How much did things cost in 1972 - USA?
Prices have risen considerably since 1972. This table gives you an idea of how prices have changed since 1972.
Many things were much cheaper: houses, cars, posting a letter and cigarettes.
These are some prices of items in 1972.
| 1972 price | Inflation adjusted | |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price (1) | $26,700 | $210,000 |
| Gallon of gas | 36c | $2.80 |
| Ford Custom V8 4-door Sedan | $3,288 | $25,000 |
| Ford Pinto 2-door Sedan | $1,960 | $15,000 |
| Admiral 18-inch Solorcolor TV (Spiegel) | $299.95 | $2,300 |
| Brother portable rechargeable calculator (Spiegel) | $129.88 | $1,000 |
| Panasonic Toot-A-Loop radio (Spiegel) | $12.88 | $99 |
| GE AM/FM clock radio (Spiegel) | $34.95 | $270 |
| Lava Lite lava lamp (Spiegel) | $22.95 | $180 |
| Talking Busy Barbie doll with clothes and accessories (Spiegel) | $9.88 | $76 |
| Scrabble game (Spiegel) | $9.95 | $77 |
| Cardinalli 10-speed racing bike (Spiegel) | $79.95 | $620 |
| 20 cigarettes (average price) | 40c | $3.10 |
| Posting a letter | 8c | 62c |
| Newspaper: The New York Times | 15c | $1.20 |
| Hamburger at McDonald's | 28c | $2.20 |
| Head Lettuce (x2) (Safeway) | 39c | $3 |
| Asparagus (lb) (Safeway) | 39c | $3 |
| Golden Grain long spaghetti (Safeway) | 47c | $3.60 |
| Folgers Coffee 1lb (Safeway) | 93c | $7.20 |
| Folgers Instant Coffee 10oz can (Safeway) | $1.34 | $10 |
| Ivory liquid detergent 22oz (Safeway) | 56c | $4.30 |
| Turkey quarter roast per lb (Safeway) | 33c | $2.50 |
| USDA Choice Chuck Steaks lb (Safeway) | 75c | $5.80 |
| Manor House Frozen Chicken (lb) (Safeway) | 31c | $2.40 |
| Barbecue Franks (Safeway brand) (1lb) (Safeway) | 69c | $5.30 |
| Watermelon (Safeway) | 89c | $6.80 |
| Safeway Cornflakes (18oz) | 35c | $2.70 |
Other years
References
(1) US Existing One-Family Houses Sold and Price, by Region, 1970 to 1998, Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1999, Section 25 Construction and Housing, page 726.
By Steven Braggs August 2025
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