What things cost in 2019

In 2019, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.64, a dozen large eggs $1.40 and a pound of white bread $1.30 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 26% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2019 bought about as much as $1.26 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $2.64, a gallon of diesel $3.07, a gallon of heating oil $2.98 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.136. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $1.30, a pound of whole wheat bread $1.94, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.441, a pound of white rice $0.765, a pound of spaghetti $1.21 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.49. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $3.81, a pound of sirloin steak $8.37, a pound of beef stew meat $5.64, a pound of whole chicken $1.50, a pound of frozen whole turkey $1.52, a pound of sliced bacon $5.61, a pound of pork chops $3.84, a pound of boneless ham $4.24, a pound of hot dogs $3.10 and a pound of bologna $2.70. In eggs and dairy, a dozen large eggs cost $1.40, a gallon of whole milk cost $3.04, a pound of cheddar cheese cost $5.31, a pound of American cheese cost $3.88 and a half gallon of ice cream cost $4.81. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.574, a pound of navel oranges cost $1.37, a pound of lemons cost $2.13, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $2.46, a pound of seedless grapes cost $2.45, a pound of iceberg lettuce cost $1.18, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.93, a pound of white potatoes cost $0.767 and a pound of broccoli cost $2.00. Pantry and snacks in 2019: a pound of white sugar $0.59, a pound of dried beans $1.34, a pound of margarine $1.64 and 16 ounces of potato chips $4.49. In coffee, beer and wine, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.44 and a liter of table wine cost $12.06.

What changed

Compared with 2018, the biggest increases were for a pound of iceberg lettuce (up 25%), a pound of white rice (up 10%) and a pound of broccoli (up 8%), and the biggest decreases were for a dozen large eggs (down 20%), a pound of lemons (down 5%) and a pound of seedless grapes (down 5%).

Since 2019, 20 of these 36 items have risen faster than overall inflation, so they cost more today even after adjusting for it: a dozen large eggs, a pound of white sugar, a pound of ground beef, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of hot dogs, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of white bread, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of white rice, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of iceberg lettuce, a gallon of whole milk, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of boneless ham, a pound of American cheese, 16 ounces of beer and a pound of all-purpose flour. The other 16 are cheaper in real terms than in 2019; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of lemons (25% lower), a pound of tomatoes (24% lower) and a 12-oz pint of strawberries (14% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2019

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.