Prices in 1986 vs. Today: Food, Gas & More

Prices are now 3.1x higher than in 1986

In 1986, a dozen eggs cost $0.87, a gallon of gas cost $0.93 and a pound of white bread cost $0.56.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1986 costs about $305.64 today. The inflation rate in 1986 was 1.9%, and total inflation from 1986 to August 2026 was 206%.

The effects of inflation can vary. Adjusted for inflation, the biggest increase since 1986 was for heating oil (up 102%), and the biggest drop was for chicken legs (down 53%).

What things cost in 1986
Dozen eggs	$0.87 → $2.27
Gallon of gas	$0.93 → $4.20
Pound of bread	$0.56 → $1.82
Pound of ground beef	$1.23 → $6.92
Pound of coffee	$3.43 → $9.30
All prices, on average	$100.00 → $305.64

Biggest price changes since 1986

The lists below break down price changes by item.

Each list shows average prices in 1986 compared to the price today. These are the actual prices people paid on average. For comparison, prices overall rose 206% between 1986 and August 2026.These prices are inflation-adjusted, meaning all values shown are adjusted for the baseline of 206% inflation between 1986 and August 2026.

More inflation

Heating oil517% higher102% higher
Was $0.83 in 1986, now $5.15 per gallonWas $2.55 in today's dollars, now $5.15 per gallon
Ground beef462% higher84% higher
Was $1.23 in 1986, now $6.92 per lbWas $3.77 in today's dollars, now $6.92 per lb
Gasoline, premium373% higher55% higher
Was $1.08 in 1986, now $5.13 per gallonWas $3.32 in today's dollars, now $5.13 per gallon
Gasoline, regular353% higher48% higher
Was $0.93 in 1986, now $4.20 per gallonWas $2.83 in today's dollars, now $4.20 per gallon
Ground chuck314% higher35% higher
Was $1.64 in 1986, now $6.77 per lbWas $5.00 in today's dollars, now $6.77 per lb

Less inflation

Chicken legs43% higher53% lower
Was $1.17 in 1986, now $1.67 per lbWas $3.57 in today's dollars, now $1.67 per lb
Bananas69% higher45% lower
Was $0.38 in 1986, now $0.65 per lbWas $1.18 in today's dollars, now $0.65 per lb
American cheese82% higher40% lower
Was $2.60 in 1986, now $4.75 per lbWas $7.95 in today's dollars, now $4.75 per lb
Spaghetti & macaroni86% higher39% lower
Was $0.74 in 1986, now $1.37 per lbWas $2.26 in today's dollars, now $1.37 per lb
Cheddar cheese96% higher36% lower
Was $3.05 in 1986, now $5.98 per lbWas $9.32 in today's dollars, now $5.98 per lb

Food and energy prices in 1986

These are the average prices Americans paid in 1986, next to what the same items cost in August 2026.These 1986 prices are converted to today's dollars. This means that the changes are relative to inflation.

Gas & energy

Item	19861986 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Gasoline, regularper gallon	1986$0.931986, adjusted$2.83	Today$4.20	Change353% higherAfter inflation48% higher
Gasoline, premiumper gallon	1986$1.081986, adjusted$3.32	Today$5.13	Change373% higherAfter inflation55% higher
Electricityper kWh	1986$0.081986, adjusted$0.23	Today$0.20	Change156% higherAfter inflation16% lower
Natural gas (piped)per therm	1986$0.601986, adjusted$1.83	Today$1.71	Change186% higherAfter inflation6% lower
Heating oilper gallon	1986$0.831986, adjusted$2.55	Today$5.15	Change517% higherAfter inflation102% higher

Meat & poultry

Item	19861986 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Ground beef per lb	1986$1.231986, adjusted$3.77	Today$6.92	Change462% higherAfter inflation84% higher
Ground chuck per lb	1986$1.641986, adjusted$5.00	Today$6.77	Change314% higherAfter inflation35% higher
Round steak per lb	1986$2.771986, adjusted$8.46	Today$9.69	Change250% higherAfter inflation15% higher
Round roast per lb	1986$2.441986, adjusted$7.47	Today$8.96	Change267% higherAfter inflation20% higher
Baconper lb	1986$2.081986, adjusted$6.36	Today$6.61	Change217% higherAfter inflation4% higher
Whole chickenper lb	1986$0.841986, adjusted$2.55	Today$2.01	Change141% higherAfter inflation21% lower
Chicken legs per lb	1986$1.171986, adjusted$3.57	Today$1.67	Change43% higherAfter inflation53% lower

