What things cost in 1998

In 1998, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.06, a dozen large eggs $1.04 and a pound of white bread $0.86 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 2.0 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1998 bought about as much as $1.98 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.06, a gallon of diesel cost $1.17, a gallon of heating oil cost $0.88 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.087. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.86, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.29, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.30, a pound of white rice cost $0.542, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.88 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.54. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $1.41, a pound of sirloin steak cost $4.19, a pound of beef stew meat cost $2.55, a pound of whole chicken cost $1.04, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $0.996, a pound of sliced bacon cost $2.54, a pound of pork chops cost $3.23, a pound of boneless ham cost $2.81 and a pound of bologna cost $2.43. Eggs and dairy in 1998: a dozen large eggs $1.04, a gallon of whole milk $2.70, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.55, a pound of American cheese $3.59 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.13. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.494, a pound of lemons cost $1.20, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $1.64, a pound of seedless grapes cost $1.59, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.757, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.48, a pound of white potatoes cost $0.376 and a pound of broccoli cost $1.10. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.43, a pound of dried beans $0.69 and 16 ounces of potato chips $3.16. Coffee, beer and wine in 1998: a pound of ground coffee $3.77, 16 ounces of beer $0.861 and a liter of table wine $5.07.

What changed

Compared with 1997, the biggest increases were for a 12-oz pint of strawberries (up 21%), a pound of tomatoes (up 15%) and a pound of broccoli (up 12%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of regular gas (down 14%), a gallon of heating oil (down 13%) and a pound of ground coffee (down 8%).

Since 1998, 23 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 gallon of heating oil, a dozen large eggs, a pound of beef stew meat, a gallon of diesel, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of sliced bacon, a liter of table wine, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of dried beans, a pound of white sugar, a pound of broccoli, a pound of white bread, a pound of ground coffee, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, 16 ounces of beer, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of whole wheat bread, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of chocolate chip cookies and a pound of whole chicken. The other 15 are cheaper in real terms than in 1998; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (37% lower), a pound of bananas (34% lower) and a pound of American cheese (30% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1998

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.