What things cost in 2002

In 2002, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.36, a dozen large eggs $1.03 and a pound of white bread $1.02 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.8 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2002 bought about as much as $1.79 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 2002: a gallon of regular gas $1.36, a gallon of diesel $1.43, a gallon of heating oil $1.16 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.091. Bread, grains and baking in 2002: a pound of white bread $1.02, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.46, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.312, a pound of spaghetti $0.918 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.59. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $1.71, a pound of sirloin steak cost $5.30, a pound of beef stew meat cost $2.95, a pound of whole chicken cost $1.07, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $1.05, a pound of sliced bacon cost $3.24, a pound of pork chops cost $3.40, a pound of boneless ham cost $2.82 and a pound of bologna cost $2.34. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $1.03, a gallon of whole milk cost $2.76, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $4.22, a pound of American cheese cost $3.88 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $3.73. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.507, a pound of lemons $1.39, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $1.86, a pound of seedless grapes $1.89, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.861, a pound of tomatoes $1.32, a pound of white potatoes $0.493 and a pound of broccoli $1.19. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.431, a pound of dried beans cost $0.728, a pound of margarine cost $0.896 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $3.36. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $2.92, 16 ounces of beer $0.992 and a liter of table wine $6.23.

What changed

Compared with 2001, the biggest increases were for a pound of white potatoes (up 26%), a pound of broccoli (up 21%) and a dozen large eggs (up 11%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of heating oil (down 11%), a gallon of regular gas (down 7%) and a gallon of diesel (down 7%).

Since 2002, 26 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 ground coffee, a pound of beef stew meat, a gallon of diesel, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of white sugar, a pound of margarine, a pound of dried beans, a liter of table wine, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of broccoli, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of iceberg lettuce, 16 ounces of beer, a pound of white bread, a pound of frozen whole turkey and a pound of all-purpose flour. The other 12 are cheaper in real terms than in 2002; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of American cheese (29% lower), a pound of bananas (29% lower) and a pound of pork chops (25% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2002

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.