Prices in 1982 vs. Today: Food, Gas & More

Prices are now 3.5x higher than in 1982

In 1982, a dozen eggs cost $0.87, a gallon of gas cost $1.30 and a pound of white bread cost $0.53.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1982 costs about $347.13 today. The inflation rate in 1982 was 6.2%, and total inflation from 1982 to August 2026 was 247%.

The effects of inflation can vary. Adjusted for inflation, the biggest increase since 1982 was for grapefruit (up 31%), and the biggest drop was for chicken legs (down 55%).

What things cost in 1982
Dozen eggs	$0.87 → $2.27
Gallon of gas	$1.30 → $4.20
Pound of bread	$0.53 → $1.82
Pound of coffee	$2.52 → $9.30
All prices, on average	$100.00 → $347.13

Biggest price changes since 1982

The lists below break down price changes by item.

Each list shows average prices in 1982 compared to the price today. These are the actual prices people paid on average. For comparison, prices overall rose 247% between 1982 and August 2026.These prices are inflation-adjusted, meaning all values shown are adjusted for the baseline of 247% inflation between 1982 and August 2026.

More inflation

Grapefruit353% higher31% higher
Was $0.35 in 1982, now $1.60 per lbWas $1.23 in today's dollars, now $1.60 per lb
Heating oil326% higher23% higher
Was $1.21 in 1982, now $5.15 per gallonWas $4.20 in today's dollars, now $5.15 per gallon
Navel oranges295% higher14% higher
Was $0.43 in 1982, now $1.71 per lbWas $1.50 in today's dollars, now $1.71 per lb
Ground chuck282% higher10% higher
Was $1.77 in 1982, now $6.77 per lbWas $6.16 in today's dollars, now $6.77 per lb
Ground coffee268% higher6% higher
Was $2.52 in 1982, now $9.30 per lbWas $8.76 in today's dollars, now $9.30 per lb

Less inflation

Chicken legs56% higher55% lower
Was $1.07 in 1982, now $1.67 per lbWas $3.71 in today's dollars, now $1.67 per lb
Bananas84% higher47% lower
Was $0.35 in 1982, now $0.65 per lbWas $1.23 in today's dollars, now $0.65 per lb
Rice120% higher37% lower
Was $0.50 in 1982, now $1.11 per lbWas $1.75 in today's dollars, now $1.11 per lb
Flour145% higher29% lower
Was $0.22 in 1982, now $0.55 per lbWas $0.78 in today's dollars, now $0.55 per lb
Iceberg lettuce157% higher26% lower
Was $0.57 in 1982, now $1.47 per lbWas $1.99 in today's dollars, now $1.47 per lb

Food and energy prices in 1982

These are the average prices Americans paid in 1982, next to what the same items cost in August 2026.These 1982 prices are converted to today's dollars. This means that the changes are relative to inflation.

Gas & energy

Item	19821982 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Gasoline, regularper gallon	1982$1.301982, adjusted$4.50	Today$4.20	Change224% higherAfter inflation7% lower
Gasoline, premiumper gallon	1982$1.421982, adjusted$4.91	Today$5.13	Change263% higherAfter inflation4% higher
Electricityper kWh	1982$0.081982, adjusted$0.26	Today$0.20	Change158% higherAfter inflation26% lower
Natural gas (piped)per therm	1982$0.561982, adjusted$1.94	Today$1.71	Change206% higherAfter inflation12% lower
Heating oilper gallon	1982$1.211982, adjusted$4.20	Today$5.15	Change326% higherAfter inflation23% higher

Meat & poultry

Item	19821982 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Ground chuck per lb	1982$1.771982, adjusted$6.16	Today$6.77	Change282% higherAfter inflation10% higher
Round steak per lb	1982$2.951982, adjusted$10.25	Today$9.69	Change228% higherAfter inflation5% lower
Round roast per lb	1982$2.641982, adjusted$9.15	Today$8.96	Change240% higherAfter inflation2% lower
Baconper lb	1982$2.051982, adjusted$7.13	Today$6.61	Change222% higherAfter inflation7% lower
Whole chickenper lb	1982$0.711982, adjusted$2.48	Today$2.01	Change182% higherAfter inflation19% lower
Chicken legs per lb	1982$1.071982, adjusted$3.71	Today$1.67	Change56% higherAfter inflation55% lower

