According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for alcoholic beverages at home are 187.84% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $37.57 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2026:Alcohol at home experienced an average inflation rate of 2.27% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, alcohol at home costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $57.57 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation for alcohol at home was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 7.70%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for alcohol at home during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), inflation for alcohol at home was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Alcohol at home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 7.70% |
| 1980 | $21.67 | 8.33% |
| 1981 | $23.11 | 6.67% |
| 1982 | $24.09 | 4.23% |
| 1983 | $24.95 | 3.59% |
| 1984 | $25.43 | 1.92% |
| 1985 | $26.12 | 2.70% |
| 1986 | $27.13 | 3.88% |
| 1987 | $27.68 | 2.03% |
| 1988 | $28.35 | 2.40% |
| 1989 | $29.27 | 3.25% |
| 1990 | $30.53 | 4.31% |
| 1991 | $34.20 | 12.04% |
| 1992 | $35.16 | 2.81% |
| 1993 | $35.31 | 0.42% |
| 1994 | $35.37 | 0.16% |
| 1995 | $35.53 | 0.46% |
| 1996 | $36.43 | 2.55% |
| 1997 | $37.10 | 1.84% |
| 1998 | $37.39 | 0.78% |
| 1999 | $38.16 | 2.05% |
| 2000 | $39.24 | 2.83% |
| 2001 | $40.00 | 1.92% |
| 2002 | $40.72 | 1.82% |
| 2003 | $41.34 | 1.52% |
| 2004 | $42.27 | 2.23% |
| 2005 | $42.77 | 1.20% |
| 2006 | $43.41 | 1.50% |
| 2007 | $44.46 | 2.42% |
| 2008 | $45.91 | 3.24% |
| 2009 | $47.24 | 2.91% |
| 2010 | $47.41 | 0.36% |
| 2011 | $47.61 | 0.42% |
| 2012 | $48.02 | 0.85% |
| 2013 | $48.58 | 1.18% |
| 2014 | $48.90 | 0.66% |
| 2015 | $48.98 | 0.15% |
| 2016 | $49.40 | 0.86% |
| 2017 | $49.73 | 0.66% |
| 2018 | $50.28 | 1.11% |
| 2019 | $51.02 | 1.47% |
| 2020 | $51.89 | 1.71% |
| 2021 | $52.75 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $54.41 | 3.16% |
| 2023 | $56.11 | 3.11% |
| 2024 | $56.95 | 1.49% |
| 2025 | $57.24 | 0.51% |
| 2026 | $57.57 | 0.58%* |
* 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 Alcoholic beverages at home:
| Year | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 71.900 | 74.800 | 80.558 | 87.267 | 93.092 | 97.025 | 100.508 | 102.433 | 105.200 | 109.283 | 111.500 | 114.175 | 117.883 | 122.967 | 137.767 | 141.633 | 142.225 | 142.450 | 143.100 | 146.750 | 149.450 | 150.617 | 153.708 | 158.058 | 161.100 | 164.033 | 166.533 | 170.242 | 172.283 | 174.867 | 179.094 | 184.904 | 190.281 | 190.966 | 191.776 | 193.405 | 195.691 | 196.983 | 197.284 | 198.976 | 200.300 | 202.521 | 205.490 | 209.012 | 212.468 | 219.177 | 226.001 | 229.377 | 230.551 | 231.877 |