Special Report

The Price of Bacon and Eggs the Year You Were Born

Parkerla / Getty Images

The Delta wave of the coronavirus began to subside in the U.S. in late September, but congestion in the global supply chain linked to the pandemic continues to torment businesses and consumers. Wholesale orders for materials and finished goods are piling up, while cargo ships at key U.S. ports wait to unload the products they have due to labor shortages.

Meanwhile, consumer demand remains strong, and for many products, from breakfast cereal to new cars, it is outpacing supply — and this is leading to the highest inflation rate in over a decade. The consumer price index rose by 5.4% in September compared to a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (There are also regional differences in prices. This is what pizza costs in every state.

Despite strong demand for workers and fresh highs in the stock market, the White House is struggling to alleviate public worry about shortages and rising prices ahead of the holiday season. Public polls from Fox News, CNBC, and Gallup show declining approval of President Joe Biden and concerns over the health of the U.S. economy.

While price inflation for gasoline, electricity, and used vehicles backed away from summertime highs, price increases at the grocery store accelerated, led by a 10.5% jump in meat, poultry, fish, and eggs over the 12 months ending in September. Still, when looking at the long-term trend of two American breakfast staples, bacon and eggs, 2020 prices were not a complete anomaly.

Inflation-adjusted bacon prices, for example, trended higher in the decade or so after World War II, then subsided only to jump again during the inflationary period of the 1970s. Since the late 1990s, bacon prices have been generally inching upward. Egg prices, on the other hand, have been on a general downward trend since WWII. While not food, this is the cost of a computer every year since 1970.

To determine the cost of bacon and eggs the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. adjusted the average price of a pound of sliced bacon and a dozen large grade A eggs in U.S. cities for every year from 1939 to 2020. Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, bacon prices were adjusted using the annual consumer price index for bacon and related products; egg prices were adjusted using the consumer price index for eggs. Historical prices of bacon and eggs were adjusted for overall inflation using the annual consumer price index for all items.

Click here to see the price of bacon and eggs the year you were born

General Photographic Agency / Getty Images

1939
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.26
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.17
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.26
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $5.13

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Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1940
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.23
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.49
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.27
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $5.25

George W. Hales / Fox Photos / Getty Images

1941
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.29
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.39
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.32
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $5.98

National Archives / Getty Images

1942
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.33
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.57
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.39
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $6.55

Fred Morley / Fox Photos / Getty Images

1943
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.35
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.49
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.46
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $7.33

Express / Express / Getty Images

1944
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.33
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.13
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.44
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $6.86

Keystone / Getty Images

1945
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.33
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.05
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.47
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $7.16

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Keystone / Getty Images

1946
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.43
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.09
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.48
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $6.78

Keystone / Getty Images

1947
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.63
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $7.77
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.57
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $7.06

Three Lions / Getty Images

1948
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.62
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $7.10
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.60
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $6.79

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1949
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.54
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.23
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.57
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $6.62

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George Konig / Keystone Features / Getty Images

1950
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.52
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.89
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $5.65

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1951
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.54
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.75
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.60
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $6.37

Housewife / Getty Images

1952
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.44
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.55
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $5.71

Alan Meek / Express / Getty Images

1953
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.64
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.58
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.58
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $6.00

Central Press / Getty Images

1954
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.66
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.77
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.49
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.98

Carsten / Three Lions / Getty Images

1955
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.54
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.48
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $5.17

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Terry Fincher / Keystone / Getty Images

1956
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.47
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.78
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $5.06

Chaloner Woods / Getty Images

1957
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.61
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.94
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.48
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.67

Keystone / Getty Images

1958
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.65
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.17
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.77

Reg Speller / Fox Photos / Getty Images

1959
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.54
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.13
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.44
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.15

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Keystone / Getty Images

1960
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.54
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.96
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.47
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.40

Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1961
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.58
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.35
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.47
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.35

Chaloner Woods / Getty Images

1962
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.58
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.24
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.45
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.07

Keystone / Getty Images

1963
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.56
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.02
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.46
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.08

Evening Standard / Getty Images

1964
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.56
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.97
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.45
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.98

Keystone / Getty Images

1965
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.69
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.97
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.44
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.83

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Chris Ware / Keystone Features / Getty Images

1966
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.81
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.83
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.50
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.24

Express / Express / Getty Images

1967
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.71
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.82
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.42
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.44

Getty Images

1968
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.69
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.43
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.45
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.56

