What things cost in 2017

In 2017, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.41, a dozen large eggs $1.47 and a pound of white bread $1.33 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 31% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2017 bought about as much as $1.31 did in 2025.

By category

Energy in 2017: a gallon of regular gas $2.41, a gallon of diesel $2.63, a gallon of heating oil $2.45 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.138. Bread, grains and baking in 2017: a pound of white bread $1.33, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.99, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.507, a pound of white rice $0.721, a pound of spaghetti $1.28 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.49. In meat and poultry, a pound of ground beef cost $3.64, a pound of sirloin steak cost $8.05, a pound of beef stew meat cost $5.37, a pound of whole chicken cost $1.47, a pound of frozen whole turkey cost $1.58, a pound of sliced bacon cost $5.77, a pound of pork chops cost $3.73, a pound of boneless ham cost $3.87, a pound of hot dogs cost $2.85 and a pound of bologna cost $2.74. Eggs and dairy in 2017: a dozen large eggs $1.47, a gallon of whole milk $3.23, a pound of cheddar cheese $4.90, a pound of American cheese $4.25 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.69. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.563, a pound of navel oranges $1.34, a pound of lemons $2.01, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.34, a pound of seedless grapes $2.64, a pound of iceberg lettuce $1.03, a pound of tomatoes $1.93, a pound of white potatoes $0.724 and a pound of broccoli $1.81. In pantry and snacks, a pound of white sugar cost $0.648, a pound of dried beans cost $1.36, a pound of margarine cost $1.73 and 16 ounces of potato chips cost $4.41. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $4.45, 16 ounces of beer $1.39 and a liter of table wine $12.66.

What changed

Compared with 2016, the biggest increases were for a gallon of heating oil (up 16%), a gallon of diesel (up 15%) and a gallon of regular gas (up 13%), and the biggest decreases were for a dozen large eggs (down 13%), a pound of hot dogs (down 12%) and a pound of cheddar cheese (down 6%).

Since 2017, 23 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 pound of ground beef, a pound of hot dogs, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of white sugar, a pound of iceberg lettuce, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of beef stew meat, a gallon of heating oil, a pound of white rice, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of white bread, a pound of whole chicken, a gallon of diesel, a pound of broccoli, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of whole wheat bread, a gallon of regular gas, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of white potatoes and 16 ounces of beer. The other 18 are cheaper in real terms than in 2017; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (27% lower), a pound of lemons (24% lower) and a pound of spaghetti (21% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2017

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.