What things cost in 1986
In 1986, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.927, a dozen large eggs $0.87 and a pound of white bread $0.565 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.9 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1986 bought about as much as $2.94 did in 2025.
By category
Energy: a gallon of regular gas $0.927, a gallon of heating oil $0.835 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.077. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $0.565, a pound of whole wheat bread $0.868, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.208, a pound of white rice $0.446, a pound of spaghetti $0.738 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $1.99. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $1.23, a pound of whole chicken cost $0.835, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $1.07, a pound of sliced bacon cost $2.08, a pound of pork chops cost $2.59, a pound of hot dogs cost $1.93 and a pound of bologna cost $2.17. Eggs and dairy in 1986: a dozen large eggs $0.87, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.05, a pound of American cheese $2.60 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.36. Fruit and vegetables in 1986: a pound of bananas $0.385, a pound of lemons $0.821, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.528, a pound of tomatoes $0.824 and a pound of white potatoes $0.252. Pantry and snacks in 1986: a pound of white sugar $0.351, a pound of margarine $1.02 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.68. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $3.43.
What changed
Compared with 1985, the biggest increases were for a pound of ground coffee (up 33%), a pound of pork chops (up 11%) and a pound of whole chicken (up 9%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of regular gas (down 23%), a gallon of heating oil (down 23%) and a pound of lemons (down 12%).
Since 1986, 9 of these 29 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 gallon of heating oil, a pound of white potatoes, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of white bread, a pound of whole wheat bread and a pound of iceberg lettuce. The other 20 are cheaper in real terms than in 1986; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (47% lower), a pound of bananas (43% 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 1986
| Item | Price in 1986 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $0.927 | $2.72 | $3.26 (2025) | +20% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $0.835 | $2.45 | $3.62 (2025) | +48% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.077 | $0.226 | $0.185 (2025) | −18% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.565 | $1.66 | $1.87 (2025) | +13% |
| A pound of whole wheat bread | $0.868 | $2.55 | $2.70 (2025) | +6% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.208 | $0.611 | $0.56 (2025) | −8% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.446 | $1.31 | $1.05 (2025) | −20% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $0.738 | $2.17 | $1.32 (2025) | −39% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $1.99 | $5.85 | $5.05 (2025) | −14% |
| A pound of ground beef | $1.23 | $3.61 | $6.09 (2025) | +69% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.835 | $2.45 | $2.06 (2025) | −16% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $1.07 | $3.14 | $1.52 (2019) | −39% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $2.08 | $6.11 | $7.02 (2025) | +15% |
| A pound of pork chops | $2.59 | $7.61 | $4.56 (2025) | −40% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $1.93 | $5.67 | $4.01 (2021) | −16% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.17 | $6.37 | $2.70 (2019) | −47% |
| A dozen large eggs | $0.87 | $2.56 | $4.25 (2025) | +66% |
| A pound of cheddar cheese | $3.05 | $8.96 | $5.84 (2025) | −35% |
| A pound of American cheese | $2.60 | $7.64 | $4.95 (2025) | −35% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.36 | $6.93 | $6.37 (2025) | −8% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.385 | $1.13 | $0.647 (2025) | −43% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.821 | $2.41 | $2.00 (2025) | −17% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.528 | $1.55 | $1.59 (2025) | +3% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.824 | $2.42 | $1.84 (2025) | −24% |
| A pound of white potatoes | $0.252 | $0.74 | $0.963 (2025) | +30% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.351 | $1.03 | $1.02 (2025) | −1% |
| A pound of margarine | $1.02 | $3.00 | $1.64 (2019) | −31% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.68 | $7.87 | $6.71 (2025) | −15% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $3.43 | $10.08 | $8.18 (2025) | −19% |
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.