Baby Food and Formula inflation, 1997–2026

Prices are 125.61% higher than in 1997, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Baby Food And Formula Inflation Calculator

$

Prices for Baby Food And Formula, 1997-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for baby food and formula are 125.61% higher in 2026 versus 1997 (a $25.12 difference in value).

Between 1997 and 2026, Baby Food and Formula experienced an average inflation rate of 2.85% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, baby food and formula costing $20 in the year 1997 would cost $45.12 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.54% during this same period, inflation for baby food and formula was higher.

Price Inflation for Baby Food and Formula since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2022 (11.56%), 2023 (8.35%), and 2008 (5.60%).

The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.

View price changes for other categories
St Louis, Missouri · Bananas · Rent of primary residence · Fish and seafood · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1997

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Baby Food and Formula, over time, for $20 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1997$20.00-
1998$20.422.10%
1999$21.203.80%
2000$22.054.05%
2001$22.773.23%
2002$23.171.77%
2003$23.742.45%
2004$24.523.28%
2005$24.871.45%
2006$25.602.94%
2007$26.081.87%
2008$27.545.60%
2009$28.001.65%
2010$27.99-0.04%
2011$28.682.48%
2012$29.844.05%
2013$30.231.31%
2014$30.831.98%
2015$30.78-0.16%
2016$31.171.26%
2017$31.671.59%
2018$32.362.18%
2019$33.734.24%
2020$34.612.62%
2021$35.522.62%
2022$39.6311.56%
2023$42.948.35%
2024$44.904.57%
2025$45.351.00%
2026$45.12-0.50%*

* 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 Baby Food and Formula:

Year199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI100.000102.100105.975110.267113.833115.850118.692122.583124.358128.017130.415137.715139.985139.927143.402149.214151.166154.161153.917155.851158.333161.782168.648173.071177.612198.145214.682224.496226.736225.613

Adjust baby food and formula prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1997* 1997 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Baby Food and Formula was 100.000 in the year 1997 and 225.613 in 2026:

225.613 / 100.000* $20 = $45.12

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1997 has the same "purchasing power" as $45.12 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Baby Food and Formula).

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