What things cost in 1999

In 1999, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.17, a dozen large eggs $0.959 and a pound of white bread $0.887 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.9 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 1999 bought about as much as $1.93 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 1999: a gallon of regular gas $1.17, a gallon of diesel $1.21, a gallon of heating oil $0.90 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.086. Bread, grains and baking in 1999: a pound of white bread $0.887, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.33, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.294, a pound of white rice $0.537, a pound of spaghetti $0.879 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.60. Meat and poultry in 1999: a pound of ground beef $1.45, a pound of sirloin steak $4.37, a pound of beef stew meat $2.58, a pound of whole chicken $1.06, a pound of frozen whole turkey $0.993, a pound of sliced bacon $2.55, a pound of pork chops $3.17, a pound of boneless ham $2.86 and a pound of bologna $2.42. Eggs and dairy in 1999: a dozen large eggs $0.959, a gallon of whole milk $2.84, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.77, a pound of American cheese $3.81 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.30. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.491, a pound of lemons cost $1.33, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $1.69, a pound of seedless grapes cost $1.84, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.674, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.37, a pound of white potatoes cost $0.394 and a pound of broccoli cost $1.01. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.433, a pound of dried beans cost $0.696 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $3.26. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $3.43, 16 ounces of beer $0.878 and a liter of table wine $5.24.

What changed

Compared with 1998, the biggest increases were for a pound of seedless grapes (up 16%), a pound of lemons (up 11%) and a gallon of regular gas (up 10%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 11%), a pound of ground coffee (down 9%) and a pound of broccoli (down 8%).

Since 1999, 23 of these 38 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 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 broccoli, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of ground coffee, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of dried beans, a pound of white sugar, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of white bread, 16 ounces of beer, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of white rice, a pound of whole chicken and a pound of chocolate chip cookies. The other 15 are cheaper in real terms than in 1999; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of American cheese (33% lower), a pound of bananas (32% lower) and a pound of tomatoes (30% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 1999

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.