What things cost in 1990
In 1990, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.16, a dozen large eggs $1.01 and a pound of white bread $0.695 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.5 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1990 bought about as much as $2.46 did in 2025.
By category
Energy in 1990: a gallon of regular gas $1.16, a gallon of heating oil $1.09 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.084. Bread, grains and baking in 1990: a pound of white bread $0.695, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.25, a pound of white rice $0.496, a pound of spaghetti $0.854 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.61. Meat and poultry in 1990: a pound of ground beef $1.59, a pound of sirloin steak $4.13, a pound of whole chicken $0.899, a pound of frozen whole turkey $0.993, a pound of sliced bacon $2.12, a pound of pork chops $3.26, a pound of hot dogs $2.29 and a pound of bologna $2.51. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $1.01 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $2.60. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.463, a pound of lemons $1.07, a pound of seedless grapes $1.26, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.578, a pound of tomatoes $1.08 and a pound of white potatoes $0.371. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.428, a pound of margarine cost $1.20 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $2.96. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $2.97.
What changed
Compared with 1989, the biggest increases were for a gallon of heating oil (up 23%), a pound of sliced bacon (up 20%) and a pound of tomatoes (up 18%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 4%), a pound of ground coffee (down 3%) and a pound of whole chicken (down 3%).
Since 1990, 10 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 sirloin steak, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of ground coffee, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of white bread and a pound of white potatoes. The other 18 are cheaper in real terms than in 1990; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (45% lower), a pound of bananas (43% lower) and a pound of pork chops (43% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.
Every item in 1990
| Item | Price in 1990 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $1.16 | $2.86 | $3.26 (2025) | +14% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $1.09 | $2.68 | $3.62 (2025) | +35% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.084 | $0.207 | $0.185 (2025) | −11% |
| A pound of white bread | $0.695 | $1.71 | $1.87 (2025) | +9% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.25 | $0.616 | $0.56 (2025) | −9% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.496 | $1.22 | $1.05 (2025) | −14% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $0.854 | $2.10 | $1.32 (2025) | −37% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $2.61 | $6.43 | $5.05 (2025) | −21% |
| A pound of ground beef | $1.59 | $3.92 | $6.09 (2025) | +55% |
| A pound of sirloin steak | $4.13 | $10.17 | $12.97 (2025) | +27% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $0.899 | $2.21 | $2.06 (2025) | −7% |
| A pound of frozen whole turkey | $0.993 | $2.45 | $1.52 (2019) | −22% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $2.12 | $5.22 | $7.02 (2025) | +34% |
| A pound of pork chops | $3.26 | $8.03 | $4.56 (2025) | −43% |
| A pound of hot dogs | $2.29 | $5.64 | $4.01 (2021) | −16% |
| A pound of bologna | $2.51 | $6.18 | $2.70 (2019) | −45% |
| A dozen large eggs | $1.01 | $2.49 | $4.25 (2025) | +71% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $2.60 | $6.40 | $6.37 (2025) | −1% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.463 | $1.14 | $0.647 (2025) | −43% |
| A pound of lemons | $1.07 | $2.64 | $2.00 (2025) | −24% |
| A pound of seedless grapes | $1.26 | $3.10 | $2.28 (2020) | −9% |
| A pound of iceberg lettuce | $0.578 | $1.42 | $1.59 (2025) | +12% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $1.08 | $2.66 | $1.84 (2025) | −31% |
| A pound of white potatoes | $0.371 | $0.914 | $0.963 (2025) | +5% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.428 | $1.05 | $1.02 (2025) | −3% |
| A pound of margarine | $1.20 | $2.96 | $1.64 (2019) | −30% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $2.96 | $7.29 | $6.71 (2025) | −8% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $2.97 | $7.32 | $8.18 (2025) | +12% |
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.