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 $167.13 today. The inflation rate in 2006 was 3.2%, and total inflation from 2006 to September 2026 was 67%.
The effects of inflation can vary. Adjusted for inflation, the biggest increase since 2006 was for ground beef (up 83%), and the biggest drop was for tomatoes (down 31%).
| Dozen eggs | $1.31 → $2.27 |
| Gallon of gas | $2.59 → $4.48 |
| Gallon of milk | $3.08 → $4.11 |
| Pound of bread | $1.08 → $1.83 |
| Pound of ground beef | $2.22 → $6.79 |
| Pound of coffee | $3.20 → $9.33 |
| All prices, on average | $100.00 → $167.13 |
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 September 2026.These prices are inflation-adjusted, meaning all values shown are adjusted for the baseline of 67% inflation between 2006 and September 2026.
These are the average prices Americans paid in 2006, next to what the same items cost in September 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$4.48 | Change73% higherAfter inflation4% higher |
| Gasoline, midgradeper gallon | 2006$2.692006, adjusted$4.49 | Today$4.96 | Change84% higherAfter inflation10% higher |
| Gasoline, premiumper gallon | 2006$2.812006, adjusted$4.69 | Today$5.43 | Change93% higherAfter inflation16% higher |
| Diesel fuel per gallon | 2006$2.812006, adjusted$4.70 | Today$6.33 | Change125% higherAfter inflation35% higher |
| Electricityper kWh | 2006$0.112006, adjusted$0.19 | Today$0.20 | Change74% higherAfter inflation4% higher |
| Natural gas (piped)per therm | 2006$1.282006, adjusted$2.14 | Today$1.70 | Change33% higherAfter inflation21% lower |
| Heating oilper gallon | 2006$2.502006, adjusted$4.17 | Today$5.92 | Change137% higherAfter inflation42% higher |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef per lb | 2006$2.222006, adjusted$3.71 | Today$6.79 | Change206% higherAfter inflation83% higher |
| Ground chuck per lb | 2006$2.552006, adjusted$4.26 | Today$6.48 | Change154% higherAfter inflation52% higher |
| Ground beef, lean per lb | 2006$2.932006, adjusted$4.90 | Today$8.46 | Change189% higherAfter inflation73% higher |
| Sirloin steak per lb | 2006$5.982006, adjusted$9.99 | Today$14.11 | Change136% higherAfter inflation41% higher |
| Round steak per lb | 2006$4.002006, adjusted$6.68 | Today$9.84 | Change146% higherAfter inflation47% higher |
| Round roast per lb | 2006$3.572006, adjusted$5.97 | Today$8.80 | Change146% higherAfter inflation47% higher |
| Chuck roast per lb | 2006$3.172006, adjusted$5.30 | Today$9.19 | Change190% higherAfter inflation73% higher |
| Beef stew meat per lb | 2006$3.312006, adjusted$5.54 | Today$8.53 | Change158% higherAfter inflation54% higher |
| Baconper lb | 2006$3.442006, adjusted$5.76 | Today$6.76 | Change96% higherAfter inflation17% higher |
| Pork chops, boneless per lb | 2006$3.602006, adjusted$6.01 | Today$4.55 | Change27% higherAfter inflation24% lower |
| Ham, bonelessper lb | 2006$3.132006, adjusted$5.23 | Today$5.45 | Change74% higherAfter inflation4% higher |
| Whole chickenper lb | 2006$1.052006, adjusted$1.75 | Today$2.06 | Change97% higherAfter inflation18% higher |
| Chicken legs per lb | 2006$1.242006, adjusted$2.07 | Today$1.74 | Change40% higherAfter inflation16% lower |
| Chicken breast, boneless per lb | 2006$3.302006, adjusted$5.51 | Today$4.20 | Change27% higherAfter inflation24% lower |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs, grade A largeper dozen | 2006$1.312006, adjusted$2.18 | Today$2.27 | Change74% higherAfter inflation4% higher |
| Whole milkper gallon | 2006$3.082006, adjusted$5.15 | Today$4.11 | Change33% higherAfter inflation20% lower |
| Cheddar cheese per lb | 2006$4.252006, adjusted$7.11 | Today$6.13 | Change44% higherAfter inflation14% lower |
| American cheese per lb | 2006$3.722006, adjusted$6.22 | Today$4.74 | Change27% higherAfter inflation24% lower |
