Rewind to
1994
10 different songs reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994. The year opened with Hero by Mariah Carey at the top, and I'll Make Love To You by Boyz II Men held #1 the longest — 14 weeks in 1994.
Prices rose 2.6% over 1993, a calm year by historical standards. One dollar in 1994 buys about what $2.17 buys in 2025.
A gallon of regular gas averaged $1.11, up 0% from 1993. In 2025 dollars that is $2.42, against an actual 2025 average of $3.26.
Mailing a letter took a 29¢ stamp (it is 73¢ in 2025), and the federal minimum wage was $4.25 an hour.
Songs that hit #1
10
Gallon of gas
$1.11
2025: $3.26
Inflation
2.6%
change in CPI vs 1993
$1 then is
$2.17
in 2025 dollars
Every #1 hit of 1994
| Song | Artist | First week at #1 | Weeks at #1 in 1994 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | Mariah Carey | Jan 1 | 3 |
| All For Love | Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting | Jan 22 | 3 |
| The Power Of Love | Celine Dion | Feb 12 | 4 |
| The Sign | Ace Of Base | Mar 12 | 6 |
| Bump N' Grind | R. Kelly | Apr 9 | 4 |
| I Swear | All-4-One | May 21 | 11 |
| Stay (I Missed You) (From "Reality Bites") | Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories | Aug 6 | 3 |
| I'll Make Love To You | Boyz II Men | Aug 27 | 14 |
| On Bended Knee | Boyz II Men | Dec 3 | 3 |
| Here Comes The Hotstepper (From "Ready To Wear") | Ini Kamoze | Dec 17 | 2 |
Weeks are counted within 1994; a song that carried over from 1993 or into 1995 shows only its 1994 weeks.
What things cost in 1994
| Item | 1994 price | In 2025 dollars | Actual 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallon of regular gas | $1.11 | $2.42 | $3.26 |
| Dozen large eggs | $0.86 | $1.87 | $4.25 |
| Loaf of white bread (per lb) | $0.76 | $1.65 | $1.87 |
| Ground beef (per lb) | $1.48 | $3.21 | $6.09 |
| Whole chicken (per lb) | $0.90 | $1.96 | $2.06 |
| Bacon (per lb) | $1.99 | $4.32 | $7.02 |
| Ground coffee (per lb) | $3.40 | $7.39 | $8.18 |
| Bananas (per lb) | $0.46 | $1.00 | $0.65 |
| Sugar (per lb) | $0.40 | $0.87 | $1.02 |
| Potatoes (per lb) | $0.37 | $0.81 | $0.96 |
| Flour (per lb) | $0.23 | $0.50 | $0.56 |
| Electricity (per kWh) | $0.09 | $0.20 | $0.18 |
| Federal minimum wage (per hour) | $4.25 | $9.23 | $7.25 |
| Median new home sale price | $130,425 | $283,282 | $415,400 |
| First-class stamp | 29¢ | 63¢ | 73¢ |
Compare 1994 prices with any amount → · Find the #1 song on any day in 1994 →
The internet in 1994
Websites in existence
2,738
June 1994 · Netcraft / Internet Live Stats
Americans online
4.9%
World Bank, via FRED
- 1994Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web — Two Stanford grad students start a list of their favorite sites. They rename it Yahoo!. source
- July 5, 1994Amazon is founded — Jeff Bezos founds the company in his Bellevue, Washington garage. It's briefly called Cadabra. source
- October 1994Netscape — Mosaic Netscape 0.9 is released and quickly becomes the browser most people use. source
- October 27, 1994The first banner ad — HotWired runs an AT&T banner that asks, "Have you ever clicked your mouse right here? You will." source
