What things cost in 1994

In 1994, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.11, a dozen large eggs $0.863 and a pound of white bread $0.761 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.2 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1994 bought about as much as $2.17 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 1994: a gallon of regular gas $1.11, a gallon of heating oil $0.916 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.092. Bread, grains and baking in 1994: a pound of white bread $0.761, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.14, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.231, a pound of white rice $0.547, a pound of spaghetti $0.865 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.54. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $1.48, a pound of sirloin steak $4.25, a pound of beef stew meat $2.53, a pound of whole chicken $0.901, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.00, a pound of sliced bacon $1.99, a pound of pork chops $3.22, a pound of boneless ham $2.61, a pound of hot dogs $2.11 and a pound of bologna $2.29. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $0.863, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $3.35, a pound of American cheese cost $3.07 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $2.63. Fruit and vegetables in 1994: a pound of bananas $0.462, a pound of lemons $1.11, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $1.13, a pound of seedless grapes $1.51, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.608, a pound of tomatoes $1.09 and a pound of white potatoes $0.374. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.40, a pound of margarine cost $1.15 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $2.97. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $3.40.

What changed

Compared with 1993, the biggest increases were for a pound of ground coffee (up 38%), a pound of white potatoes (up 7%) and a pound of white rice (up 7%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 7%), a pound of ground beef (down 6%) and a dozen large eggs (down 5%).

Since 1994, 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 beef stew meat, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of white sugar, a pound of white bread, a pound of all-purpose flour, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of ground coffee, a pound of whole wheat bread, a 12-oz pint of strawberries, a pound of whole chicken, 16 ounces of potato chips and a pound of hot dogs. The other 15 are cheaper in real terms than in 1994; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bananas (36% lower), a pound of pork chops (35% lower) and a pound of bologna (32% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1994

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.