In 2006, a dozen eggs cost $1.31, a gallon of gas cost $2.59 and a gallon of milk cost $3.08.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 2006 costs about $167.42 today. The inflation rate in 2006 was 3.2%, and total inflation from 2006 to October 2026 was 67%.
The effects of inflation can vary. Adjusted for inflation, the biggest increase since 2006 was for ground beef (up 82%), and the biggest drop was for tomatoes (down 28%).
| Dozen eggs | $1.31 → $2.32 |
| Gallon of gas | $2.59 → $4.45 |
| Gallon of milk | $3.08 → $4.10 |
| Pound of bread | $1.08 → $1.86 |
| Pound of ground beef | $2.22 → $6.76 |
| Pound of coffee | $3.20 → $9.25 |
| All prices, on average | $100.00 → $167.42 |
The lists below break down price changes by item.
Each list shows average prices in 2006 compared to the price today. These are the actual prices people paid on average. For comparison, prices overall rose 67% between 2006 and October 2026.These prices are inflation-adjusted, meaning all values shown are adjusted for the baseline of 67% inflation between 2006 and October 2026.
These are the average prices Americans paid in 2006, next to what the same items cost in October 2026.These 2006 prices are converted to today's dollars. This means that the changes are relative to inflation.
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline, regularper gallon | 2006$2.592006, adjusted$4.33 | Today$4.45 | Change72% higherAfter inflation3% higher |
| Gasoline, midgradeper gallon | 2006$2.692006, adjusted$4.50 | Today$4.95 | Change84% higherAfter inflation10% higher |
| Gasoline, premiumper gallon | 2006$2.812006, adjusted$4.70 | Today$5.43 | Change94% higherAfter inflation16% higher |
| Diesel fuel per gallon | 2006$2.812006, adjusted$4.71 | Today$6.50 | Change131% higherAfter inflation38% higher |
| Electricityper kWh | 2006$0.112006, adjusted$0.19 | Today$0.19 | Change69% higherAfter inflation1% higher |
| Natural gas (piped)per therm | 2006$1.282006, adjusted$2.15 | Today$1.69 | Change32% higherAfter inflation21% lower |
| Heating oilper gallon | 2006$2.502006, adjusted$4.18 | Today$6.11 | Change145% higherAfter inflation46% higher |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef per lb | 2006$2.222006, adjusted$3.72 | Today$6.76 | Change204% higherAfter inflation82% higher |
| Ground chuck per lb | 2006$2.552006, adjusted$4.27 | Today$6.73 | Change164% higherAfter inflation58% higher |
| Ground beef, lean per lb | 2006$2.932006, adjusted$4.91 | Today$8.40 | Change187% higherAfter inflation71% higher |
| Sirloin steak per lb | 2006$5.982006, adjusted$10.01 | Today$13.85 | Change132% higherAfter inflation38% higher |
| Round steak per lb | 2006$4.002006, adjusted$6.70 | Today$10.11 | Change153% higherAfter inflation51% higher |
| Round roast per lb | 2006$3.572006, adjusted$5.98 | Today$8.37 | Change134% higherAfter inflation40% higher |
| Chuck roast per lb | 2006$3.172006, adjusted$5.30 | Today$9.08 | Change187% higherAfter inflation71% higher |
| Beef stew meat per lb | 2006$3.312006, adjusted$5.55 | Today$8.67 | Change162% higherAfter inflation56% higher |
| Baconper lb | 2006$3.442006, adjusted$5.77 | Today$6.69 | Change94% higherAfter inflation16% higher |
| Pork chops, boneless per lb | 2006$3.602006, adjusted$6.02 | Today$4.52 | Change26% higherAfter inflation25% lower |
| Ham, bonelessper lb | 2006$3.132006, adjusted$5.24 | Today$5.26 | Change68% higherAfter inflationno change |
| Whole chickenper lb | 2006$1.052006, adjusted$1.76 | Today$2.03 | Change93% higherAfter inflation15% higher |
| Chicken legs per lb | 2006$1.242006, adjusted$2.07 | Today$1.75 | Change41% higherAfter inflation16% lower |
| Chicken breast, boneless per lb | 2006$3.302006, adjusted$5.52 | Today$4.10 | Change24% higherAfter inflation26% lower |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs, grade A largeper dozen | 2006$1.312006, adjusted$2.19 | Today$2.32 | Change78% higherAfter inflation6% higher |
| Whole milkper gallon | 2006$3.082006, adjusted$5.16 | Today$4.10 | Change33% higherAfter inflation21% lower |
| Cheddar cheese per lb | 2006$4.252006, adjusted$7.12 | Today$6.13 | Change44% higherAfter inflation14% lower |
