What things cost in 1987
In 1987, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.948, a dozen large eggs $0.783 and a pound of white bread $0.547 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.8 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1987 bought about as much as $2.83 did in 2025.
By category
Energy: a gallon of regular gas $0.948, a gallon of heating oil $0.851 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.079. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $0.547, a pound of whole wheat bread $0.88, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.205, a pound of white rice $0.401, a pound of spaghetti $0.732 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.00. Meat and poultry in 1987: a pound of ground beef $1.31, a pound of whole chicken $0.785, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.01, a pound of sliced bacon $2.14, a pound of pork chops $2.82, a pound of hot dogs $1.99 and a pound of bologna $2.19. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $0.783, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.06, a pound of American cheese $2.69 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.46. Fruit and vegetables in 1987: a pound of bananas $0.365, a pound of lemons $0.897, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.618, a pound of tomatoes $0.823 and a pound of white potatoes $0.276. Pantry and snacks in 1987: a pound of white sugar $0.353, a pound of margarine $0.973 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.75. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $2.79.
What changed
Compared with 1986, the biggest increases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (up 17%), a pound of white potatoes (up 10%) and a pound of lemons (up 9%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of ground coffee (down 19%), a pound of white rice (down 10%) and a dozen large eggs (down 10%).
Since 1987, 10 of these 29 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 gallon of heating oil, a pound of white potatoes, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of white bread, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of ground coffee and a pound of white sugar. The other 19 are cheaper in real terms than in 1987; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (45% lower), a pound of pork chops (43% lower) and a pound of bananas (37% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.
Every item in 1987
| Item | Price in 1987 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $0.948 | $2.69 | $3.26 (2025) | +21% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $0.851 | $2.41 | $3.62 (2025) | +50% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.079 | $0.224 | $0.185 (2025) | −17% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.547 | $1.55 | $1.87 (2025) | +21% |
| A pound of whole wheat bread | $0.88 | $2.49 | $2.70 (2025) | +8% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.205 | $0.581 | $0.56 (2025) | −4% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.401 | $1.14 | $1.05 (2025) | −8% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $0.732 | $2.07 | $1.32 (2025) | −36% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $2.00 | $5.67 | $5.05 (2025) | −11% |
| A pound of ground beef | $1.31 | $3.71 | $6.09 (2025) | +64% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.785 | $2.22 | $2.06 (2025) | −7% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $1.01 | $2.86 | $1.52 (2019) | −33% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $2.14 | $6.06 | $7.02 (2025) | +16% |
| A pound of pork chops | $2.82 | $7.99 | $4.56 (2025) | −43% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $1.99 | $5.64 | $4.01 (2021) | −16% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.19 | $6.21 | $2.70 (2019) | −45% |
| A dozen large eggs | $0.783 | $2.22 | $4.25 (2025) | +92% |
| A pound of cheddar cheese | $3.06 | $8.67 | $5.84 (2025) | −33% |
| A pound of American cheese | $2.69 | $7.62 | $4.95 (2025) | −35% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.46 | $6.97 | $6.37 (2025) | −9% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.365 | $1.03 | $0.647 (2025) | −37% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.897 | $2.54 | $2.00 (2025) | −21% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.618 | $1.75 | $1.59 (2025) | −9% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.823 | $2.33 | $1.84 (2025) | −21% |
| A pound of white potatoes | $0.276 | $0.782 | $0.963 (2025) | +23% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.353 | $1.00 | $1.02 (2025) | +2% |
| A pound of margarine | $0.973 | $2.76 | $1.64 (2019) | −25% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.75 | $7.79 | $6.71 (2025) | −14% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $2.79 | $7.91 | $8.18 (2025) | +3% |
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.