What things cost in 2008

In 2008, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.27, a dozen large eggs $1.99 and a pound of white bread $1.37 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 50% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2008 bought about as much as $1.50 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 2008: a gallon of regular gas $3.27, a gallon of diesel $3.91, a gallon of heating oil $3.75 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.123. Bread, grains and baking in 2008: a pound of white bread $1.37, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.94, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.507, a pound of white rice $0.733, a pound of spaghetti $1.12 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $2.88. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $2.34, a pound of sirloin steak cost $5.99, a pound of beef stew meat cost $3.79, a pound of whole chicken cost $1.21, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $1.25, a pound of sliced bacon cost $3.66, a pound of pork chops cost $3.46, a pound of boneless ham cost $3.21 and a pound of bologna cost $2.76. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $1.99, a gallon of whole milk $3.80, a pound of cheddar cheese $4.73, a pound of American cheese $4.04 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.21. Fruit and vegetables in 2008: a pound of bananas $0.609, a pound of navel oranges $1.12, a pound of lemons $2.01, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.29, a pound of seedless grapes $2.21, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.905, a pound of tomatoes $1.74, a pound of white potatoes $0.631 and a pound of broccoli $1.67. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.529, a pound of dried beans cost $1.21, a pound of margarine cost $1.39 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $4.02. Coffee, beer and wine: 16 ounces of beer $1.16 and a liter of table wine $9.45.

What changed

Compared with 2007, the biggest increases were for a pound of all-purpose flour (up 41%), a gallon of heating oil (up 40%) and a pound of white rice (up 34%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of navel oranges (down 12%) and a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 2%).

Since 2008, 17 of these 39 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a pound of ground beef, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of beef stew meat, a dozen large eggs, a pound of white sugar, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of whole chicken, 16 ounces of potato chips, 16 ounces of beer, a pound of frozen whole turkey, a pound of white potatoes, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of broccoli and a kilowatt-hour of electricity. The other 22 are cheaper in real terms than in 2008; the biggest real-terms drops were for a gallon of diesel (37% lower), a gallon of heating oil (35% lower) and a pound of lemons (33% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2008

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.