THE GROCERY PRICE INDEX

How much did eggs cost in 1988?

Eggs averaged $0.79 per doz in 1988 — about $2.24 in 2026 dollars.

Monthly average price (USD per doz) · 1988

$0.66$0.73$0.79$0.86$0.93 $0.83 198819881988198819881988

In 1988, eggs averaged $0.79 per doz at the U.S. city average, across all twelve months, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data. The monthly price ranged from $0.68 in May to $0.91 in August. Over the year it rose from $0.76 in January to $0.83 in December, a 9.6% increase.

Adjusted for inflation, $0.79 in 1988 is worth about $2.24 in 2026 dollars. Today eggs averages $2.19 per doz, so in real terms it is 2% cheaper than it was in 1988. In plain (unadjusted) dollars the price is up 177% versus the 1988 average.

1988 monthly prices

MonthPriceMoM
January $0.76 ▲ 3.7%
February $0.72 ▼ 5.5%
March $0.74 ▲ 3.1%
April $0.72 ▼ 2.8%
May $0.68 ▼ 5.7%
June $0.71 ▲ 4.0%
July $0.80 ▲ 13.9%
August $0.91 ▲ 13.2%
September $0.87 ▼ 3.9%
October $0.90 ▲ 2.5%
November $0.84 ▼ 6.4%
December $0.83 ▼ 0.7%
1988 average$0.79

FAQ

What was the average price of eggs in 1988?

Eggs averaged $0.79 per doz in 1988, based on 12 months of BLS average price data.

How much is $0.79 of 1988 eggs worth today?

Adjusted for inflation with the CPI-U, $0.79 in 1988 is about $2.24 in 2026 dollars.

How does the 1988 price of eggs compare to now?

Eggs now averages $2.19 per doz, up 177% from the 1988 average of $0.79.