What things cost in 2003

In 2003, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.59, a dozen large eggs $1.24 and a pound of white bread $1.00 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.7 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2003 bought about as much as $1.75 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 2003: a gallon of regular gas $1.59, a gallon of diesel $1.65, a gallon of heating oil $1.40 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.093. Bread, grains and baking in 2003: a pound of white bread $1.00, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.43, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.312, a pound of white rice $0.452, a pound of spaghetti $0.933 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.81. Meat and poultry in 2003: a pound of ground beef $1.95, a pound of sirloin steak $5.94, a pound of beef stew meat $3.10, a pound of whole chicken $1.03, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.08, a pound of sliced bacon $3.20, a pound of pork chops $3.13, a pound of boneless ham $2.89 and a pound of bologna $2.39. Eggs and dairy in 2003: a dozen large eggs $1.24, a gallon of whole milk $2.76, a pound of cheddar cheese $3.95, a pound of American cheese $3.77 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.81. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.509, a pound of navel oranges $0.838, a pound of lemons $1.32, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $1.93, a pound of seedless grapes $1.90, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.823, a pound of tomatoes $1.51, a pound of white potatoes $0.458 and a pound of broccoli $1.20. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.427, a pound of dried beans cost $0.76, a pound of margarine cost $1.00 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $3.50. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $2.92, 16 ounces of beer $1.01 and a liter of table wine $6.39.

What changed

Compared with 2002, the biggest increases were for a gallon of heating oil (up 21%), a dozen large eggs (up 20%) and a gallon of regular gas (up 17%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of pork chops (down 8%), a pound of white potatoes (down 7%) and a pound of cheddar cheese (down 6%).

Since 2003, 28 of these 40 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 ground coffee, a pound of beef stew meat, a gallon of heating oil, a pound of white sugar, a pound of white rice, a gallon of diesel, a pound of sliced bacon, a liter of table wine, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of dried beans, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of broccoli, a pound of margarine, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of whole chicken, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of iceberg lettuce, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of navel oranges, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of white bread, 16 ounces of beer, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of all-purpose flour and a pound of frozen whole turkey. The other 12 are cheaper in real terms than in 2003; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (30% lower), a pound of bananas (27% lower) and a pound of American cheese (25% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2003

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.