What things cost in 2020

In 2020, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.17, a dozen large eggs $1.51 and a pound of white bread $1.45 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 24% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2020 bought about as much as $1.24 did in 2025.

By category

In energy, a gallon of regular gas cost $2.17, a gallon of diesel cost $2.62, a gallon of heating oil cost $2.29 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity cost $0.135. Bread, grains and baking in 2020: a pound of white bread $1.45, a pound of whole wheat bread $2.09, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.451, a pound of white rice $0.759, a pound of spaghetti $1.26 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $3.70. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $4.12, a pound of sirloin steak $8.95, a pound of beef stew meat $5.96, a pound of whole chicken $1.56, a pound of sliced bacon $5.58, a pound of pork chops $4.12, a pound of boneless ham $4.49 and a pound of hot dogs $3.54. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $1.51, a gallon of whole milk $3.32, a pound of cheddar cheese $5.50, a pound of American cheese $4.10 and a half gallon of ice cream $4.92. In fruit and vegetables, a pound of bananas cost $0.578, a 12-oz pint of strawberries cost $2.49, a pound of seedless grapes cost $2.28, a pound of tomatoes cost $1.96 and a pound of white potatoes cost $0.811. Pantry and snacks: a pound of white sugar $0.634, a pound of dried beans $1.43 and 16 ounces of potato chips $4.92. Coffee, beer and wine: a pound of ground coffee $4.43, 16 ounces of beer $1.48 and a liter of table wine $12.42.

What changed

Compared with 2019, the biggest increases were for a pound of hot dogs (up 14%), a pound of white bread (up 12%) and 16 ounces of potato chips (up 10%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of heating oil (down 23%), a gallon of regular gas (down 18%) and a gallon of diesel (down 15%).

Since 2020, 19 of these 33 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 white sugar, a gallon of heating oil, a gallon of regular gas, a pound of ground beef, a pound of sirloin steak, a gallon of diesel, a pound of white rice, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of chocolate chip cookies, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of hot dogs, a pound of whole chicken, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of whole wheat bread, a pound of white bread and a pound of sliced bacon. The other 14 are cheaper in real terms than in 2020; the biggest real-terms drops were for a pound of tomatoes (25% lower), a pound of spaghetti (16% lower) and a pound of cheddar cheese (15% lower). Some of these series end before 2025; for those, the comparison uses the last year the Bureau published.

Every item in 2020

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.