What things cost in 1991

In 1991, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.14, a dozen large eggs $0.989 and a pound of white bread $0.71 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.4 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1991 bought about as much as $2.36 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $1.14, a gallon of heating oil $1.02 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.087. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $0.71, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.07, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.234, a pound of white rice $0.503, a pound of spaghetti $0.868 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.69. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $1.60, a pound of sirloin steak $4.29, a pound of beef stew meat $2.59, a pound of whole chicken $0.88, a pound of frozen whole turkey $0.998, a pound of sliced bacon $2.22, a pound of pork chops $3.26, a pound of boneless ham $2.91, a pound of hot dogs $2.35 and a pound of bologna $2.59. Eggs and dairy in 1991: a dozen large eggs $0.989, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.55, a pound of American cheese $3.44 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.58. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.481, a pound of lemons cost $1.23, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $1.08, a pound of seedless grapes cost $1.40, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.605, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.01 and a pound of white potatoes cost $0.33. Pantry and snacks in 1991: a pound of white sugar $0.428, a pound of margarine $1.29 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.96. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $2.81.

What changed

Compared with 1990, the biggest increases were for a pound of lemons (up 15%), a pound of seedless grapes (up 11%) and a pound of margarine (up 8%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of white potatoes (down 11%), a pound of tomatoes (down 6%) and a gallon of heating oil (down 6%).

Since 1991, 16 of these 34 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 beef stew meat, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of ground coffee, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of white bread, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of whole wheat bread, a half gallon of ice cream, a 12-oz pint of strawberries, a pound of all-purpose flour and a pound of white sugar. The other 18 are cheaper in real terms than in 1991; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (44% lower), a pound of bananas (43% lower) and a pound of pork chops (41% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1991

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.