Bread priced at $5 in 1997 $11.99 in 2024

Bread Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Bread, 1997-2024 ($5)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for bread are 139.77% higher in 2024 versus 1997 (a $6.99 difference in value).

The current national average price is $1.83 for "Bread, French, per lb. (453.6 gm)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1997 and 2024: Bread experienced an average inflation rate of 3.29% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, bread costing $5 in the year 1997 would cost $11.99 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.46% during this same period, inflation for bread was higher.

Price Inflation for Bread since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2008 (14.61%), 2022 (11.64%), and 2023 (9.57%).

Price history

The average price for Bread is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

Average prices for Bread, French, per lb. (453.6 gm):

YearAverage price (Bread)Inflation adjusted price (2024 dollars)
2016$1.80$1.80
2015$1.58$1.58
2014$1.58$1.60
2013$1.58$1.60
2012$1.58$1.63
2011$1.58$1.67
2010$1.58$1.77
2009$1.58$1.74
2008$1.58$1.76
2007$1.58$2.01
2006$1.58$2.16
2005$1.58$2.24
2004$1.58$2.33
2003$1.58$2.38
2002$1.58$2.45
2001$1.58$2.51
2000$1.58$2.63
1999$1.58$2.72
1998$1.58$2.79
1997$1.54$2.75
1996$1.50No data
1995$1.53No data
1994$1.51No data
1993$1.25No data
1992$1.25No data
1991$1.25No data
1990$1.17No data
1989$1.17No data
1988$1.09No data
1987$1.07No data
1986$1.05No data
1985$1.02No data
1984$1.01No data
1983$0.94No data
1982$0.90No data
1981$0.85No data
1980$0.78No data

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $5.00 since 1997

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Bread, over time, for $5 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1997$5.00-
1998$5.061.11%
1999$5.192.68%
2000$5.373.42%
2001$5.634.81%
2002$5.772.52%
2003$5.932.73%
2004$6.062.21%
2005$6.314.21%
2006$6.523.29%
2007$7.007.44%
2008$8.0314.61%
2009$8.131.26%
2010$7.99-1.73%
2011$8.435.58%
2012$8.672.80%
2013$8.841.95%
2014$8.82-0.19%
2015$8.931.26%
2016$8.92-0.11%
2017$8.91-0.09%
2018$8.970.60%
2019$9.212.67%
2020$9.533.55%
2021$9.732.02%
2022$10.8611.64%
2023$11.909.57%
2024$11.990.77%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Bread:

Year1997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI100.000101.108103.815107.362112.531115.362118.515121.138126.238130.392140.094160.559162.576159.759168.673173.391176.765176.423178.654178.453178.285179.352184.134190.673194.519217.154237.944239.769

Adjust bread prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1997 * 1997 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Bread was 100.000 in the year 1997 and 239.769 in 2024:

239.769 / 100.000 * $5 = $11.99

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5 in 1997 has the same "purchasing power" as $11.99 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Bread).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Bread in 1997. In addition to bread, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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