What things cost in 1992

In 1992, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.13, a dozen large eggs $0.86 and a pound of white bread $0.75 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.3 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1992 bought about as much as $2.29 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.13, a gallon of heating oil cost $0.961 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.088. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.75, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.06, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.243, a pound of white rice cost $0.528, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.858 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.77. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $1.54, a pound of sirloin steak cost $4.22, a pound of beef stew meat cost $2.58, a pound of whole chicken cost $0.869, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $0.97, a pound of sliced bacon cost $1.92, a pound of pork chops cost $3.15, a pound of boneless ham cost $2.75, a pound of hot dogs cost $2.24 and a pound of bologna cost $2.47. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $0.86, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.57, a pound of American cheese $3.32 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.58. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.458, a pound of lemons cost $1.01, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $1.14, a pound of seedless grapes cost $1.29, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.577, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.09 and a pound of white potatoes cost $0.305. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.415, a pound of margarine $1.30 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.90. Coffee, beer and wine in 1992: a pound of ground coffee $2.58.

What changed

Compared with 1991, the biggest increases were for a pound of tomatoes (up 8%), a pound of white bread (up 6%) and a 12-oz pint of strawberries (up 6%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of lemons (down 18%), a pound of sliced bacon (down 14%) and a dozen large eggs (down 13%).

Since 1992, 18 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 ground coffee, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of white bread, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of white sugar, a pound of whole chicken, a 12-oz pint of strawberries, 16 ounces of potato chips and a pound of all-purpose flour. The other 16 are cheaper in real terms than in 1992; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bologna (40% lower), a pound of bananas (38% lower) and a pound of pork chops (37% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1992

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.