Keystone / Getty Images

1969
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.75
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.58
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.97

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Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Getty Images

1970
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.81
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.70
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.72

Dwayne Bey / Getty Images

1971
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.68
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.63
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.45
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.08

Susan Schiff Faludi / Three Lions / Getty Images

1972
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $0.83
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.43
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.45
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.96

Express Newspapers / Getty Images

1973
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.14
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $7.05
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.67
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $4.15

John Downing / Express / Getty Images

1974
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.14
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.32
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.67
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.75

Express Newspapers / Getty Images

1975
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $7.78
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.66
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.37

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Archive Photos / Getty Images

1976
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.49
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $7.18
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.72
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.48

tiffany terry / Flickr

1977
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.37
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.19
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.70
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $3.16

Keystone / Getty Images

1978
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.57
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.62
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.66
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.78

NBC Television / Courtesy of Getty Images

1979
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.46
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.51
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.72
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.74

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M. Fresco / Evening Standard / Getty Images

1980
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.41
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.71
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.71
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.37

Getty Images

1981
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.60
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.84
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.77
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.32

cws_design / Getty Images

1982
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.97
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.59
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.75
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.13

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1983
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.92
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.30
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.78
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.16

bgwalker / Getty Images

1984
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.88
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.97
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.88
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.31

cws_design / Getty Images

1985
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.95
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.97
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.73
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.86

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Getty Images

1986
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.09
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.23
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.78
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.95

Getty Images

1987
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.21
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.33
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.73
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.77

Tony Duffy / Allsport / Getty Images

1988
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.94
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.50
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.75
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.74

Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images

1989
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $1.84
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.08
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.95
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.10

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GomezDavid / Getty Images

1990
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.18
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.58
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.00
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.09

Comstock / Getty Images

1991
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.31
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.64
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.97
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.96

Jupiterimages / Getty Images

1992
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.01
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $3.94
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.87
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.70

Comstock / Getty Images

1993
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.13
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.05
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.94
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.78

Comstock / Getty Images

1994
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.27
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.21
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.92
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.70

pitchal frederic / Getty Images

1995
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.31
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.16
> Price of a dozen eggs: $0.97
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.74

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Comstock / Getty Images

1996
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.87
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.01
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.14
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.99

LindaYolanda / Getty Images

1997
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $3.16
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.39
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.12
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.92

Shanina / Getty Images

1998
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.93
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.92
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.09
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.83

Harry How / Getty Images

1999
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $2.92
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.80
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.03
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.69

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landonarnold / Getty Images

2000
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $3.42
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.44
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.06
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.69

Westersoe / Getty Images

2001
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $3.55
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.50
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.09
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.70

cws_design / Getty Images

2002
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $3.58
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.46
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.11
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.69

Amax Photo / Getty Images

2003
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $3.78
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.64
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.26
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.88

Wolfsburg1984 / Getty Images

2004
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.08
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.93
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.34
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.95

Altinosmanaj / Getty Images

2005
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.04
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.67
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.16
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.62

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LSOphoto / Getty Images

2006
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.10
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.58
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.21
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.65

lechatnoir / Getty Images

2007
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.25
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.63
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.57
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.07

deucee_ / Getty Images

2008
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.22
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.38
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.79
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.28

JasonDoiy / Getty Images

2009
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.15
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.31
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.53
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.95

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Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

2010
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $4.47
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.62
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.55
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.95

Koh Sze Kiat / Getty Images

2011
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.07
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.18
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.69
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.06

Mario Tama / Getty Images

2012
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.15
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.16
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.74
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.08

Kemal Yildirim / Getty Images

2013
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.46
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.43
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.80
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.12

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

2014
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.77
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.68
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.95
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.26

Alex Brandon-Pool / Getty Images

2015
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.41
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.26
> Price of a dozen eggs: $2.30
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.66

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Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

2016
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.44
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.22
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.81
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $2.07

Igor Alecsander / Getty Images

2017
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.81
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.50
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.64
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.84

Anchiy / Getty Images

2018
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.71
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.24
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.82
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.99

PIKSEL / Getty Images

2019
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.82
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.25
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.64
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.76

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Geber86 / Getty Images

2020
> Price of 1 pound of bacon: $5.98
> Inflation-adjusted price of 1 pound of bacon: $6.33
> Price of a dozen eggs: $1.71
> Inflation-adjusted price of a dozen eggs: $1.81

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