What things cost in 2007 vs. today

In 2007, a dozen eggs cost $1.68, a gallon of milk cost $3.50, a gallon of gas cost $2.80, a pound of white bread cost $1.21, a pound of ground beef cost $2.30 and a pound of coffee cost $3.47. Overall, $1 in 2007 buys about as much as $1.62 today.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracked average prices for 46 of these everyday items in both 2007 and August 2026. After adjusting for inflation, 25 of them cost more today than in 2007, and 21 are cheaper in real terms.

Rose faster than inflation

  • Ground beef: $2.30 → $6.92 per lb (86% above inflation)
  • Chuck roast: $3.38 → $9.45 per lb (73% above inflation)
  • Ground beef, lean: $3.07 → $8.57 per lb (73% above inflation)
  • Ground coffee: $3.47 → $9.30 per lb (66% above inflation)
  • Ground chuck: $2.70 → $6.77 per lb (55% above inflation)

Cheaper today after inflation

  • Lemons: $1.86 → $2.11 per lb (30% below inflation)
  • Strawberries: $2.20 → $2.58 per 12 oz (28% below inflation)
  • Tomatoes: $1.65 → $1.98 per lb (26% below inflation)
  • Whole milk: $3.50 → $4.23 per gallon (25% below inflation)
  • Chicken breast, boneless: $3.43 → $4.17 per lb (25% below inflation)

2007 prices vs. today

Each row shows the average 2007 price, what that price equals in today's dollars, and the actual average price in August 2026. Red items rose faster than inflation; green items got cheaper in real terms.

Gas & energy

Item20072007 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Gasoline, regular / gallon$2.80$4.52$4.20−7%
Gasoline, midgrade / gallon$2.91$4.70$4.69Same
Gasoline, premium / gallon$3.03$4.90$5.13+5%
Diesel fuel  / gallon$2.96$4.79$5.55+16%
Electricity / kWh$0.12$0.19$0.20+4%
Natural gas (piped) / therm$1.26$2.04$1.71−16%
Heating oil / gallon$2.68$4.33$5.15+19%

Meat & poultry

Item20072007 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Ground beef  / lb$2.30$3.71$6.92+86%
Ground chuck  / lb$2.70$4.36$6.77+55%
Ground beef, lean  / lb$3.07$4.96$8.57+73%
Sirloin steak  / lb$5.97$9.65$14.36+49%
Round steak  / lb$4.11$6.64$9.69+46%
Round roast  / lb$3.81$6.15$8.96+46%
Chuck roast  / lb$3.38$5.46$9.45+73%
Beef stew meat  / lb$3.51$5.67$8.59+52%
Bacon / lb$3.66$5.91$6.61+12%
Pork chops, boneless  / lb$3.60$5.82$4.53−22%
Ham, boneless / lb$3.13$5.05$5.38+7%
Whole chicken / lb$1.12$1.80$2.01+12%
Chicken legs  / lb$1.31$2.12$1.67−21%
Chicken breast, boneless  / lb$3.43$5.54$4.17−25%

Dairy & eggs

Item20072007 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Eggs, grade A large / dozen$1.68$2.71$2.27−16%
Whole milk  / gallon$3.50$5.66$4.23−25%
Cheddar cheese  / lb$4.23$6.83$5.98−12%
American cheese  / lb$3.84$6.20$4.75−23%
Ice cream  / ½ gallon$3.95$6.39$5.85−8%

Fruits & vegetables

Item20072007 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Bananas / lb$0.51$0.82$0.65−21%
Navel oranges / lb$1.28$2.08$1.71−18%
Grapefruit  / lb$0.96$1.56$1.60+3%
Lemons  / lb$1.86$3.00$2.11−30%
Strawberries  / 12 oz$2.20$3.56$2.58−28%
Tomatoes  / lb$1.65$2.66$1.98−26%
Potatoes  / lb$0.52$0.85$0.98+15%
Iceberg lettuce / lb$0.93$1.50$1.47−2%
Romaine lettuce  / lb$1.57$2.54$3.29+29%
Dried beans  / lb$0.94$1.52$1.63+7%

Pantry & bakery

Item20072007 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
White bread / lb$1.21$1.95$1.82−7%
Flour  / lb$0.36$0.58$0.55−6%
Rice  / lb$0.55$0.89$1.11+25%
Spaghetti & macaroni  / lb$0.88$1.41$1.37−3%
Sugar  / lb$0.51$0.83$1.02+23%
Chocolate chip cookies / lb$2.70$4.37$5.21+19%
Potato chips / 16 oz$3.53$5.70$6.75+18%

Drinks

Item20072007 price in today's dollarsAugust 2026vs. inflation
Ground coffee  / lb$3.47$5.60$9.30+66%
Beer / 16 oz$1.12$1.81$1.88+4%
Wine / liter$8.55$13.81$13.75Same

How these prices are calculated

Prices are U.S. city averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Price Data, which BLS collects each month for the Consumer Price Index. The 2007 price is the average of that year's available monthly prices, and the "today" price is the latest monthly average, from August 2026. The inflation-adjusted price converts the 2007 price to today's dollars using the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). "vs. inflation" compares the actual price today with that inflation-adjusted price.

To convert any other amount, use the 2007 inflation calculator.

Prices in other years

← What things cost in 2006 · What things cost in 2008 →


Ian Webster

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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