What things cost in 1993

In 1993, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.11, a dozen large eggs $0.911 and a pound of white bread $0.752 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.2 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1993 bought about as much as $2.23 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.11, a gallon of heating oil cost $0.944 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.092. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.752, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.08, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.234, a pound of white rice cost $0.512, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.826 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.46. Meat and poultry in 1993: a pound of ground beef $1.57, a pound of sirloin steak $4.41, a pound of beef stew meat $2.58, a pound of whole chicken $0.89, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.00, a pound of sliced bacon $1.93, a pound of pork chops $3.24, a pound of boneless ham $2.73, a pound of hot dogs $2.11 and a pound of bologna $2.38. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $0.911, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $3.34, a pound of American cheese cost $3.09 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $2.53. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.439, a pound of lemons cost $1.08, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $1.12, a pound of seedless grapes cost $1.46, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.656, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.08 and a pound of white potatoes cost $0.348. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.405, a pound of margarine $1.18 and 16 ounces of potato chips $2.88. Coffee, beer and wine in 1993: a pound of ground coffee $2.47.

What changed

Compared with 1992, the biggest increases were for a pound of white potatoes (up 14%), a pound of iceberg lettuce (up 14%) and a pound of seedless grapes (up 13%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of chocolate chip cookies (down 11%), a pound of margarine (down 9%) and a pound of American cheese (down 7%).

Since 1993, 19 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 beef stew meat, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of white sugar, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of white bread, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of all-purpose flour, a 12-oz pint of strawberries, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of whole chicken and a pound of hot dogs. The other 15 are cheaper in real terms than in 1993; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of pork chops (37% lower), a pound of bologna (36% lower) and a pound of bananas (34% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1993

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.