Price of a pound of chocolate chip cookies by year, 1980–2025
A pound of chocolate chip cookies cost $1.58 on average in 1980 and $5.05 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 220% over those years while prices in general rose 291%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 18% less in 2025 than in 1980.
- Average in 1980
- $1.58
- Average in 2025
- $5.05
- Highest year, 2023
- $5.12
- Biggest one-year rise, 2022
- +15%
- Against inflation
- Trailed it by 18%
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 | $1.58 | $6.17 | — |
| 1981 | $1.73 | $6.13 | +9% |
| 1982 | $1.77 | $5.91 | +2% |
| 1983 | $1.82 | $5.88 | +3% |
| 1984 | $1.87 | $5.79 | +3% |
| 1985 | $1.94 | $5.80 | +4% |
| 1986 | $1.99 | $5.85 | +3% |
| 1987 | $2.00 | $5.67 | +1% |
| 1988 | $2.12 | $5.77 | +6% |
| 1989 | $2.38 | $6.18 | +12% |
| 1990 | $2.61 | $6.43 | +10% |
| 1991 | $2.69 | $6.36 | +3% |
| 1992 | $2.77 | $6.36 | +3% |
| 1993 | $2.46 | $5.48 | −11% |
| 1994 | $2.54 | $5.52 | +3% |
| 1995 | $2.47 | $5.22 | −3% |
| 1996 | $2.58 | $5.29 | +4% |
| 1997 | $2.61 | $5.24 | +1% |
| 1998 | $2.54 | $5.02 | −3% |
| 1999 | $2.60 | $5.02 | +2% |
| 2000 | $2.59 | $4.84 | 0% |
| 2001 | $2.44 | $4.44 | −6% |
| 2002 | $2.59 | $4.63 | +6% |
| 2003 | $2.81 | $4.92 | +8% |
| 2004 | $2.65 | $4.52 | −6% |
| 2005 | $2.67 | $4.40 | +1% |
| 2006 | $2.88 | $4.60 | +8% |
| 2007 | $2.70 | $4.19 | −6% |
| 2008 | $2.88 | $4.31 | +7% |
| 2009 | $3.17 | $4.76 | +10% |
| 2010 | $3.25 | $4.80 | +3% |
| 2011 | $3.35 | $4.79 | +3% |
| 2012 | $3.62 | $5.08 | +8% |
| 2013 | $3.64 | $5.03 | +1% |
| 2014 | $3.41 | $4.64 | −6% |
| 2015 | $3.35 | $4.55 | −2% |
| 2016 | $3.35 | $4.49 | 0% |
| 2017 | $3.49 | $4.58 | +4% |
| 2018 | $3.50 | $4.49 | 0% |
| 2019 | $3.49 | $4.39 | 0% |
| 2020 | $3.70 | $4.60 | +6% |
| 2021 | $3.96 | $4.70 | +7% |
| 2022 | $4.56 | $5.02 | +15% |
| 2023 | $5.12 | $5.41 | +12% |
| 2024 | $5.04 | $5.17 | −2% |
| 2025 | $5.05 | $5.05 | 0% |
Decade by decade
Across the 1980s the yearly average ran from $1.58 in 1980 to $2.38 in 1989, for a decade average of $1.92. The 1990s averaged $2.59: the most expensive year was 1992 at $2.77 and the cheapest 1993 at $2.46. In the 2000s, a pound of chocolate chip cookies averaged $2.74, from a low of $2.44 in 2001 to a high of $3.17 in 2009. Across the 2010s the yearly average ran from $3.25 in 2010 to $3.64 in 2013, for a decade average of $3.45. The 2020s averaged $4.57: the most expensive year was 2023 at $5.12 and the cheapest 2020 at $3.70.
Every five years in this record: 1980 $1.58, 1985 $1.94, 1990 $2.61, 1995 $2.47, 2000 $2.59, 2005 $2.67, 2010 $3.25, 2015 $3.35, 2020 $3.70 and 2025 $5.05. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 28%, from $3.96 to $5.05.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1980 average of $1.58 is worth $6.17. The actual 2025 average was $5.05. So after adjusting for inflation, a pound of chocolate chip cookies cost 18% less in 2025 than in 1980, even though the price on the shelf went up.
Highs, lows and big moves
The highest yearly average in this record is $5.12 in 2023, and the lowest is $1.58 in 1980. The biggest one-year increase was 15%, from $3.96 in 2021 to $4.56 in 2022. The biggest one-year decrease was 11%, from $2.77 in 1992 to $2.46 in 1993.
Of the 6 items in bread, grains and baking tracked here, 0 rose faster than inflation over their full records.
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series APU0000702421), 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.