What things cost in 2012

In 2012, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.64, a dozen large eggs $1.84 and a pound of white bread $1.42 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 40% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2012 bought about as much as $1.40 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 2012: a gallon of regular gas $3.64, a gallon of diesel $4.00, a gallon of heating oil $3.75 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.13. Bread, grains and baking in 2012: a pound of white bread $1.42, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.99, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.517, a pound of white rice $0.697, a pound of spaghetti $1.32 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.62. Meat and poultry in 2012: a pound of ground beef $3.03, a pound of sirloin steak $6.65, a pound of beef stew meat $4.50, a pound of whole chicken $1.42, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.62, a pound of sliced bacon $4.56, a pound of pork chops $3.73, a pound of boneless ham $3.73 and a pound of bologna $2.92. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $1.84, a gallon of whole milk cost $3.49, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $5.63, a pound of American cheese cost $4.19 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $5.04. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.602, a pound of navel oranges cost $1.05, a pound of lemons cost $1.56, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $1.99, a pound of seedless grapes cost $2.49, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $0.857, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.46, a pound of white potatoes cost $0.659 and a pound of broccoli cost $1.60. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.694, a pound of dried beans cost $1.44, a pound of margarine cost $2.05 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $4.99. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $5.68, 16 ounces of beer $1.25 and a liter of table wine $10.28.

What changed

Compared with 2011, the biggest increases were for a pound of margarine (up 12%), a pound of whole chicken (up 10%) and a pound of ground coffee (up 9%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 13%), a pound of tomatoes (down 13%) and a pound of bologna (down 7%).

Since 2012, 16 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 sirloin steak, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of broccoli, a pound of sliced bacon, a pound of navel oranges, a pound of white rice, a pound of white sugar, a pound of boneless ham, 16 ounces of beer, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of ground coffee and a kilowatt-hour of electricity. The other 24 are cheaper in real terms than in 2012; the biggest real-terms drops were for a gallon of regular gas (36% lower), a gallon of diesel (34% lower) and a gallon of heating oil (31% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2012

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.