What things cost in 1985
In 1985, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.20, a dozen large eggs $0.804 and a pound of white bread $0.553 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 3.0 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1985 bought about as much as $2.99 did in 2025.
By category
Energy in 1985: a gallon of regular gas $1.20, a gallon of heating oil $1.08 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.081. Bread, grains and baking in 1985: a pound of white bread $0.553, a pound of whole wheat bread $0.859, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.212, a pound of white rice $0.47, a pound of spaghetti $0.739 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $1.94. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $1.24, a pound of whole chicken $0.763, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.05, a pound of sliced bacon $1.94, a pound of pork chops $2.34, a pound of hot dogs $1.81 and a pound of bologna $2.11. Eggs and dairy in 1985: a dozen large eggs $0.804, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.09, a pound of American cheese $2.53 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.30. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.367, a pound of lemons cost $0.929, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.538 and a pound of tomatoes cost $0.778. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.353, a pound of margarine cost $1.02 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $2.61. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $2.58.
What changed
Compared with 1984, the biggest increases were for a pound of lemons (up 24%), a pound of frozen whole turkey (up 6%) and a pound of iceberg lettuce (up 5%), and the biggest decreases were for a dozen large eggs (down 20%), a pound of whole chicken (down 6%) and a pound of ground beef (down 4%).
Since 1985, 7 of these 28 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a dozen large eggs, a pound of ground beef, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of white bread, a gallon of heating oil, a pound of ground coffee and a pound of whole wheat bread. The other 21 are cheaper in real terms than in 1985; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (46% lower), a pound of bananas (41% lower) and a pound of spaghetti (40% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.
Every item in 1985
| Item | Price in 1985 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $1.20 | $3.59 | $3.26 (2025) | −9% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $1.08 | $3.23 | $3.62 (2025) | +12% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.081 | $0.242 | $0.185 (2025) | −24% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.553 | $1.65 | $1.87 (2025) | +13% |
| A pound of whole wheat bread | $0.859 | $2.57 | $2.70 (2025) | +5% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.212 | $0.634 | $0.56 (2025) | −12% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.47 | $1.41 | $1.05 (2025) | −25% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $0.739 | $2.21 | $1.32 (2025) | −40% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $1.94 | $5.80 | $5.05 (2025) | −13% |
| A pound of ground beef | $1.24 | $3.71 | $6.09 (2025) | +64% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.763 | $2.28 | $2.06 (2025) | −10% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $1.05 | $3.14 | $1.52 (2019) | −39% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $1.94 | $5.80 | $7.02 (2025) | +21% |
| A pound of pork chops | $2.34 | $7.00 | $4.56 (2025) | −35% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $1.81 | $5.42 | $4.01 (2021) | −12% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.11 | $6.31 | $2.70 (2019) | −46% |
| A dozen large eggs | $0.804 | $2.41 | $4.25 (2025) | +77% |
| A pound of cheddar cheese | $3.09 | $9.25 | $5.84 (2025) | −37% |
| A pound of American cheese | $2.53 | $7.57 | $4.95 (2025) | −35% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.30 | $6.88 | $6.37 (2025) | −7% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.367 | $1.10 | $0.647 (2025) | −41% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.929 | $2.78 | $2.00 (2025) | −28% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.538 | $1.61 | $1.59 (2025) | −1% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.778 | $2.33 | $1.84 (2025) | −21% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.353 | $1.06 | $1.02 (2025) | −3% |
| A pound of margarine | $1.02 | $3.05 | $1.64 (2019) | −32% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.61 | $7.81 | $6.71 (2025) | −14% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $2.58 | $7.72 | $8.18 (2025) | +6% |
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.