| American cheese per lb | 2006$3.722006, adjusted$6.23 | Today$4.71 | Change26% higherAfter inflation24% lower |
| Ice cream per ½ gallon | 2006$3.752006, adjusted$6.28 | Today$6.03 | Change61% higherAfter inflation4% lower |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bananasper lb | 2006$0.502006, adjusted$0.84 | Today$0.66 | Change31% higherAfter inflation22% lower |
| Lemons per lb | 2006$1.532006, adjusted$2.56 | Today$2.14 | Change40% higherAfter inflation16% lower |
| Strawberries per 12 oz | 2006$2.042006, adjusted$3.42 | Today$2.81 | Change37% higherAfter inflation18% lower |
| Tomatoesper lb | 2006$1.732006, adjusted$2.90 | Today$2.08 | Change20% higherAfter inflation28% lower |
| Potatoesper lb | 2006$0.532006, adjusted$0.89 | Today$0.99 | Change86% higherAfter inflation11% higher |
| Iceberg lettuceper lb | 2006$0.872006, adjusted$1.45 | Today$1.96 | Change127% higherAfter inflation35% higher |
| Romaine lettuce per lb | 2006$1.392006, adjusted$2.33 | Today$3.49 | Change150% higherAfter inflation50% higher |
| Dried beans per lb | 2006$0.822006, adjusted$1.38 | Today$1.68 | Change104% higherAfter inflation22% higher |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| White breadper lb | 2006$1.082006, adjusted$1.81 | Today$1.86 | Change72% higherAfter inflation3% higher |
| Flour per lb | 2006$0.332006, adjusted$0.55 | Today$0.54 | Change63% higherAfter inflation3% lower |
| Riceper lb | 2006$0.552006, adjusted$0.92 | Today$1.10 | Change100% higherAfter inflation20% higher |
| Spaghetti & macaroniper lb | 2006$0.862006, adjusted$1.44 | Today$1.38 | Change61% higherAfter inflation4% lower |
| Sugar per lb | 2006$0.502006, adjusted$0.83 | Today$1.00 | Change102% higherAfter inflation21% higher |
| Chocolate chip cookiesper lb | 2006$2.882006, adjusted$4.83 | Today$5.25 | Change82% higherAfter inflation9% higher |
| Potato chipsper 16 oz | 2006$3.472006, adjusted$5.80 | Today$6.64 | Change92% higherAfter inflation14% higher |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground coffeeper lb | 2006$3.202006, adjusted$5.36 | Today$9.25 | Change189% higherAfter inflation72% higher |
| Beerper 16 oz | 2006$1.112006, adjusted$1.86 | Today$1.90 | Change71% higherAfter inflation2% higher |
| Wineper liter | 2006$7.902006, adjusted$13.22 | Today$14.05 | Change78% higherAfter inflation6% higher |
A dozen eggs cost an average of $1.31 in 2006. In October 2026, the average price was $2.32. After adjusting for inflation, that's 6% higher than in 2006.
A gallon of gas cost an average of $2.59 in 2006. In October 2026, the average price was $4.45. After adjusting for inflation, that's 3% higher than in 2006.
A gallon of milk cost an average of $3.08 in 2006. In October 2026, the average price was $4.10. After adjusting for inflation, that's 21% lower than in 2006.
A pound of white bread cost an average of $1.08 in 2006. In October 2026, the average price was $1.86. After adjusting for inflation, that's 3% higher than in 2006.
A pound of ground beef cost an average of $2.22 in 2006. In October 2026, the average price was $6.76. After adjusting for inflation, that's 82% higher than in 2006.
A pound of coffee cost an average of $3.20 in 2006. In October 2026, the average price was $9.25. After adjusting for inflation, that's 72% higher than in 2006.
$1 in 2006 has about the same buying power as $1.67 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
The U.S. inflation rate in 2006 was 3.2%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 2005 to 2006.
These prices come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which checks what everyday items cost in stores across the U.S. every month. The 2006 prices are averages for the whole year, and today's prices are from October 2026.
To adjust 2006 prices for inflation, we use the same consumer price index as our 2006 inflation calculator. The raw price data is available on the BLS website.
| Dozen eggs | $1.31 → $2.32 |
| Gallon of gas | $2.59 → $4.45 |
| Gallon of milk | $3.08 → $4.10 |
| Pound of bread | $1.08 → $1.86 |
| Pound of ground beef | $2.22 → $6.76 |
| Pound of coffee | $3.20 → $9.25 |
| All prices, on average | $100.00 → $167.42 |