What things cost in 1995

In 1995, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.15, a dozen large eggs $0.925 and a pound of white bread $0.791 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.1 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1995 bought about as much as $2.11 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 1995: a gallon of regular gas $1.15, a gallon of heating oil $0.893 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.094. Bread, grains and baking in 1995: a pound of white bread $0.791, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.15, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.245, a pound of white rice $0.525, a pound of spaghetti $0.861 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.47. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $1.37, a pound of sirloin steak cost $4.23, a pound of beef stew meat cost $2.50, a pound of whole chicken cost $0.917, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $1.02, a pound of sliced bacon cost $1.99, a pound of pork chops cost $3.21, a pound of boneless ham cost $2.54, a pound of hot dogs cost $2.03 and a pound of bologna cost $2.31. Eggs and dairy in 1995: a dozen large eggs $0.925, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.39, a pound of American cheese $3.07 and a half gallon of ice cream $2.65. Fruit and vegetables in 1995: a pound of bananas $0.49, a pound of lemons $1.14, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $1.32, a pound of seedless grapes $1.55, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.801, a pound of tomatoes $1.16 and a pound of white potatoes $0.379. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.398 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $3.00. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $4.04.

What changed

Compared with 1994, the biggest increases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (up 32%), a pound of ground coffee (up 19%) and a 12-oz pint of strawberries (up 17%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of ground beef (down 7%), a pound of white rice (down 4%) and a pound of hot dogs (down 4%).

Since 1995, 17 of these 33 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 white sugar, a pound of white potatoes, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of white bread, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of hot dogs, a pound of all-purpose flour, a pound of whole chicken, 16 ounces of potato chips and a pound of boneless ham. The other 16 are cheaper in real terms than in 1995; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bananas (37% lower), a pound of pork chops (33% lower) and a pound of bologna (30% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1995

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.