What things cost in 2007

In 2007, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.80, a dozen large eggs $1.68 and a pound of white bread $1.21 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.6 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2007 bought about as much as $1.55 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 2007: a gallon of regular gas $2.80, a gallon of diesel $2.96, a gallon of heating oil $2.68 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.117. Bread, grains and baking in 2007: a pound of white bread $1.21, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.71, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.36, a pound of white rice $0.549, a pound of spaghetti $0.875 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.70. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $2.30, a pound of sirloin steak $5.97, a pound of beef stew meat $3.51, a pound of whole chicken $1.12, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.15, a pound of sliced bacon $3.66, a pound of pork chops $3.29, a pound of boneless ham $3.13 and a pound of bologna $2.44. Eggs and dairy in 2007: a dozen large eggs $1.68, a gallon of whole milk $3.50, a pound of cheddar cheese $4.23, a pound of American cheese $3.84 and a half gallon of ice cream $3.95. Fruit and vegetables in 2007: a pound of bananas $0.51, a pound of navel oranges $1.28, a pound of lemons $1.86, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.20, a pound of seedless grapes $2.09, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.928, a pound of tomatoes $1.65, a pound of white potatoes $0.525 and a pound of broccoli $1.59. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.515, a pound of dried beans cost $0.942, a pound of margarine cost $1.20 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $3.53. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $3.47, 16 ounces of beer $1.12 and a liter of table wine $8.55.

What changed

Compared with 2006, the biggest increases were for a dozen large eggs (up 28%), a pound of lemons (up 22%) and a pound of whole wheat bread (up 20%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of seedless grapes (down 7%), a pound of chocolate chip cookies (down 6%) and a pound of tomatoes (down 5%).

Since 2007, 24 of these 40 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a pound of ground beef, a dozen large eggs, 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 white rice, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of dried beans, a pound of margarine, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of frozen whole turkey, 16 ounces of beer, a liter of table wine, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of broccoli, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of whole wheat bread and a pound of all-purpose flour. The other 16 are cheaper in real terms than in 2007; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of lemons (31% lower), a pound of tomatoes (28% lower) and a gallon of whole milk (25% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2007

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.