What things cost in 2013

In 2013, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.53, a dozen large eggs $1.91 and a pound of white bread $1.41 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 38% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2013 bought about as much as $1.38 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $3.53, a gallon of diesel $3.92, a gallon of heating oil $3.72 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.132. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $1.41, a pound of whole wheat bread $2.04, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.522, a pound of white rice $0.724, a pound of spaghetti $1.30 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.64. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $3.40, a pound of sirloin steak $6.83, a pound of beef stew meat $4.57, a pound of whole chicken $1.50, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.65, a pound of sliced bacon $5.29, a pound of pork chops $3.68, a pound of boneless ham $3.98 and a pound of bologna $3.05. Eggs and dairy in 2013: a dozen large eggs $1.91, a gallon of whole milk $3.46, a pound of cheddar cheese $5.56, a pound of American cheese $4.17 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.99. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.60, a pound of navel oranges cost $1.15, a pound of lemons cost $1.58, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $2.02, a pound of seedless grapes cost $2.49, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $1.01, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.53, a pound of white potatoes cost $0.668 and a pound of broccoli cost $1.85. Pantry and snacks in 2013: a pound of white sugar $0.643, a pound of dried beans $1.42, a pound of margarine $2.10 and 16 ounces of potato chips $4.66. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $5.45, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.28 and a liter of table wine cost $10.72.

What changed

Compared with 2012, the biggest increases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (up 18%), a pound of sliced bacon (up 16%) and a pound of broccoli (up 16%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of white sugar (down 7%), 16 ounces of potato chips (down 7%) and a pound of ground coffee (down 4%).

Since 2013, 14 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 sirloin steak, a pound of ground beef, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of white sugar, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of ground coffee, a pound of white rice, a pound of white potatoes, 16 ounces of potato chips, 16 ounces of beer, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of navel oranges and a pound of chocolate chip cookies. The other 26 are cheaper in real terms than in 2013; the biggest real-terms drops were for a gallon of regular gas (33% lower), a gallon of diesel (32% lower) and a gallon of heating oil (30% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2013

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.