If there’s one consistent pattern on this list, it’s the law of supply and demand. The more popular an item is, the greater its price has increased. Inflation has propelled prices on these 20 items painfully further.
20. White Bread
White bread increased by $1.47 from 1980 to 2024. As of May 2024, the price per pound of white bread in the US was $1.97, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). In January 1980, a pound of bread sold for $0.50. Bread prices began a continual rise starting August 2019, when a pound sold for $1.27.
19. Grapefruit
Although the cost of grapefruit has fluctuated over the past 24 years, it has encompassed a steady rise of $1.32 per pound from 1980 to 2024. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the US average price per pound of grapefruit was $1.65 in May 2024. In January 1980, grapefruit sold at $0.33 per pound.
18. Peppers
The prices of peppers (sweet) increased by $1.63 from 1980 to 2024. Over the last quarter of a century, pepper prices have spiked wildly. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the US average price per pound of peppers was $2.44 in May 2024. In January 1980, peppers sold at $0.81 per pound.
17. All Pork
The prices of all other pork products (excluding canned ham and luncheon slices) increased by at least $1.99 from 1980 to 2024. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the US average price per pound of all pork was $3.76 in May 2024. The earliest available BLS data is January 1998 when pork sold at $1.77 per pound.
16. Eggs
Eggs are one of the most bemoaned price increases in recent years. From 1980 to 2024, egg prices rose by $2.26. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the US average price per dozen eggs was $3.21 in May 2024. In January 1980, a dozen eggs cost $0.95. Eggs spiked to an insane $5.27 per dozen in January 2023.
15. American Cheese
A staple of hamburgers and many other sandwiches, American cheese saw an estimated price increase of $2.42 from 1980 to 2024. As of May 2024, the average cost for a pound of American processed cheese was $4.82, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The earliest BLS data is from January 1984, when American cheese cost $2.48 per pound.
14. Cheddar Cheese
Prices for cheddar cheese have increased by $2.51 from 1984 to 2024. Prices have dropped a bit since spiking at $6.08 per pound in September 2022 in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. As of May 2024, cheddar cheese costs $5.55 per pound. In January 1984, cheddar cheese cost $3.04 per pound.
13. Pork Chops
Pork chops saw an estimated price increase of $2.57 from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), pork chop prices were $4.39 per pound as of May 2024. The accessible BLS data only goes back to January 1998, when pork chops cost $3.17 per pound.
12. Gasoline (All Types)
The cost of all types of gasoline per gallon rose by $2.647 from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average price of all grades and formulations of retail gasoline was $1.078 in April 1993. As of May 2024, the price per gallon was $3.725. National gasoline prices spiked in June 2022 at $5.032 per gallon.
11. All Ham
The price of all ham (excluding canned ham and luncheon slices) rose by at least $2.69 from 1980 to 2024. As of May 2024, the price per pound of all ham in the US was $4.97, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. BLS data extends only to January 1998, when the price per pound of all ham was $2.28 per pound.
10. Coffee
The price of coffee has been erratic over the years. The average price of coffee has risen by $2.80 from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), coffee prices spiked to $6.46 in December 2022. As of April 2024, coffee costs $6.06 per pound. In January 1980, coffee prices were at $3.20 per pound.
9. Orange Juice (Frozen Concentrate)
Buyers have been squeezed by an extra $2.95 for the price of orange juice (frozen concentrate) from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, orange juice prices were $4.19 as of May 2024 per 12-ounce can in the US. In January 1980, OJ was $1.24. Prices fell to $2.26 in November 2019, then climbed steadily.
8. Frankfurters (Wieners, Hotdogs)
The cost of all meat/beef frankfurters stretched by $3.54 from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, frankfurter prices sat at $5.22 as of April 2024 per pound in the US. In January 1980, frankfurter prices were $1.68 per pound. In June 2017, prices dipped a buck to $2.60 a pound, then rose ever since.
7. Cookies
The average price of cookies in the US heated up by $3.63 from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), ice cream prices sat at $5.12 as of May 2024 per pound in the US. Prices spiked in March 2023 at $5.23. In January 1980, ice cream prices were $1.49 per pound.
6. Ice Cream
The price of ice cream has soared by $4.61 from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), ice cream prices sat at $6.37 as of May 2024 per one-half gallon in the US. In January 1980, ice cream prices were $1.76 per one-half gallon.
5. Potato Chips
Potato chip prices saw an increase of $4.65 from 1980 to 2024. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), potato chip prices sat at $6.63 as of May 2024 per 16 ounces in the US. In January 1980, potato chip prices were $1.98 per 16 ounces. While prices have dipped briefly at times, they’ve climbed steadily.
4. Steak (Round) and Beef Prices
The cost of round steak increased by a colossal $5.38 from 1980 to 2024. Ground beef averaged $4.12 per pound in 2020, up 31 cents from 2019. In March 2024, the USDA all-fresh beef retail price reached a record $7.89 per pound. In May 2024, the average price for all uncooked beef steaks in the US hit $10.734 per pound.
3. Wine
The price of wine has jumped $8.38 per liter from 1980 to 2024. But according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the average price of a liter (33.8 ounces) of wine spiked to $14.42 in December 2014 and is at $13.86 as of May 2024. The BLS shows the price at $4.45 in August 1995.
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2. Average New Vehicle Price
The price of new (and used) vehicles has skyrocketed under inflation. The average price of a new vehicle from 1980 to 2024 has increased by a stupendous $20,144. In March 2024, the average price for new non-luxury vehicles was $44,052. In 2024, the price of a pickup truck ranges from $36,870 to $96,340.
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1. Median Home Price
By far, the most gargantuan price spike of all categories in the last quarter century has been that of US home prices. From 1980 to 2024 the median sale price for a home in the United States has increased by a whopping $364,000. The average 30-year mortgage rate in 1980 was 12.85%. Currently, they’ve dipped just under 7%.
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