What things cost in 2009

In 2009, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.35, a dozen large eggs $1.66 and a pound of white bread $1.39 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 1.5 times higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2009 bought about as much as $1.50 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $2.35, a gallon of diesel $2.53, a gallon of heating oil $2.51 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.127. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $1.39, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.88, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.501, a pound of white rice $0.766, a pound of spaghetti $1.16 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.17. Meat and poultry in 2009: a pound of ground beef $2.22, a pound of sirloin steak $5.83, a pound of beef stew meat $3.78, a pound of whole chicken $1.28, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.40, a pound of sliced bacon $3.61, a pound of pork chops $3.35, a pound of boneless ham $3.38 and a pound of bologna $3.17. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $1.66, a gallon of whole milk $3.11, a pound of cheddar cheese $4.67, a pound of American cheese $3.90 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.32. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.611, a pound of navel oranges $1.05, a pound of lemons $1.52, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.10, a pound of seedless grapes $2.11, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.913, a pound of tomatoes $1.62, a pound of white potatoes $0.622 and a pound of broccoli $1.60. Pantry and snacks in 2009: a pound of white sugar $0.57, a pound of dried beans $1.39, a pound of margarine $1.59 and 16 ounces of potato chips $4.57. In coffee, beer and wine, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.21 and a liter of table wine cost $10.07.

What changed

Compared with 2008, the biggest increases were for a pound of dried beans (up 15%), a pound of bologna (up 15%) and a pound of margarine (up 14%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of diesel (down 35%), a gallon of heating oil (down 33%) and a gallon of regular gas (down 28%).

Since 2009, 14 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 dozen large eggs, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of white sugar, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of broccoli, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of navel oranges and 16 ounces of beer. The other 25 are cheaper in real terms than in 2009; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of bananas (29% lower), a pound of bologna (29% lower) and a pound of all-purpose flour (26% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2009

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.