Dairy & eggs

Item	19821982 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Eggs, grade A largeper dozen	1982$0.871982, adjusted$3.01	Today$2.27	Change162% higherAfter inflation24% lower
Ice cream per ½ gallon	1982$2.101982, adjusted$7.30	Today$5.85	Change178% higherAfter inflation20% lower

Fruits & vegetables

Item	19821982 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Bananasper lb	1982$0.351982, adjusted$1.23	Today$0.65	Change84% higherAfter inflation47% lower
Navel orangesper lb	1982$0.431982, adjusted$1.50	Today$1.71	Change295% higherAfter inflation14% higher
Grapefruit per lb	1982$0.351982, adjusted$1.23	Today$1.60	Change353% higherAfter inflation31% higher
Lemons per lb	1982$0.771982, adjusted$2.67	Today$2.11	Change174% higherAfter inflation21% lower
Strawberries per 12 oz	1982$0.841982, adjusted$2.92	Today$2.58	Change206% higherAfter inflation12% lower
Tomatoesper lb	1982$0.741982, adjusted$2.56	Today$1.98	Change168% higherAfter inflation23% lower
Iceberg lettuceper lb	1982$0.571982, adjusted$1.99	Today$1.47	Change157% higherAfter inflation26% lower

Pantry & bakery

Item	19821982 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
White breadper lb	1982$0.531982, adjusted$1.85	Today$1.82	Change243% higherAfter inflation1% lower
Flour per lb	1982$0.221982, adjusted$0.78	Today$0.55	Change145% higherAfter inflation29% lower
Riceper lb	1982$0.501982, adjusted$1.75	Today$1.11	Change120% higherAfter inflation37% lower
Sugar per lb	1982$0.351982, adjusted$1.20	Today$1.02	Change197% higherAfter inflation15% lower
Chocolate chip cookiesper lb	1982$1.771982, adjusted$6.15	Today$5.21	Change194% higherAfter inflation15% lower
Potato chipsper 16 oz	1982$2.401982, adjusted$8.33	Today$6.75	Change181% higherAfter inflation19% lower

Drinks

Item	19821982 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Ground coffeeper lb	1982$2.521982, adjusted$8.76	Today$9.30	Change268% higherAfter inflation6% higher

Frequently asked questions

How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1982?

A dozen eggs cost an average of $0.87 in 1982. In August 2026, the average price was $2.27. After adjusting for inflation, that's 24% lower than in 1982.

How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1982?

A gallon of gas cost an average of $1.30 in 1982. In August 2026, the average price was $4.20. After adjusting for inflation, that's 7% lower than in 1982.

How much did a pound of white bread cost in 1982?

A pound of white bread cost an average of $0.53 in 1982. In August 2026, the average price was $1.82. After adjusting for inflation, that's 1% lower than in 1982.

How much did a pound of coffee cost in 1982?

A pound of coffee cost an average of $2.52 in 1982. In August 2026, the average price was $9.30. After adjusting for inflation, that's 6% higher than in 1982.

How much is $1 from 1982 worth today?

$1 in 1982 has about the same buying power as $3.47 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.

What was the inflation rate in 1982?

The U.S. inflation rate in 1982 was 6.2%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1981 to 1982.

Where these prices come from

These prices come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which checks what everyday items cost in stores across the U.S. every month. The 1982 prices are averages for the whole year, and today's prices are from August 2026.

To adjust 1982 prices for inflation, we use the same consumer price index as our 1982 inflation calculator. The raw price data is available on the BLS website.

Prices in other years

About the author

Ian Webster is an engineer and data expert based in San Mateo, California. He has worked for Google, NASA, and consulted for governments around the world on data pipelines and data analysis. Disappointed by the lack of clear resources on the impacts of inflation on economic indicators, Ian believes this website serves as a valuable public tool. Ian earned his degree in Computer Science from Dartmouth College.

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What things cost in 1982
Dozen eggs	$0.87 → $2.27
Gallon of gas	$1.30 → $4.20
Pound of bread	$0.53 → $1.82
Pound of coffee	$2.52 → $9.30
All prices, on average	$100.00 → $347.13

Prices in 1982 vs. today