Price of a pound of pork chops by year, 1980–2025
A pound of pork chops cost $1.95 on average in 1980 and $4.56 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 134% over those years while prices in general rose 291%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 40% less in 2025 than in 1980.
- Average in 1980
- $1.95
- Average in 2025
- $4.56
- Highest year, 2025
- $4.56
- Biggest one-year rise, 1990
- +14%
- Against inflation
- Trailed it by 40%
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 | $1.95 | $7.62 | — |
| 1981 | $2.13 | $7.54 | +9% |
| 1982 | $2.39 | $7.97 | +12% |
| 1983 | $2.37 | $7.66 | −1% |
| 1984 | $2.38 | $7.37 | 0% |
| 1985 | $2.34 | $7.00 | −2% |
| 1986 | $2.59 | $7.61 | +11% |
| 1987 | $2.82 | $7.99 | +9% |
| 1988 | $2.77 | $7.54 | −2% |
| 1989 | $2.85 | $7.40 | +3% |
| 1990 | $3.26 | $8.03 | +14% |
| 1991 | $3.26 | $7.71 | 0% |
| 1992 | $3.15 | $7.23 | −3% |
| 1993 | $3.24 | $7.22 | +3% |
| 1994 | $3.22 | $6.99 | −1% |
| 1995 | $3.21 | $6.78 | 0% |
| 1996 | $3.41 | $7.00 | +6% |
| 1997 | $3.48 | $6.98 | +2% |
| 1998 | $3.23 | $6.38 | −7% |
| 1999 | $3.17 | $6.13 | −2% |
| 2000 | $3.37 | $6.30 | +6% |
| 2001 | $3.52 | $6.40 | +4% |
| 2002 | $3.40 | $6.08 | −3% |
| 2003 | $3.13 | $5.48 | −8% |
| 2004 | $3.08 | $5.25 | −2% |
| 2005 | $3.25 | $5.36 | +6% |
| 2006 | $3.28 | $5.24 | +1% |
| 2007 | $3.29 | $5.11 | 0% |
| 2008 | $3.46 | $5.17 | +5% |
| 2009 | $3.35 | $5.03 | −3% |
| 2010 | $3.45 | $5.09 | +3% |
| 2011 | $3.73 | $5.34 | +8% |
| 2012 | $3.73 | $5.23 | 0% |
| 2013 | $3.68 | $5.09 | −1% |
| 2014 | $4.19 | $5.70 | +14% |
| 2015 | $4.11 | $5.58 | −2% |
| 2016 | $3.87 | $5.19 | −6% |
| 2017 | $3.73 | $4.90 | −4% |
| 2018 | $3.80 | $4.87 | +2% |
| 2019 | $3.84 | $4.84 | +1% |
| 2020 | $4.12 | $5.12 | +7% |
| 2021 | $4.22 | $5.01 | +2% |
| 2022 | $4.55 | $5.01 | +8% |
| 2023 | $4.50 | $4.75 | −1% |
| 2024 | $4.53 | $4.65 | +1% |
| 2025 | $4.56 | $4.56 | +1% |
Decade by decade
In the 1980s, a pound of pork chops averaged $2.46, from a low of $1.95 in 1980 to a high of $2.85 in 1989. Across the 1990s the yearly average ran from $3.15 in 1992 to $3.48 in 1997, for a decade average of $3.26. The 2000s averaged $3.31: the most expensive year was 2001 at $3.52 and the cheapest 2004 at $3.08. In the 2010s, a pound of pork chops averaged $3.81, from a low of $3.45 in 2010 to a high of $4.19 in 2014. Across the 2020s the yearly average ran from $4.12 in 2020 to $4.56 in 2025, for a decade average of $4.41.
Every five years in this record: 1980 $1.95, 1985 $2.34, 1990 $3.26, 1995 $3.21, 2000 $3.37, 2005 $3.25, 2010 $3.45, 2015 $4.11, 2020 $4.12 and 2025 $4.56. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 8%, from $4.22 to $4.56.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1980 average of $1.95 is worth $7.62. The actual 2025 average was $4.56. So after adjusting for inflation, a pound of pork chops cost 40% 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 $4.56 in 2025, and the lowest is $1.95 in 1980. The biggest one-year increase was 14%, from $2.85 in 1989 to $3.26 in 1990. The biggest one-year decrease was 8%, from $3.40 in 2002 to $3.13 in 2003.
Of the 10 items in meat and poultry tracked here, 4 rose faster than inflation over their full records.
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series APU0000704211), 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.