What things cost in 2001

In 2001, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.46, a dozen large eggs $0.929 and a pound of white bread $0.999 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.8 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2001 bought about as much as $1.82 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.46, a gallon of diesel cost $1.53, a gallon of heating oil cost $1.31 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.092. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $0.999, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.44, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.302, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.908 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.44. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $1.71, a pound of sirloin steak $5.27, a pound of beef stew meat $2.96, a pound of whole chicken $1.11, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.10, a pound of sliced bacon $3.25, a pound of pork chops $3.52, a pound of boneless ham $2.74 and a pound of bologna $2.50. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $0.929, a gallon of whole milk $2.88, a pound of cheddar cheese $4.03, a pound of American cheese $3.87 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.70. Fruit and vegetables in 2001: a pound of bananas $0.507, a pound of lemons $1.26, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $1.87, a pound of seedless grapes $1.85, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.793, a pound of tomatoes $1.32, a pound of white potatoes $0.39 and a pound of broccoli $0.985. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.434, a pound of dried beans $0.687, a pound of margarine $0.852 and 16 ounces of potato chips $3.43. Coffee, beer and wine in 2001: a pound of ground coffee $3.09, 16 ounces of beer $0.955 and a liter of table wine $5.96.

What changed

Compared with 2000, the biggest increases were for a 12-oz pint of strawberries (up 22%), a pound of sirloin steak (up 11%) and a liter of table wine (up 10%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of broccoli (down 14%), a pound of ground coffee (down 10%) and a pound of chocolate chip cookies (down 6%).

Since 2001, 25 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 pound of ground coffee, a pound of broccoli, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of margarine, a gallon of diesel, a pound of dried beans, a pound of white sugar, a liter of table wine, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of boneless ham, 16 ounces of potato chips, 16 ounces of beer, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of white bread, a pound of whole chicken and a pound of all-purpose flour. The other 13 are cheaper in real terms than in 2001; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bananas (30% lower), a pound of American cheese (30% lower) and a pound of pork chops (29% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2001

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.