What things cost in 2016

In 2016, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.14, a dozen large eggs $1.68 and a pound of white bread $1.37 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 34% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2016 bought about as much as $1.34 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 2016: a gallon of regular gas $2.14, a gallon of diesel $2.29, a gallon of heating oil $2.11 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.135. Bread, grains and baking in 2016: a pound of white bread $1.37, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.96, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.525, a pound of white rice $0.716, a pound of spaghetti $1.30 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.35. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $3.75, a pound of sirloin steak $8.39, a pound of beef stew meat $5.32, a pound of whole chicken $1.46, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.55, a pound of sliced bacon $5.42, a pound of pork chops $3.87, a pound of boneless ham $4.03, a pound of hot dogs $3.24 and a pound of bologna $2.65. Eggs and dairy in 2016: a dozen large eggs $1.68, a gallon of whole milk $3.20, a pound of cheddar cheese $5.23, a pound of American cheese $4.37 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.76. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.573, a pound of navel oranges $1.25, a pound of lemons $2.04, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.44, a pound of seedless grapes $2.76, a pound of iceberg lettuce $1.06, a pound of tomatoes $1.93, a pound of white potatoes $0.681 and a pound of broccoli $1.63. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.642, a pound of dried beans cost $1.41, a pound of margarine cost $1.82 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $4.46. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $4.39, 16 ounces of beer $1.35 and a liter of table wine $12.33.

What changed

Compared with 2015, the biggest increases were for a 12-oz pint of strawberries (up 10%), a pound of seedless grapes (up 7%) and a pound of tomatoes (up 5%), and the biggest decreases were for a dozen large eggs (down 32%), a gallon of heating oil (down 19%) and a gallon of diesel (down 16%).

Since 2016, 22 of these 41 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 coffee, a gallon of heating oil, a pound of ground beef, a gallon of diesel, a pound of white sugar, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of broccoli, a pound of beef stew meat, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of hot dogs, a pound of white rice, a pound of white potatoes, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of whole wheat bread, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of white bread, a pound of boneless ham and 16 ounces of beer. The other 19 are cheaper in real terms than in 2016; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (29% lower), a pound of lemons (27% lower) and a pound of spaghetti (24% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2016

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.