Price of 16 ounces of potato chips by year, 1980–2025
16 ounces of potato chips cost $2.04 on average in 1980 and $6.71 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 229% over those years while prices in general rose 291%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 16% less in 2025 than in 1980.
- Average in 1980
- $2.04
- Average in 2025
- $6.71
- Highest year, 2025
- $6.71
- Biggest one-year rise, 2022
- +15%
- Against inflation
- Trailed it by 16%
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 | $2.04 | $7.97 | — |
| 1981 | $2.28 | $8.08 | +12% |
| 1982 | $2.40 | $8.01 | +5% |
| 1983 | $2.50 | $8.08 | +4% |
| 1984 | $2.57 | $7.96 | +3% |
| 1985 | $2.61 | $7.81 | +2% |
| 1986 | $2.68 | $7.87 | +3% |
| 1987 | $2.75 | $7.79 | +3% |
| 1988 | $2.62 | $7.13 | −5% |
| 1989 | $2.86 | $7.43 | +9% |
| 1990 | $2.96 | $7.29 | +3% |
| 1991 | $2.96 | $7.00 | 0% |
| 1992 | $2.90 | $6.65 | −2% |
| 1993 | $2.88 | $6.42 | −1% |
| 1994 | $2.97 | $6.45 | +3% |
| 1995 | $3.00 | $6.34 | +1% |
| 1996 | $3.06 | $6.28 | +2% |
| 1997 | $3.13 | $6.28 | +2% |
| 1998 | $3.16 | $6.24 | +1% |
| 1999 | $3.26 | $6.30 | +3% |
| 2000 | $3.36 | $6.28 | +3% |
| 2001 | $3.43 | $6.24 | +2% |
| 2002 | $3.36 | $6.01 | −2% |
| 2003 | $3.50 | $6.12 | +4% |
| 2004 | $3.40 | $5.79 | −3% |
| 2005 | $3.37 | $5.56 | −1% |
| 2006 | $3.47 | $5.54 | +3% |
| 2007 | $3.53 | $5.48 | +2% |
| 2008 | $4.02 | $6.01 | +14% |
| 2009 | $4.57 | $6.86 | +14% |
| 2010 | $4.64 | $6.85 | +2% |
| 2011 | $4.97 | $7.11 | +7% |
| 2012 | $4.99 | $7.00 | 0% |
| 2013 | $4.66 | $6.44 | −7% |
| 2014 | $4.37 | $5.94 | −6% |
| 2015 | $4.41 | $5.99 | +1% |
| 2016 | $4.46 | $5.98 | +1% |
| 2017 | $4.41 | $5.79 | −1% |
| 2018 | $4.45 | $5.71 | +1% |
| 2019 | $4.49 | $5.65 | +1% |
| 2020 | $4.92 | $6.12 | +10% |
| 2021 | $5.08 | $6.04 | +3% |
| 2022 | $5.83 | $6.41 | +15% |
| 2023 | $6.45 | $6.81 | +11% |
| 2024 | $6.45 | $6.62 | 0% |
| 2025 | $6.71 | $6.71 | +4% |
Decade by decade
In the 1980s, 16 ounces of potato chips averaged $2.53, from a low of $2.04 in 1980 to a high of $2.86 in 1989. Across the 1990s the yearly average ran from $2.88 in 1993 to $3.26 in 1999, for a decade average of $3.03. The 2000s averaged $3.60: the most expensive year was 2009 at $4.57 and the cheapest 2000 at $3.36. In the 2010s, 16 ounces of potato chips averaged $4.59, from a low of $4.37 in 2014 to a high of $4.99 in 2012. Across the 2020s the yearly average ran from $4.92 in 2020 to $6.71 in 2025, for a decade average of $5.91.
Every five years in this record: 1980 $2.04, 1985 $2.61, 1990 $2.96, 1995 $3.00, 2000 $3.36, 2005 $3.37, 2010 $4.64, 2015 $4.41, 2020 $4.92 and 2025 $6.71. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 32%, from $5.08 to $6.71.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1980 average of $2.04 is worth $7.97. The actual 2025 average was $6.71. So after adjusting for inflation, 16 ounces of potato chips cost 16% 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 $6.71 in 2025, and the lowest is $2.04 in 1980. The biggest one-year increase was 15%, from $5.08 in 2021 to $5.83 in 2022. The biggest one-year decrease was 7%, from $4.99 in 2012 to $4.66 in 2013.
Of the 4 items in pantry and snacks 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 APU0000718311), 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.