What things cost in 2023
In 2023, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.66, a dozen large eggs $2.80 and a pound of white bread $1.96 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices overall were 6% higher by 2025, so $1.00 in 2023 bought about as much as $1.06 did in 2025.
By category
Energy: a gallon of regular gas $3.66, a gallon of diesel $4.32, a gallon of heating oil $3.84 and a kilowatt-hour of electricity $0.168. Bread, grains and baking: a pound of white bread $1.96, a pound of whole wheat bread $2.56, a pound of all-purpose flour $0.551, a pound of white rice $0.985, a pound of spaghetti $1.43 and a pound of chocolate chip cookies $5.12. Meat and poultry: a pound of ground beef $5.02, a pound of sirloin steak $11.07, a pound of beef stew meat $7.00, a pound of whole chicken $1.91, a pound of sliced bacon $6.65, a pound of pork chops $4.50 and a pound of boneless ham $5.71. Eggs and dairy: a dozen large eggs $2.80, a gallon of whole milk $4.03, a pound of cheddar cheese $5.82, a pound of American cheese $4.76 and a half gallon of ice cream $5.90. Fruit and vegetables in 2023: a pound of bananas $0.63, a pound of navel oranges $1.58, a pound of lemons $2.14, a 12-oz pint of strawberries $2.85, a pound of tomatoes $1.92 and a pound of white potatoes $1.00. Pantry and snacks in 2023: a pound of white sugar $0.921, a pound of dried beans $1.67 and 16 ounces of potato chips $6.45. In coffee, beer and wine, a pound of ground coffee cost $6.16, 16 ounces of beer cost $1.74 and a liter of table wine cost $13.40.
What changed
Compared with 2022, the biggest increases were for a pound of white sugar (up 18%), a pound of white bread (up 15%) and a pound of whole wheat bread (up 13%), and the biggest decreases were for a gallon of heating oil (down 23%), a gallon of diesel (down 14%) and a gallon of regular gas (down 11%).
Since 2023, 10 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 ground beef, a pound of sirloin steak, a pound of beef stew meat, a pound of white sugar, a kilowatt-hour of electricity, a half gallon of ice cream, a pound of whole chicken and a pound of white rice. The other 24 are cheaper in real terms than in 2023; the biggest real-terms drops were for a gallon of diesel (19% lower), a gallon of regular gas (16% lower) and a pound of spaghetti (13% lower).
Every item in 2023
| Item | Price in 2023 | In 2025 dollars | Latest price | Real change to latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A gallon of regular gas | $3.66 | $3.87 | $3.26 (2025) | −16% |
| A gallon of diesel | $4.32 | $4.56 | $3.68 (2025) | −19% |
| A gallon of heating oil | $3.84 | $4.06 | $3.62 (2025) | −11% |
| A kilowatt-hour of electricity | $0.168 | $0.178 | $0.185 (2025) | +4% |
| A pound of white bread | $1.96 | $2.07 | $1.87 (2025) | −10% |
| A pound of whole wheat bread | $2.56 | $2.70 | $2.70 (2025) | 0% |
| A pound of all-purpose flour | $0.551 | $0.582 | $0.56 (2025) | −4% |
| A pound of white rice | $0.985 | $1.04 | $1.05 (2025) | +1% |
| A pound of spaghetti | $1.43 | $1.51 | $1.32 (2025) | −13% |
| A pound of chocolate chip cookies | $5.12 | $5.41 | $5.05 (2025) | −7% |
| A pound of ground beef | $5.02 | $5.30 | $6.09 (2025) | +15% |
| A pound of sirloin steak | $11.07 | $11.70 | $12.97 (2025) | +11% |
| A pound of beef stew meat | $7.00 | $7.40 | $8.14 (2025) | +10% |
| A pound of whole chicken | $1.91 | $2.02 | $2.06 (2025) | +2% |
| A pound of sliced bacon | $6.65 | $7.03 | $7.02 (2025) | 0% |
| A pound of pork chops | $4.50 | $4.75 | $4.56 (2025) | −4% |
| A pound of boneless ham | $5.71 | $6.03 | $5.48 (2025) | −9% |
| A dozen large eggs | $2.80 | $2.96 | $4.25 (2025) | +44% |
| A gallon of whole milk | $4.03 | $4.26 | $4.07 (2025) | −4% |
| A pound of cheddar cheese | $5.82 | $6.15 | $5.84 (2025) | −5% |
| A pound of American cheese | $4.76 | $5.03 | $4.95 (2025) | −2% |
| A half gallon of ice cream | $5.90 | $6.23 | $6.37 (2025) | +2% |
| A pound of bananas | $0.63 | $0.666 | $0.647 (2025) | −3% |
| A pound of navel oranges | $1.58 | $1.67 | $1.60 (2025) | −4% |
| A pound of lemons | $2.14 | $2.26 | $2.00 (2025) | −12% |
| A 12-oz pint of strawberries | $2.85 | $3.01 | $2.65 (2025) | −12% |
| A pound of tomatoes | $1.92 | $2.03 | $1.84 (2025) | −9% |
| A pound of white potatoes | $1.00 | $1.06 | $0.963 (2025) | −9% |
| A pound of white sugar | $0.921 | $0.973 | $1.02 (2025) | +5% |
| A pound of dried beans | $1.67 | $1.76 | $1.64 (2025) | −7% |
| 16 ounces of potato chips | $6.45 | $6.81 | $6.71 (2025) | −2% |
| A pound of ground coffee | $6.16 | $6.51 | $8.18 (2025) | +26% |
| 16 ounces of beer | $1.74 | $1.84 | $1.83 (2025) | 0% |
| A liter of table wine | $13.40 | $14.16 | $13.97 (2025) | −1% |
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.