What things cost in 1988
In 1988, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.946, a dozen large eggs $0.789 and a pound of white bread $0.613 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.7 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1988 bought about as much as $2.72 did in 2025.
By category
In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $0.946, a gallon of heating oil cost $0.846 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.08. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.613, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.214, a pound of white rice cost $0.484, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.802 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.12. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $1.36, a pound of whole chicken $0.854, a pound of frozen whole turkey $0.957, a pound of sliced bacon $1.88, a pound of pork chops $2.77, a pound of hot dogs $2.02 and a pound of bologna $2.24. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $0.789, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $3.16, a pound of American cheese cost $2.78 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $2.46. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.418, a pound of lemons $0.934, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.628, a pound of tomatoes $0.834 and a pound of white potatoes $0.261. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.366, a pound of margarine $1.04 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.62. Coffee, beer and wine in 1988: a pound of ground coffee $2.77.
What changed
Compared with 1987, the biggest increases were for a pound of white rice (up 21%), a pound of bananas (up 15%) and a pound of white bread (up 12%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of sliced bacon (down 12%), a pound of white potatoes (down 5%) and a pound of frozen whole turkey (down 5%).
Since 1988, 9 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 gallon of heating oil, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of white potatoes, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of white bread, a pound of ground coffee and a pound of white sugar. The other 19 are cheaper in real terms than in 1988; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (44% lower), a pound of bananas (43% 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 1988
| Item | Price in 1988 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $0.946 | $2.57 | $3.26 (2025) | +27% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $0.846 | $2.30 | $3.62 (2025) | +57% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.08 | $0.218 | $0.185 (2025) | −15% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.613 | $1.67 | $1.87 (2025) | +12% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.214 | $0.582 | $0.56 (2025) | −4% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.484 | $1.32 | $1.05 (2025) | −20% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $0.802 | $2.18 | $1.32 (2025) | −40% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $2.12 | $5.77 | $5.05 (2025) | −12% |
| A pound of ground beef | $1.36 | $3.70 | $6.09 (2025) | +65% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.854 | $2.32 | $2.06 (2025) | −11% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $0.957 | $2.60 | $1.52 (2019) | −27% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $1.88 | $5.12 | $7.02 (2025) | +37% |
| A pound of pork chops | $2.77 | $7.54 | $4.56 (2025) | −40% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $2.02 | $5.50 | $4.01 (2021) | −13% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.24 | $6.10 | $2.70 (2019) | −44% |
| A dozen large eggs | $0.789 | $2.15 | $4.25 (2025) | +98% |
| A pound of cheddar cheese | $3.16 | $8.60 | $5.84 (2025) | −32% |
| A pound of American cheese | $2.78 | $7.57 | $4.95 (2025) | −35% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.46 | $6.69 | $6.37 (2025) | −5% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.418 | $1.14 | $0.647 (2025) | −43% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.934 | $2.54 | $2.00 (2025) | −21% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.628 | $1.71 | $1.59 (2025) | −7% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.834 | $2.27 | $1.84 (2025) | −19% |
| A pound of white potatoes | $0.261 | $0.71 | $0.963 (2025) | +36% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.366 | $0.996 | $1.02 (2025) | +2% |
| A pound of margarine | $1.04 | $2.83 | $1.64 (2019) | −27% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.62 | $7.13 | $6.71 (2025) | −6% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $2.77 | $7.54 | $8.18 (2025) | +9% |
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.