What things cost in 2000

In 2000, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.51, a dozen large eggs $0.914 and a pound of white bread $0.93 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.9 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2000 bought about as much as $1.87 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.51, a gallon of diesel cost $1.58, a gallon of heating oil cost $1.36 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.087. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.93, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.36, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.29, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.862 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.59. Meat and poultry in 2000: a pound of ground beef $1.57, a pound of sirloin steak $4.73, a pound of beef stew meat $2.70, a pound of whole chicken $1.07, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.03, a pound of sliced bacon $3.03, a pound of pork chops $3.37, a pound of boneless ham $2.79 and a pound of bologna $2.43. Eggs and dairy in 2000: a dozen large eggs $0.914, a gallon of whole milk $2.78, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.83, a pound of American cheese $3.70 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.45. Fruit and vegetables in 2000: a pound of bananas $0.501, a pound of lemons $1.29, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $1.53, a pound of seedless grapes $1.75, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.736, a pound of tomatoes $1.38, a pound of white potatoes $0.38 and a pound of broccoli $1.14. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.424, a pound of dried beans $0.687 and 16 ounces of potato chips $3.36. Coffee, beer and wine in 2000: a pound of ground coffee $3.45, 16 ounces of beer $0.918 and a liter of table wine $5.41.

What changed

Compared with 1999, the biggest increases were for a gallon of heating oil (up 51%), a gallon of diesel (up 31%) and a gallon of regular gas (up 29%), and the biggest decreases were for a 12-oz pint of strawberries (down 9%), a pound of seedless grapes (down 5%) and a dozen large eggs (down 5%).

Since 2000, 24 of these 37 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 pound of beef stew meat, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of heating oil, a liter of table wine, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of white sugar, a pound of dried beans, a pound of ground coffee, a gallon of diesel, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of broccoli, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a gallon of regular gas, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of white bread, 16 ounces of potato chips, 16 ounces of beer, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of all-purpose flour and a pound of whole chicken. The other 13 are cheaper in real terms than in 2000; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bananas (31% lower), a pound of tomatoes (29% lower) and a pound of American cheese (28% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2000

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.