Dairy & eggs

Item	19861986 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Eggs, grade A largeper dozen	1986$0.871986, adjusted$2.66	Today$2.27	Change161% higherAfter inflation15% lower
Cheddar cheese per lb	1986$3.051986, adjusted$9.32	Today$5.98	Change96% higherAfter inflation36% lower
American cheese per lb	1986$2.601986, adjusted$7.95	Today$4.75	Change82% higherAfter inflation40% lower
Ice cream per ½ gallon	1986$2.361986, adjusted$7.21	Today$5.85	Change148% higherAfter inflation19% lower

Fruits & vegetables

Item	19861986 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Bananasper lb	1986$0.381986, adjusted$1.18	Today$0.65	Change69% higherAfter inflation45% lower
Navel orangesper lb	1986$0.481986, adjusted$1.47	Today$1.71	Change256% higherAfter inflation16% higher
Grapefruit per lb	1986$0.511986, adjusted$1.55	Today$1.60	Change215% higherAfter inflation3% higher
Lemons per lb	1986$0.821986, adjusted$2.51	Today$2.11	Change157% higherAfter inflation16% lower
Strawberries per 12 oz	1986$0.831986, adjusted$2.53	Today$2.58	Change211% higherAfter inflation2% higher
Tomatoesper lb	1986$0.821986, adjusted$2.52	Today$1.98	Change140% higherAfter inflation21% lower
Potatoesper lb	1986$0.251986, adjusted$0.77	Today$0.98	Change287% higherAfter inflation27% higher
Iceberg lettuceper lb	1986$0.531986, adjusted$1.61	Today$1.47	Change179% higherAfter inflation9% lower

Pantry & bakery

Item	19861986 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
White breadper lb	1986$0.561986, adjusted$1.73	Today$1.82	Change223% higherAfter inflation6% higher
Flour per lb	1986$0.211986, adjusted$0.64	Today$0.55	Change163% higherAfter inflation14% lower
Riceper lb	1986$0.451986, adjusted$1.36	Today$1.11	Change149% higherAfter inflation18% lower
Spaghetti & macaroniper lb	1986$0.741986, adjusted$2.26	Today$1.37	Change86% higherAfter inflation39% lower
Sugar per lb	1986$0.351986, adjusted$1.07	Today$1.02	Change192% higherAfter inflation5% lower
Chocolate chip cookiesper lb	1986$1.991986, adjusted$6.08	Today$5.21	Change162% higherAfter inflation14% lower
Potato chipsper 16 oz	1986$2.681986, adjusted$8.18	Today$6.75	Change152% higherAfter inflation17% lower

Drinks

Item	19861986 (adjusted)	Today	ChangeChange after inflation
Ground coffeeper lb	1986$3.431986, adjusted$10.49	Today$9.30	Change171% higherAfter inflation11% lower

Frequently asked questions

How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1986?

A dozen eggs cost an average of $0.87 in 1986. In August 2026, the average price was $2.27. After adjusting for inflation, that's 15% lower than in 1986.

How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1986?

A gallon of gas cost an average of $0.93 in 1986. In August 2026, the average price was $4.20. After adjusting for inflation, that's 48% higher than in 1986.

How much did a pound of white bread cost in 1986?

A pound of white bread cost an average of $0.56 in 1986. In August 2026, the average price was $1.82. After adjusting for inflation, that's 6% higher than in 1986.

How much did a pound of ground beef cost in 1986?

A pound of ground beef cost an average of $1.23 in 1986. In August 2026, the average price was $6.92. After adjusting for inflation, that's 84% higher than in 1986.

How much did a pound of coffee cost in 1986?

A pound of coffee cost an average of $3.43 in 1986. In August 2026, the average price was $9.30. After adjusting for inflation, that's 11% lower than in 1986.

How much is $1 from 1986 worth today?

$1 in 1986 has about the same buying power as $3.06 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.

What was the inflation rate in 1986?

The U.S. inflation rate in 1986 was 1.9%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1985 to 1986.

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 1986 prices are averages for the whole year, and today's prices are from August 2026.

To adjust 1986 prices for inflation, we use the same consumer price index as our 1986 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 1986
Dozen eggs	$0.87 → $2.27
Gallon of gas	$0.93 → $4.20
Pound of bread	$0.56 → $1.82
Pound of ground beef	$1.23 → $6.92
Pound of coffee	$3.43 → $9.30
All prices, on average	$100.00 → $305.64

Prices in 1986 vs. today