What things cost in 2018

In 2018, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.74, a dozen large eggs $1.74 and a pound of white bread $1.29 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 28% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2018 bought about as much as $1.28 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $2.74, a gallon of diesel $3.16, a gallon of heating oil $3.09 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.136. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $1.29, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.96, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.462, a pound of white rice $0.694, a pound of spaghetti $1.19 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.50. Meat and poultry in 2018: a pound of ground beef $3.72, a pound of sirloin steak $8.40, a pound of whole chicken $1.50, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.50, a pound of sliced bacon $5.47, a pound of pork chops $3.80, a pound of boneless ham $4.02, a pound of hot dogs $2.92 and a pound of bologna $2.67. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $1.74, a gallon of whole milk $2.90, a pound of cheddar cheese $5.14, a pound of American cheese $4.01 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.74. Fruit and vegetables: a pound of bananas $0.574, a pound of navel oranges $1.41, a pound of lemons $2.25, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.34, a pound of seedless grapes $2.58, a pound of iceberg lettuce $0.944, a pound of tomatoes $1.92, a pound of white potatoes $0.74 and a pound of broccoli $1.85. Pantry and snacks in 2018: a pound of white sugar $0.616, a pound of dried beans $1.34, a pound of margarine $1.64 and 16 ounces of potato chips $4.45. In coffee, beer and wine, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.41 and a liter of table wine cost $12.46.

What changed

Compared with 2017, the biggest increases were for a gallon of heating oil (up 26%), a gallon of diesel (up 20%) and a dozen large eggs (up 18%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of whole milk (down 10%), a pound of all-purpose flour (down 9%) and a pound of iceberg lettuce (down 8%).

Since 2018, 20 of these 39 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a dozen large eggs, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a pound of white sugar, a pound of ground beef, a pound of hot dogs, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of white rice, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of white bread, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a gallon of whole milk, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of broccoli, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of white potatoes, 16 ounces of beer and a pound of sliced bacon. The other 19 are cheaper in real terms than in 2018; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of lemons (31% lower), a pound of tomatoes (25% lower) and a pound of seedless grapes (14% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2018

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.