Sticker Shock FAQ
Answers to the questions players ask most about Sticker Shock.
Is there a game where you guess old prices?
Yes. Sticker Shock is a free daily guess-the-price game: each day you guess what five everyday things, such as eggs, gas or bread, cost in a past year, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics averages.
Why do some old prices seem so low?
Because a dollar bought more back then. After each guess, Sticker Shock shows the real price next to its value in today's dollars, adjusted with the Consumer Price Index, so you can see whether an item really got pricier or simply kept pace with inflation.
Can I use Sticker Shock to teach inflation?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and uses official U.S. government price data, so a round makes a quick classroom warm-up on inflation and purchasing power. The data page explains how every price is calculated.
When does a new Sticker Shock puzzle start?
A new daily puzzle unlocks at midnight in your own time zone. Everyone plays the same five prices on the same calendar date.
Where do the prices come from?
They are U.S. city average prices published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, averaged over each calendar year.
Why is the price different from what I remember paying?
The game uses national averages per unit, such as per pound or per gallon. Your local store, brand or package size may have been different.
How is my score calculated?
Each item is worth up to 100 points. Within 5 percent of the real price earns 100; at 60 percent off or more it earns zero; points fall smoothly in between.
What does "in today’s dollars" mean?
It is the old price adjusted for overall inflation using the Consumer Price Index, so you can compare it with prices now.
Do hints affect my streak?
No. Free hints add a light bulb to your shared result, and hints unlocked by watching an optional ad do not, but neither breaks a streak.
Can I play puzzles I missed?
Yes. The archive has every past daily puzzle. Archive games count toward your statistics but not your streak.
Is Sticker Shock financial advice?
No. It is a game built on public data that may contain errors. Do not use it to make financial decisions.