What things cost in 2006

In 2006, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.59, a dozen large eggs $1.31 and a pound of white bread $1.08 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.6 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2006 bought about as much as $1.60 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.59, a gallon of diesel cost $2.81, a gallon of heating oil cost $2.50 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.112. In bread, grains and baking, a pound of white bread cost $1.08, a pound of whole wheat bread cost $1.42, a pound of all-purpose flour cost $0.329, a pound of white rice cost $0.549, a pound of spaghetti cost $0.858 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $2.88. Meat and poultry in 2006: a pound of ground beef $2.22, a pound of sirloin steak $5.98, a pound of beef stew meat $3.31, a pound of whole chicken $1.05, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.11, a pound of sliced bacon $3.44, a pound of pork chops $3.28, a pound of boneless ham $3.13 and a pound of bologna $2.29. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $1.31, a gallon of whole milk cost $3.08, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $4.25, a pound of American cheese cost $3.72 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $3.75. Fruit and vegetables in 2006: a pound of bananas $0.50, a pound of navel oranges $1.09, a pound of lemons $1.53, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.04, a pound of seedless grapes $2.25, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.866, a pound of tomatoes $1.73, a pound of white potatoes $0.534 and a pound of broccoli $1.45. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.496, a pound of dried beans $0.824, a pound of margarine $1.08 and 16 ounces of potato chips $3.47. Coffee, beer and wine in 2006: a pound of ground coffee $3.20, 16 ounces of beer $1.11 and a liter of table wine $7.90.

What changed

Compared with 2005, the biggest increases were for a pound of white sugar (up 14%), a pound of white potatoes (up 13%) and a gallon of heating oil (up 13%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of bologna (down 5%), a pound of spaghetti (down 5%) and a pound of American cheese (down 4%).

Since 2006, 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 sirloin steak, a pound of white sugar, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of dried beans, a pound of whole chicken, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of white rice, a pound of margarine, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of white potatoes, a liter of table wine, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of broccoli, a pound of white bread, a pound of frozen whole turkey, a pound of all-purpose flour, a half gallon of ice cream, a kilowatt-hour of electricity and 16 ounces of beer. The other 15 are cheaper in real terms than in 2006; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (33% lower), a gallon of regular gas (21% lower) and a pound of seedless grapes (21% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2006

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.