What things cost in 2005

In 2005, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.30, a dozen large eggs $1.22 and a pound of white bread $1.04 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.6 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2005 bought about as much as $1.65 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.30, a gallon of diesel cost $2.52, a gallon of heating oil cost $2.22 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.10. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $1.04, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.35, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.324, a pound of white rice cost $0.554, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.899 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.67. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $2.30, a pound of sirloin steak cost $6.11, a pound of beef stew meat cost $3.33, a pound of whole chicken cost $1.06, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $1.07, a pound of sliced bacon cost $3.39, a pound of pork chops cost $3.25, a pound of boneless ham cost $3.16 and a pound of bologna cost $2.40. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $1.22, a gallon of whole milk $3.19, a pound of cheddar cheese $4.38, a pound of American cheese $3.88 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.74. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.492, a pound of navel oranges cost $0.996, a pound of lemons cost $1.41, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $2.11, a pound of seedless grapes cost $2.08, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.87, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.61, a pound of white potatoes cost $0.471 and a pound of broccoli cost $1.32. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.435, a pound of dried beans $0.802, a pound of margarine $1.02 and 16 ounces of potato chips $3.37. Coffee, beer and wine in 2005: a pound of ground coffee $3.26, 16 ounces of beer $1.09 and a liter of table wine $7.77.

What changed

Compared with 2004, the biggest increases were for a gallon of heating oil (up 35%), a gallon of diesel (up 31%) and a gallon of regular gas (up 22%), and the biggest decreases were for a dozen large eggs (down 9%), a pound of sirloin steak (down 8%) and a pound of bologna (down 8%).

Since 2005, 25 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 pound of white sugar, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of dried beans, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of margarine, a pound of whole wheat bread, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of broccoli, a pound of white rice, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of white bread, a liter of table wine, a pound of frozen whole turkey, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of all-purpose flour, a half gallon of ice cream and 16 ounces of beer. The other 15 are cheaper in real terms than in 2005; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (31% lower), a 12-oz pint of strawberries (24% lower) and a pound of American cheese (23% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2005

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.