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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
24/7 Wall St.
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
24/7 Wall St.
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
24/7 Wall St.
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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
Source: 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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Source: 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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