What things cost in 2014

In 2014, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.37, a dozen large eggs $2.02 and a pound of white bread $1.40 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 36% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2014 bought about as much as $1.36 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $3.37, a gallon of diesel $3.82, a gallon of heating oil $3.71 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.137. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $1.40, a pound of whole wheat bread $2.03, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.53, a pound of white rice $0.734, a pound of spaghetti $1.28 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.41. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $3.90, a pound of sirloin steak cost $7.69, a pound of beef stew meat cost $5.21, a pound of whole chicken cost $1.53, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $1.60, a pound of sliced bacon cost $5.78, a pound of pork chops cost $4.19, a pound of boneless ham cost $4.33 and a pound of bologna cost $3.01. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $2.02, a gallon of whole milk $3.69, a pound of cheddar cheese $5.54, a pound of American cheese $4.49 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.89. Fruit and vegetables in 2014: a pound of bananas $0.598, a pound of navel oranges $1.32, a pound of lemons $1.97, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.29, a pound of seedless grapes $2.64, a pound of iceberg lettuce $1.05, a pound of tomatoes $1.71, a pound of white potatoes $0.674 and a pound of broccoli $1.76. Pantry and snacks in 2014: a pound of white sugar $0.609, a pound of dried beans $1.47, a pound of margarine $2.07 and 16 ounces of potato chips $4.37. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $4.99, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.28 and a liter of table wine cost $11.70.

What changed

Compared with 2013, the biggest increases were for a pound of lemons (up 25%), a pound of navel oranges (up 15%) and a pound of ground beef (up 15%), and the biggest decreases were for a pound of ground coffee (down 8%), a pound of chocolate chip cookies (down 6%) and 16 ounces of potato chips (down 6%).

Since 2014, 13 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 white sugar, a pound of ground coffee, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of ground beef, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of broccoli, a pound of white rice, 16 ounces of beer and a pound of white potatoes. The other 27 are cheaper in real terms than in 2014; the biggest real-terms drops were for a gallon of diesel (29% lower), a gallon of regular gas (29% lower) and a gallon of heating oil (28% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2014

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.