| Ice cream per ½ gallon | 2006$3.752006, adjusted$6.27 | Today$5.93 | Change58% higherAfter inflation5% lower |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bananasper lb | 2006$0.502006, adjusted$0.84 | Today$0.66 | Change31% higherAfter inflation22% lower |
| Navel orangesper lb | 2006$1.092006, adjusted$1.82 | Today$1.72 | Change58% higherAfter inflation5% lower |
| Grapefruit per lb | 2006$1.112006, adjusted$1.86 | Today$1.62 | Change46% higherAfter inflation13% lower |
| Lemons per lb | 2006$1.532006, adjusted$2.56 | Today$2.13 | Change39% higherAfter inflation17% lower |
| Strawberries per 12 oz | 2006$2.042006, adjusted$3.41 | Today$2.84 | Change39% higherAfter inflation17% lower |
| Tomatoesper lb | 2006$1.732006, adjusted$2.89 | Today$1.99 | Change15% higherAfter inflation31% lower |
| Potatoesper lb | 2006$0.532006, adjusted$0.89 | Today$0.99 | Change85% higherAfter inflation11% higher |
| Iceberg lettuceper lb | 2006$0.872006, adjusted$1.45 | Today$1.64 | Change89% higherAfter inflation13% higher |
| Romaine lettuce per lb | 2006$1.392006, adjusted$2.33 | Today$3.31 | Change138% higherAfter inflation42% higher |
| Dried beans per lb | 2006$0.822006, adjusted$1.38 | Today$1.67 | Change103% higherAfter inflation21% higher |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| White breadper lb | 2006$1.082006, adjusted$1.81 | Today$1.83 | Change69% higherAfter inflation1% higher |
| Flour per lb | 2006$0.332006, adjusted$0.55 | Today$0.55 | Change66% higherAfter inflation1% lower |
| Riceper lb | 2006$0.552006, adjusted$0.92 | Today$1.12 | Change104% higherAfter inflation22% higher |
| Spaghetti & macaroniper lb | 2006$0.862006, adjusted$1.43 | Today$1.38 | Change60% higherAfter inflation4% lower |
| Sugar per lb | 2006$0.502006, adjusted$0.83 | Today$1.02 | Change106% higherAfter inflation23% higher |
| Chocolate chip cookiesper lb | 2006$2.882006, adjusted$4.82 | Today$5.15 | Change79% higherAfter inflation7% higher |
| Potato chipsper 16 oz | 2006$3.472006, adjusted$5.79 | Today$6.67 | Change92% higherAfter inflation15% higher |
| Item | 20062006 (adjusted) | Today | ChangeChange after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground coffeeper lb | 2006$3.202006, adjusted$5.35 | Today$9.33 | Change191% higherAfter inflation74% higher |
| Beerper 16 oz | 2006$1.112006, adjusted$1.86 | Today$1.88 | Change69% higherAfter inflation1% higher |
| Wineper liter | 2006$7.902006, adjusted$13.20 | Today$13.77 | Change74% higherAfter inflation4% higher |
A dozen eggs cost an average of $1.31 in 2006. In September 2026, the average price was $2.27. After adjusting for inflation, that's 4% higher than in 2006.
A gallon of gas cost an average of $2.59 in 2006. In September 2026, the average price was $4.48. After adjusting for inflation, that's 4% higher than in 2006.
A gallon of milk cost an average of $3.08 in 2006. In September 2026, the average price was $4.11. After adjusting for inflation, that's 20% lower than in 2006.
A pound of white bread cost an average of $1.08 in 2006. In September 2026, the average price was $1.83. After adjusting for inflation, that's 1% higher than in 2006.
A pound of ground beef cost an average of $2.22 in 2006. In September 2026, the average price was $6.79. After adjusting for inflation, that's 83% higher than in 2006.
A pound of coffee cost an average of $3.20 in 2006. In September 2026, the average price was $9.33. After adjusting for inflation, that's 74% 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 September 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 → $2.27 |
| Gallon of gas | $2.59 → $4.48 |
| Gallon of milk | $3.08 → $4.11 |
| Pound of bread | $1.08 → $1.83 |
| Pound of ground beef | $2.22 → $6.79 |
| Pound of coffee | $3.20 → $9.33 |
| All prices, on average | $100.00 → $167.13 |