2025) | −7% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.359 | $1.11 | $0.647 (2025) | −42% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.752 | $2.33 | $2.00 (2025) | −14% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.513 | $1.59 | $1.59 (2025) | 0% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.807 | $2.50 | $1.84 (2025) | −26% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.363 | $1.12 | $1.02 (2025) | −9% |
| A pound of margarine | $1.01 | $3.13 | $1.64 (2019) | −34% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.57 | $7.96 | $6.71 (2025) | −16% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $2.58 | $7.99 | $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.