Price of a pound of sliced bacon by year, 1980–2025
A pound of sliced bacon cost $1.46 on average in 1980 and $7.02 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 381% over those years while prices in general rose 291%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 23% more in 2025 than in 1980.
- Average in 1980
- $1.46
- Average in 2025
- $7.02
- Highest year, 2022
- $7.31
- Biggest one-year rise, 1996
- +24%
- Against inflation
- Beat it by 23%
Every year
The table lists all 46 years with data, from 1980 to 2025. Select a year to see what everything else cost that year.
| Year | Average price | In 2025 dollars | Change from year before |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $1.46 | $5.70 | — |
| 1981 | $1.67 | $5.91 | +14% |
| 1982 | $2.05 | $6.84 | +23% |
| 1983 | $1.94 | $6.27 | −5% |
| 1984 | $1.86 | $5.76 | −4% |
| 1985 | $1.94 | $5.80 | +4% |
| 1986 | $2.08 | $6.11 | +7% |
| 1987 | $2.14 | $6.06 | +3% |
| 1988 | $1.88 | $5.12 | −12% |
| 1989 | $1.77 | $4.60 | −6% |
| 1990 | $2.12 | $5.22 | +20% |
| 1991 | $2.22 | $5.25 | +5% |
| 1992 | $1.92 | $4.41 | −14% |
| 1993 | $1.93 | $4.30 | +1% |
| 1994 | $1.99 | $4.32 | +3% |
| 1995 | $1.99 | $4.20 | 0% |
| 1996 | $2.47 | $5.07 | +24% |
| 1997 | $2.68 | $5.38 | +9% |
| 1998 | $2.54 | $5.02 | −5% |
| 1999 | $2.55 | $4.93 | 0% |
| 2000 | $3.03 | $5.66 | +19% |
| 2001 | $3.25 | $5.91 | +7% |
| 2002 | $3.24 | $5.80 | 0% |
| 2003 | $3.20 | $5.60 | −1% |
| 2004 | $3.38 | $5.76 | +6% |
| 2005 | $3.39 | $5.59 | 0% |
| 2006 | $3.44 | $5.49 | +1% |
| 2007 | $3.66 | $5.68 | +6% |
| 2008 | $3.66 | $5.47 | 0% |
| 2009 | $3.61 | $5.42 | −1% |
| 2010 | $4.11 | $6.07 | +14% |
| 2011 | $4.63 | $6.63 | +13% |
| 2012 | $4.56 | $6.39 | −2% |
| 2013 | $5.29 | $7.31 | +16% |
| 2014 | $5.78 | $7.86 | +9% |
| 2015 | $5.45 | $7.40 | −6% |
| 2016 | $5.42 | $7.27 | −1% |
| 2017 | $5.77 | $7.58 | +6% |
| 2018 | $5.47 | $7.01 | −5% |
| 2019 | $5.61 | $7.06 | +3% |
| 2020 | $5.58 | $6.94 | −1% |
| 2021 | $6.64 | $7.89 | +19% |
| 2022 | $7.31 | $8.04 | +10% |
| 2023 | $6.65 | $7.03 | −9% |
| 2024 | $6.78 | $6.96 | +2% |
| 2025 | $7.02 | $7.02 | +4% |
Decade by decade
The 1980s averaged $1.88: the most expensive year was 1987 at $2.14 and the cheapest 1980 at $1.46. In the 1990s, a pound of sliced bacon averaged $2.24, from a low of $1.92 in 1992 to a high of $2.68 in 1997. Across the 2000s the yearly average ran from $3.03 in 2000 to $3.66 in 2007, for a decade average of $3.39. The 2010s averaged $5.21: the most expensive year was 2014 at $5.78 and the cheapest 2010 at $4.11. In the 2020s, a pound of sliced bacon averaged $6.66, from a low of $5.58 in 2020 to a high of $7.31 in 2022.
Every five years in this record: 1980 $1.46, 1985 $1.94, 1990 $2.12, 1995 $1.99, 2000 $3.03, 2005 $3.39, 2010 $4.11, 2015 $5.45, 2020 $5.58 and 2025 $7.02. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 6%, from $6.64 to $7.02.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1980 average of $1.46 is worth $5.70. The actual 2025 average was $7.02. So a pound of sliced bacon outpaced prices in general: after adjusting for inflation, it cost 23% more in 2025 than in 1980.
Highs, lows and big moves
The highest yearly average in this record is $7.31 in 2022, and the lowest is $1.46 in 1980. The biggest one-year increase was 24%, from $1.99 in 1995 to $2.47 in 1996. The biggest one-year decrease was 14%, from $2.22 in 1991 to $1.92 in 1992.
Of the 10 items in meat and poultry tracked here, 4 rose faster than inflation over their full records, and this is one of them.
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series APU0000704111), 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.