What things cost in 2022

In 2022, a gallon of regular gas cost $4.09, a dozen large eggs $2.86 and a pound of white bread $1.70 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 10% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2022 bought about as much as $1.10 did in 2025.

By category

Energy: a gallon of regular gas $4.09, a gallon of diesel $5.01, a gallon of heating oil $5.01 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.159. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $1.70, a pound of whole wheat bread $2.26, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.494, a pound of white rice $0.913, a pound of spaghetti $1.30 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $4.56. Meat and poultry in 2022: a pound of ground beef $4.81, a pound of sirloin steak $10.52, a pound of beef stew meat $6.95, a pound of whole chicken $1.80, a pound of sliced bacon $7.31, a pound of pork chops $4.55 and a pound of boneless ham $5.29. Eggs and dairy in 2022: a dozen large eggs $2.86, a gallon of whole milk $4.09, a pound of cheddar cheese $5.76, a pound of American cheese $4.40 and a half gallon of ice cream $5.43. Fruit and vegetables in 2022: a pound of bananas $0.637, a pound of navel oranges $1.57, a pound of lemons $2.13, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.88, a pound of tomatoes $1.91 and a pound of white potatoes $0.906. Pantry and snacks in 2022: a pound of white sugar $0.783, a pound of dried beans $1.64 and 16 ounces of potato chips $5.83. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $5.89, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.66 and a liter of table wine cost $13.48.

What changed

Compared with 2021, the biggest increases were for a dozen large eggs (up 71%), a gallon of heating oil (up 66%) and a gallon of diesel (up 54%).

Since 2022, 16 of these 34 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 pound of ground beef, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of whole wheat bread, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of beef stew meat, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, 16 ounces of potato chips, a pound of white rice, a pound of whole chicken, a pound of all-purpose flour, a pound of American cheese, a pound of chocolate chip cookies and 16 ounces of beer. The other 18 are cheaper in real terms than in 2022; the biggest real-terms drops were for a gallon of heating oil (34% lower), a gallon of diesel (33% lower) and a gallon of regular gas (28% lower).

Every item in 2022

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.