Price of a pound of boneless ham by year, 1991–2025
A pound of boneless ham cost $2.91 on average in 1991 and $5.48 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 88% over those years while prices in general rose 136%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 20% less in 2025 than in 1991.
- Average in 1991
- $2.91
- Average in 2025
- $5.48
- Highest year, 2023
- $5.71
- Biggest one-year rise, 2022
- +10%
- Against inflation
- Trailed it by 20%
Every year
The table lists all 35 years with data, from 1991 to 2025. Select a year to see what everything else cost that year.
| Year | Average price | In 2025 dollars | Change from year before |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | $2.91 | $6.88 | — |
| 1992 | $2.75 | $6.31 | −5% |
| 1993 | $2.73 | $6.08 | −1% |
| 1994 | $2.61 | $5.67 | −4% |
| 1995 | $2.54 | $5.37 | −3% |
| 1996 | $2.70 | $5.54 | +6% |
| 1997 | $2.79 | $5.60 | +3% |
| 1998 | $2.81 | $5.55 | +1% |
| 1999 | $2.86 | $5.53 | +2% |
| 2000 | $2.79 | $5.22 | −2% |
| 2001 | $2.74 | $4.98 | −2% |
| 2002 | $2.82 | $5.05 | +3% |
| 2003 | $2.89 | $5.06 | +2% |
| 2004 | $3.05 | $5.20 | +6% |
| 2005 | $3.16 | $5.21 | +4% |
| 2006 | $3.13 | $5.00 | −1% |
| 2007 | $3.13 | $4.86 | 0% |
| 2008 | $3.21 | $4.80 | +3% |
| 2009 | $3.38 | $5.07 | +5% |
| 2010 | $3.39 | $5.01 | 0% |
| 2011 | $3.59 | $5.14 | +6% |
| 2012 | $3.73 | $5.23 | +4% |
| 2013 | $3.98 | $5.50 | +7% |
| 2014 | $4.33 | $5.89 | +9% |
| 2015 | $4.19 | $5.69 | −3% |
| 2016 | $4.03 | $5.41 | −4% |
| 2017 | $3.87 | $5.08 | −4% |
| 2018 | $4.02 | $5.15 | +4% |
| 2019 | $4.24 | $5.34 | +5% |
| 2020 | $4.49 | $5.59 | +6% |
| 2021 | $4.83 | $5.74 | +8% |
| 2022 | $5.29 | $5.82 | +10% |
| 2023 | $5.71 | $6.03 | +8% |
| 2024 | $5.61 | $5.76 | −2% |
| 2025 | $5.48 | $5.48 | −2% |
Decade by decade
The 1990s averaged $2.74: the most expensive year was 1991 at $2.91 and the cheapest 1995 at $2.54. In the 2000s, a pound of boneless ham averaged $3.03, from a low of $2.74 in 2001 to a high of $3.38 in 2009. Across the 2010s the yearly average ran from $3.39 in 2010 to $4.33 in 2014, for a decade average of $3.94. The 2020s averaged $5.24: the most expensive year was 2023 at $5.71 and the cheapest 2020 at $4.49.
Every five years in this record: 1995 $2.54, 2000 $2.79, 2005 $3.16, 2010 $3.39, 2015 $4.19, 2020 $4.49 and 2025 $5.48. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 13%, from $4.83 to $5.48.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1991 average of $2.91 is worth $6.88. The actual 2025 average was $5.48. So after adjusting for inflation, a pound of boneless ham cost 20% less in 2025 than in 1991, even though the price on the shelf went up.
Highs, lows and big moves
The highest yearly average in this record is $5.71 in 2023, and the lowest is $2.54 in 1995. The biggest one-year increase was 10%, from $4.83 in 2021 to $5.29 in 2022. The biggest one-year decrease was 5%, from $2.91 in 1991 to $2.75 in 1992.
Of the 10 items in meat and poultry tracked here, 4 rose faster than inflation over their full records. This record starts in 1991, the first year with at least nine months of Bureau prices.
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series APU0000704312), 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.