How much did things cost in 1955 - USA?

Prices have risen considerably since 1955. This table gives you an idea of how prices have changed since 1955.

Many things were much cheaper: houses, cars, posting a letter and cigarettes.

These are some prices of items in 1955.

	1950 price	Inflation adjusted
Average house price (1)	$11,742	$120,000
Gallon of gas	29c	$3
Ford Mainline Fordor Sedan	$1,824	$19,000
Average used car selling price (2)	$780	$8,100
Du Mont 15" television	$89.50	$930
Magnavox 21" console television	$249.00	$2,600
Zenith Royal 500A pocket transistor radio	$75	$780
Regency TR-1 pocket transistor radio	$49.95	$520
General Electric 675 pocket transistor radio	$49.95	$520
20 cigarettes (average price) (3)	23c	$2.40
Posting a letter	3c	31c
Hamburger at McDonald's	15c	$1.60
Newspaper: The New York Times	5c	52c
Men's wool worsted suit with 2 pairs of trousers	$56.00	$580
Parker Jotter ballpoint pen	$2.95	$31
Flour (5lb)	54c	$5.60
Bread (per lb)	18c	$1.90
Road steak (lb)	90c	$9.40
Chuck roast (lb)	50c	$5.20
Pork chops (lb)	79c	$8.20
Bacon (lb)	66c	$6.90
Butter (lb)	71c	$7.40
Eggs (dozen)	61c	$6.30
Milk (½ gallon)	46c	$4.80
Oranges (dozen)	52c	$5.40
Potatoes (10lb)	56c	$5.80
Canned tomatoes (No. 303 can)	15c	$1.60
Coffee (lb)	93c	$9.70
Margarine (lb)	29c	$3
Sugar (5lb)	52c	$5.40

References

(1) Median family home price from "22nd Annual Report of the Federal Housing Administration", 1955 page 107

(2) 'Automobile Facts and Figures' published by the Automobile Manufacturers Association, 1956, page 17

(3) 'Annual Report on Tobacco Statistics, 1959', published by the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, page 50

(*) Median new build house price over ten metropolitan areas

(**) 'Automobile Facts and Figures' published by the Automobile Manufacturers Association, 1956, page 17