Price of a half gallon of ice cream by year, 1980–2025
A half gallon of ice cream cost $1.82 on average in 1980 and $6.37 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 250% over those years while prices in general rose 291%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 10% less in 2025 than in 1980.
- Average in 1980
- $1.82
- Average in 2025
- $6.37
- Highest year, 2025
- $6.37
- Biggest one-year rise, 2022
- +11%
- Against inflation
- Trailed it by 10%
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 | $1.82 | $7.11 | — |
| 1981 | $2.02 | $7.15 | +11% |
| 1982 | $2.10 | $7.01 | +4% |
| 1983 | $2.16 | $6.98 | +3% |
| 1984 | $2.22 | $6.88 | +3% |
| 1985 | $2.30 | $6.88 | +4% |
| 1986 | $2.36 | $6.93 | +3% |
| 1987 | $2.46 | $6.97 | +4% |
| 1988 | $2.46 | $6.69 | 0% |
| 1989 | $2.60 | $6.75 | +6% |
| 1990 | $2.60 | $6.40 | 0% |
| 1991 | $2.58 | $6.10 | −1% |
| 1992 | $2.58 | $5.92 | 0% |
| 1993 | $2.53 | $5.64 | −2% |
| 1994 | $2.63 | $5.71 | +4% |
| 1995 | $2.65 | $5.60 | +1% |
| 1996 | $2.86 | $5.87 | +8% |
| 1997 | $2.92 | $5.86 | +2% |
| 1998 | $3.13 | $6.18 | +7% |
| 1999 | $3.30 | $6.38 | +5% |
| 2000 | $3.45 | $6.45 | +5% |
| 2001 | $3.70 | $6.73 | +7% |
| 2002 | $3.73 | $6.68 | +1% |
| 2003 | $3.81 | $6.67 | +2% |
| 2004 | $3.84 | $6.54 | +1% |
| 2005 | $3.74 | $6.17 | −3% |
| 2006 | $3.75 | $5.99 | 0% |
| 2007 | $3.95 | $6.13 | +5% |
| 2008 | $4.21 | $6.30 | +7% |
| 2009 | $4.32 | $6.48 | +3% |
| 2010 | $4.46 | $6.58 | +3% |
| 2011 | $4.93 | $7.06 | +11% |
| 2012 | $5.04 | $7.07 | +2% |
| 2013 | $4.99 | $6.90 | −1% |
| 2014 | $4.89 | $6.65 | −2% |
| 2015 | $4.74 | $6.44 | −3% |
| 2016 | $4.76 | $6.39 | 0% |
| 2017 | $4.69 | $6.16 | −1% |
| 2018 | $4.74 | $6.08 | +1% |
| 2019 | $4.81 | $6.06 | +1% |
| 2020 | $4.92 | $6.12 | +2% |
| 2021 | $4.89 | $5.81 | −1% |
| 2022 | $5.43 | $5.97 | +11% |
| 2023 | $5.90 | $6.23 | +9% |
| 2024 | $6.13 | $6.29 | +4% |
| 2025 | $6.37 | $6.37 | +4% |
Decade by decade
In the 1980s, a half gallon of ice cream averaged $2.25, from a low of $1.82 in 1980 to a high of $2.60 in 1989. Across the 1990s the yearly average ran from $2.53 in 1993 to $3.30 in 1999, for a decade average of $2.78. The 2000s averaged $3.85: the most expensive year was 2009 at $4.32 and the cheapest 2000 at $3.45. In the 2010s, a half gallon of ice cream averaged $4.81, from a low of $4.46 in 2010 to a high of $5.04 in 2012. Across the 2020s the yearly average ran from $4.89 in 2021 to $6.37 in 2025, for a decade average of $5.61.
Every five years in this record: 1980 $1.82, 1985 $2.30, 1990 $2.60, 1995 $2.65, 2000 $3.45, 2005 $3.74, 2010 $4.46, 2015 $4.74, 2020 $4.92 and 2025 $6.37. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 30%, from $4.89 to $6.37.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1980 average of $1.82 is worth $7.11. The actual 2025 average was $6.37. So after adjusting for inflation, a half gallon of ice cream cost 10% 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 $6.37 in 2025, and the lowest is $1.82 in 1980. The biggest one-year increase was 11%, from $4.89 in 2021 to $5.43 in 2022. The biggest one-year decrease was 3%, from $4.89 in 2014 to $4.74 in 2015.
Of the 5 items in eggs and dairy tracked here, 1 rose faster than inflation over their full records.
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series APU0000710411), 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.