What Did Things Really Cost?
Track how prices have changed across decades — from gas and groceries to homes and healthcare. Real data, no paywalls, no guesswork.
Browse by Category
Nine categories covering the essentials of American household spending.
Housing
Home prices, rent costs, and mortgage rates tracked across decades. Housing is the single largest expense for most American families, and its trajectory tells a powerful story about wealth, inequality, and the shifting cost of the American Dream.
10 datasets
Fuel & Energy
Gasoline, electricity, natural gas, and heating oil prices going back to the mid-20th century. Energy costs ripple through the entire economy, affecting everything from your commute to the price of groceries on the shelf.
8 datasets
Groceries
The cost of feeding a family has changed dramatically over the decades. From a gallon of milk to a dozen eggs, we track staple grocery items so you can see exactly how food prices have shifted — and how they compare after adjusting for inflation.
9 datasets
Vehicles
New and used car prices, plus the rising costs of insurance and maintenance. The average new car has gone from a modest purchase to a major financial commitment, and the data paints a clear picture of how automakers and consumers have adapted.
7 datasets
Healthcare
Hospital stays, insurance premiums, prescription drugs, and out-of-pocket costs. Healthcare spending has outpaced general inflation for decades, consuming an ever-larger share of household budgets and GDP alike.
8 datasets
Education
College tuition, student loan balances, and K-12 spending over time. The cost of a four-year degree has risen faster than almost any other category, reshaping how families plan for their children's futures.
6 datasets
Electronics
One of the rare bright spots in the cost-of-living picture. Computing power, televisions, and consumer electronics have gotten dramatically cheaper on a performance-adjusted basis, even as sticker prices on flagship devices keep climbing.
10 datasets
Wages & Salaries
Minimum wage history, median household income, and average hourly earnings. The question isn't just whether prices have gone up — it's whether paychecks have kept pace. Spoiler: for many workers, they haven't.
5 datasets
Consumer Goods
Everyday items from clothing to household appliances. Some consumer goods have gotten remarkably cheaper thanks to globalized manufacturing, while others — especially anything with a service component — have climbed steadily.
7 datasets
Popular Lookups
The datasets people search for most. Jump straight into the numbers.
Gas Prices Since 1950
From $0.27 to $3.36 per gallon
View data →Home Prices Since 1950
Median home: $7,354 to $410,000
View data →New Car Prices Since 1950
Average new car: $1,510 to $48,500
View data →Grocery Costs Since 1950
Weekly basket: $15 to $215
View data →Minimum Wage Since 1938
$0.25/hr to $7.25/hr (unchanged since 2009)
View data →Inflation Calculator
See how the purchasing power of the dollar has changed over time.
$100.00 in 1970 is equivalent to
$806.70
in 2024 dollars+706.7%
Open the full calculator for more detail, examples, and an explanation of how CPI works.