What things cost in 1989
In 1989, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.02, a dozen large eggs $0.998 and a pound of white bread $0.666 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.6 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1989 bought about as much as $2.60 did in 2025.
By category
In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.02, a gallon of heating oil cost $0.888 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.082. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.666, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.245, a pound of white rice cost $0.498, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.865 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.38. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $1.44, a pound of sirloin steak cost $3.93, a pound of whole chicken cost $0.927, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $0.994, a pound of sliced bacon cost $1.77, a pound of pork chops cost $2.85, a pound of hot dogs cost $2.06 and a pound of bologna cost $2.28. Eggs and dairy in 1989: a dozen large eggs $0.998, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.20 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.60. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.449, a pound of lemons $0.995, a pound of seedless grapes $1.20, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.605, a pound of tomatoes $0.912 and a pound of white potatoes $0.342. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.40, a pound of margarine $1.17 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.86. Coffee, beer and wine in 1989: a pound of ground coffee $3.07.
What changed
Compared with 1988, the biggest increases were for a pound of white potatoes (up 31%), a dozen large eggs (up 26%) and a pound of all-purpose flour (up 14%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of sliced bacon (down 6%) and a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 4%).
Since 1989, 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 sliced bacon, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of white bread, a pound of ground coffee and a pound of iceberg lettuce. The other 19 are cheaper in real terms than in 1989; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bananas (44% lower), a pound of bologna (43% lower) and a pound of spaghetti (41% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.
Every item in 1989
| Item | Price in 1989 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $1.02 | $2.65 | $3.26 (2025) | +23% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $0.888 | $2.31 | $3.62 (2025) | +57% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.082 | $0.213 | $0.185 (2025) | −13% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.666 | $1.73 | $1.87 (2025) | +8% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.245 | $0.636 | $0.56 (2025) | −12% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.498 | $1.29 | $1.05 (2025) | −19% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $0.865 | $2.25 | $1.32 (2025) | −41% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $2.38 | $6.18 | $5.05 (2025) | −18% |
| A pound of ground beef | $1.44 | $3.74 | $6.09 (2025) | +63% |
| A pound of sirloin steak | $3.93 | $10.20 | $12.97 (2025) | +27% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.927 | $2.41 | $2.06 (2025) | −14% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $0.994 | $2.58 | $1.52 (2019) | −26% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $1.77 | $4.60 | $7.02 (2025) | +53% |
| A pound of pork chops | $2.85 | $7.40 | $4.56 (2025) | −38% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $2.06 | $5.35 | $4.01 (2021) | −11% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.28 | $5.92 | $2.70 (2019) | −43% |
| A dozen large eggs | $0.998 | $2.59 | $4.25 (2025) | +64% |
| A pound of cheddar cheese | $3.20 | $8.31 | $5.84 (2025) | −30% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.60 | $6.75 | $6.37 (2025) | −6% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.449 | $1.17 | $0.647 (2025) | −44% |
| A pound of lemons | $0.995 | $2.58 | $2.00 (2025) | −23% |
| A pound of seedless grapes | $1.20 | $3.12 | $2.28 (2020) | −9% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.605 | $1.57 | $1.59 (2025) | +1% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $0.912 | $2.37 | $1.84 (2025) | −22% |
| A pound of white potatoes | $0.342 | $0.888 | $0.963 (2025) | +8% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.40 | $1.04 | $1.02 (2025) | −2% |
| A pound of margarine | $1.17 | $3.04 | $1.64 (2019) | −32% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.86 | $7.43 | $6.71 (2025) | −10% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $3.07 | $7.97 | $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.