According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for alcoholic beverages at home are 147.34% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $29.47 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2025: Alcohol at home experienced an average inflation rate of 2.08% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, alcohol at home costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $49.47 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.91% during this same period, inflation for alcohol at home was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 6.67%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for alcohol at home during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), 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 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 6.67% |
| 1982 | $20.84 | 4.22% |
| 1983 | $21.59 | 3.60% |
| 1984 | $22.01 | 1.91% |
| 1985 | $22.60 | 2.70% |
| 1986 | $23.48 | 3.88% |
| 1987 | $23.95 | 2.03% |
| 1988 | $24.53 | 2.40% |
| 1989 | $25.33 | 3.25% |
| 1990 | $26.42 | 4.31% |
| 1991 | $29.60 | 12.04% |
| 1992 | $30.43 | 2.80% |
| 1993 | $30.56 | 0.42% |
| 1994 | $30.60 | 0.16% |
| 1995 | $30.74 | 0.45% |
| 1996 | $31.53 | 2.55% |
| 1997 | $32.11 | 1.84% |
| 1998 | $32.36 | 0.78% |
| 1999 | $33.02 | 2.05% |
| 2000 | $33.96 | 2.83% |
| 2001 | $34.61 | 1.92% |
| 2002 | $35.24 | 1.82% |
| 2003 | $35.78 | 1.52% |
| 2004 | $36.57 | 2.23% |
| 2005 | $37.01 | 1.20% |
| 2006 | $37.57 | 1.50% |
| 2007 | $38.48 | 2.42% |
| 2008 | $39.72 | 3.24% |
| 2009 | $40.88 | 2.91% |
| 2010 | $41.03 | 0.36% |
| 2011 | $41.20 | 0.42% |
| 2012 | $41.55 | 0.85% |
| 2013 | $42.04 | 1.18% |
| 2014 | $42.32 | 0.66% |
| 2015 | $42.38 | 0.15% |
| 2016 | $42.75 | 0.86% |
| 2017 | $43.03 | 0.66% |
| 2018 | $43.51 | 1.11% |
| 2019 | $44.15 | 1.47% |
| 2020 | $44.90 | 1.71% |
| 2021 | $45.65 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $47.09 | 3.16% |
| 2023 | $48.55 | 3.11% |
| 2024 | $49.28 | 1.49% |
| 2025 | $49.47 | 0.38%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 71.900 | 74.800 | 80.562 | 87.269 | 93.092 | 97.023 | 100.515 | 102.431 | 105.200 | 109.285 | 111.500 | 114.177 | 117.885 | 122.969 | 137.769 | 141.631 | 142.223 | 142.454 | 143.100 | 146.754 | 149.454 | 150.615 | 153.708 | 158.062 | 161.100 | 164.031 | 166.531 | 170.238 | 172.285 | 174.869 | 179.094 | 184.904 | 190.281 | 190.966 | 191.776 | 193.405 | 195.690 | 196.983 | 197.284 | 198.977 | 200.300 | 202.521 | 205.490 | 209.012 | 212.468 | 219.177 | 226.001 | 229.377 | 230.251 |