According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for alcoholic beverages were 144.18% higher in 2021 versus 1985 (a $14.42 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2021: Alcohol experienced an average inflation rate of 2.51% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, alcohol costing $10 in the year 1985 would cost $24.42 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% during this same period, inflation for alcohol was higher.
In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 3.32%, which is above the average yearly change for alcohol during the 1985-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for alcohol was lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Alcoholic beverages:
| Year | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 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 |
| CPI | 39.400 | 39.720 | 40.540 | 40.440 | 41.020 | 42.080 | 42.000 | 42.460 | 43.100 | 43.240 | 43.400 | 43.860 | 44.200 | 44.700 | 45.440 | 46.377 | 48.023 | 49.700 | 52.062 | 54.177 | 55.423 | 56.800 | 61.131 | 65.877 | 68.069 | 69.969 | 74.077 | 79.900 | 86.369 | 92.508 | 96.662 | 100.377 | 102.962 | 106.385 | 111.131 | 114.085 | 118.554 | 123.477 | 129.254 | 142.785 | 147.262 | 149.631 | 151.492 | 153.900 | 158.515 | 162.815 | 165.731 | 169.708 | 174.654 | 179.285 | 183.600 | 187.177 | 192.131 | 195.923 | 200.715 | 207.026 | 214.484 | 220.751 | 223.291 | 226.685 | 230.800 | 234.623 | 237.305 | 239.530 | 242.526 | 245.419 | 249.134 | 252.542 | 257.246 | 259.765 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Alcohol, over time, for $10 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $10.00 | 3.32% |
| 1986 | $10.45 | 4.46% |
| 1987 | $10.72 | 2.66% |
| 1988 | $11.14 | 3.92% |
| 1989 | $11.61 | 4.15% |
| 1990 | $12.15 | 4.68% |
| 1991 | $13.42 | 10.47% |
| 1992 | $13.84 | 3.14% |
| 1993 | $14.07 | 1.61% |
| 1994 | $14.24 | 1.24% |
| 1995 | $14.47 | 1.59% |
| 1996 | $14.90 | 3.00% |
| 1997 | $15.30 | 2.71% |
| 1998 | $15.58 | 1.79% |
| 1999 | $15.95 | 2.40% |
| 2000 | $16.42 | 2.91% |
| 2001 | $16.85 | 2.65% |
| 2002 | $17.26 | 2.41% |
| 2003 | $17.59 | 1.95% |
| 2004 | $18.06 | 2.65% |
| 2005 | $18.42 | 1.97% |
| 2006 | $18.87 | 2.45% |
| 2007 | $19.46 | 3.14% |
| 2008 | $20.16 | 3.60% |
| 2009 | $20.75 | 2.92% |
| 2010 | $20.99 | 1.15% |
| 2011 | $21.31 | 1.52% |
| 2012 | $21.69 | 1.82% |
| 2013 | $22.05 | 1.66% |
| 2014 | $22.31 | 1.14% |
| 2015 | $22.52 | 0.94% |
| 2016 | $22.80 | 1.25% |
| 2017 | $23.07 | 1.19% |
| 2018 | $23.42 | 1.51% |
| 2019 | $23.74 | 1.37% |
| 2020 | $24.18 | 1.86% |
| 2021 | $24.42 | 0.98%* |