What things cost in 2004

In 2004, a gallon of regular gas cost $1.88, a dozen large eggs $1.34 and a pound of white bread $0.969 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.7 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2004 bought about as much as $1.70 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $1.88, a gallon of diesel $1.92, a gallon of heating oil $1.65 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.094. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $0.969, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.303, a pound of white rice $0.536, a pound of spaghetti $0.947 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.65. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $2.16, a pound of sirloin steak $6.62, a pound of beef stew meat $3.32, a pound of whole chicken $1.07, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.09, a pound of sliced bacon $3.38, a pound of pork chops $3.08, a pound of boneless ham $3.05 and a pound of bologna $2.60. Eggs and dairy in 2004: a dozen large eggs $1.34, a gallon of whole milk $3.16, a pound of cheddar cheese $4.27, a pound of American cheese $3.98 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.84. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.495, a pound of navel oranges cost $0.859, a pound of lemons cost $1.23, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $2.23, a pound of seedless grapes cost $2.06, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.798, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.61, a pound of white potatoes cost $0.454 and a pound of broccoli cost $1.20. Pantry and snacks in 2004: a pound of white sugar $0.426, a pound of dried beans $0.767, a pound of margarine $1.08 and 16 ounces of potato chips $3.40. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $2.85, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.07 and a liter of table wine cost $6.92.

What changed

Compared with 2003, the biggest increases were for a pound of white rice (up 19%), a gallon of regular gas (up 18%) and a gallon of heating oil (up 18%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of lemons (down 7%), a pound of chocolate chip cookies (down 6%) and a pound of white bread (down 3%).

Since 2004, 27 of these 39 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 coffee, a pound of ground beef, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of white sugar, a gallon of heating oil, a pound of dried beans, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of broccoli, a pound of sliced bacon, a liter of table wine, a pound of iceberg lettuce, 16 ounces of potato chips, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of white rice, a pound of white bread, a pound of whole chicken, a gallon of diesel, a pound of margarine, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of navel oranges, a pound of all-purpose flour, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of frozen whole turkey, a gallon of regular gas and 16 ounces of beer. The other 12 are cheaper in real terms than in 2004; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (33% lower), a 12-oz pint of strawberries (30% lower) and a pound of American cheese (27% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2004

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.