What things cost in 1997

In 1997, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.23, a dozen large eggs $1.06 and a pound of white bread $0.872 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.0 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1997 bought about as much as $2.01 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.23, a gallon of heating oil cost $1.01 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.094. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.872, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.28, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.302, a pound of white rice cost $0.565, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.873 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.61. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $1.40, a pound of sirloin steak $4.21, a pound of beef stew meat $2.51, a pound of whole chicken $1.00, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.05, a pound of sliced bacon $2.68, a pound of pork chops $3.48, a pound of boneless ham $2.79, a pound of hot dogs $2.27 and a pound of bologna $2.37. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $1.06, a gallon of whole milk cost $2.61, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $3.22, a pound of American cheese cost $3.45 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $2.92. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.487, a pound of lemons $1.25, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $1.36, a pound of seedless grapes $1.71, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.694, a pound of tomatoes $1.29, a pound of white potatoes $0.356 and a pound of broccoli $0.98. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.433, a pound of dried beans $0.72 and 16 ounces of potato chips $3.13. Coffee, beer and wine in 1997: a pound of ground coffee $4.11, 16 ounces of beer $0.844 and a liter of table wine $5.17.

What changed

Compared with 1996, the biggest increases were for a pound of ground coffee (up 20%), a pound of lemons (up 13%) and a pound of hot dogs (up 9%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of white potatoes (down 7%), a dozen large eggs (down 5%) and a gallon of heating oil (down 1%).

Since 1997, 20 of these 38 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a pound of ground beef, a dozen large eggs, a gallon of heating oil, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of white potatoes, a liter of table wine, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of broccoli, a pound of white sugar, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of dried beans, a half gallon of ice cream, 16 ounces of beer, a pound of white bread, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of hot dogs and a pound of whole chicken. The other 18 are cheaper in real terms than in 1997; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of pork chops (35% lower), a pound of bananas (34% lower) and a pound of tomatoes (29% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1997

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.