According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for beef and veal are 3,361.87% higher in 2026 versus 1942 (a $672.37 difference in value).
Between 1942 and 2026:Beef and veal experienced an average inflation rate of 4.31% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, beef and veal costing $20 in the year 1942 would cost $692.37 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.62% during this same period, inflation for beef and veal was higher.
In the year 1942: Pricing changed by 11.39%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for beef and veal during the 1942-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1942 (10.92%), inflation for beef and veal was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Beef and veal, over time, for $20 beginning in 1942. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | $20.00 | 11.39% |
| 1943 | $20.20 | 0.98% |
| 1944 | $19.23 | -4.78% |
| 1945 | $19.16 | -0.36% |
| 1946 | $24.39 | 27.28% |
| 1947 | $34.58 | 41.78% |
| 1948 | $41.87 | 21.10% |
| 1949 | $39.06 | -6.72% |
| 1950 | $43.06 | 10.24% |
| 1951 | $50.27 | 16.76% |
| 1952 | $49.83 | -0.87% |
| 1953 | $39.35 | -21.05% |
| 1954 | $37.83 | -3.85% |
| 1955 | $37.42 | -1.09% |
| 1956 | $36.83 | -1.57% |
| 1957 | $39.59 | 7.49% |
| 1958 | $46.05 | 16.34% |
| 1959 | $47.42 | 2.97% |
| 1960 | $46.23 | -2.52% |
| 1961 | $45.48 | -1.62% |
| 1962 | $47.10 | 3.56% |
| 1963 | $46.55 | -1.17% |
| 1964 | $45.22 | -2.86% |
| 1965 | $47.35 | 4.73% |
| 1966 | $49.84 | 5.26% |
| 1967 | $50.17 | 0.65% |
| 1968 | $52.19 | 4.03% |
| 1969 | $57.44 | 10.06% |
| 1970 | $59.95 | 4.38% |
| 1971 | $62.65 | 4.50% |
| 1972 | $68.54 | 9.39% |
| 1973 | $82.15 | 19.86% |
| 1974 | $84.51 | 2.88% |
| 1975 | $85.30 | 0.92% |
| 1976 | $82.50 | -3.27% |
| 1977 | $82.08 | -0.52% |
| 1978 | $100.84 | 22.86% |
| 1979 | $128.32 | 27.25% |
| 1980 | $135.59 | 5.67% |
| 1981 | $136.75 | 0.86% |
| 1982 | $138.69 | 1.42% |
| 1983 | $136.63 | -1.48% |
| 1984 | $138.24 | 1.18% |
| 1985 | $135.32 | -2.11% |
| 1986 | $136.14 | 0.60% |
| 1987 | $146.50 | 7.61% |
| 1988 | $154.51 | 5.47% |
| 1989 | $164.51 | 6.48% |
| 1990 | $177.48 | 7.88% |
| 1991 | $182.57 | 2.87% |
| 1992 | $182.32 | -0.14% |
| 1993 | $188.98 | 3.65% |
| 1994 | $187.41 | -0.83% |
| 1995 | $185.89 | -0.81% |
| 1996 | $185.39 | -0.27% |
| 1997 | $188.52 | 1.69% |
| 1998 | $188.19 | -0.18% |
| 1999 | $191.89 | 1.97% |
| 2000 | $204.11 | 6.37% |
| 2001 | $221.21 | 8.37% |
| 2002 | $221.39 | 0.08% |
| 2003 | $241.36 | 9.02% |
| 2004 | $269.24 | 11.55% |
| 2005 | $276.29 | 2.62% |
| 2006 | $278.53 | 0.81% |
| 2007 | $290.95 | 4.46% |
| 2008 | $304.08 | 4.51% |
| 2009 | $300.89 | -1.05% |
| 2010 | $309.49 | 2.86% |
| 2011 | $341.01 | 10.18% |
| 2012 | $362.67 | 6.35% |
| 2013 | $369.89 | 1.99% |
| 2014 | $414.55 | 12.07% |
| 2015 | $444.58 | 7.24% |
| 2016 | $416.40 | -6.34% |
| 2017 | $411.35 | -1.21% |
| 2018 | $417.13 | 1.41% |
| 2019 | $423.70 | 1.58% |
| 2020 | $464.53 | 9.64% |
| 2021 | $507.82 | 9.32% |
| 2022 | $534.63 | 5.28% |
| 2023 | $553.88 | 3.60% |
| 2024 | $583.67 | 5.38% |
| 2025 | $646.96 | 10.84% |
| 2026 | $692.37 | 7.02%* |
* 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 Beef and veal:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 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 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 11.625 | 11.133 | 12.525 | 11.600 | 11.875 | 12.067 | 13.025 | 14.508 | 14.650 | 13.950 | 13.900 | 17.692 | 25.083 | 30.375 | 28.333 | 31.233 | 36.467 | 36.150 | 28.542 | 27.442 | 27.142 | 26.717 | 28.717 | 33.408 | 34.400 | 33.533 | 32.992 | 34.167 | 33.767 | 32.800 | 34.350 | 36.158 | 36.392 | 37.858 | 41.667 | 43.492 | 45.450 | 49.717 | 59.592 | 61.308 | 61.875 | 59.850 | 59.542 | 73.150 | 93.083 | 98.358 | 99.200 | 100.608 | 99.117 | 100.283 | 98.167 | 98.758 | 106.275 | 112.083 | 119.342 | 128.750 | 132.442 | 132.258 | 137.092 | 135.950 | 134.850 | 134.483 | 136.758 | 136.517 | 139.200 | 148.067 | 160.467 | 160.600 | 175.083 | 195.308 | 200.425 | 202.050 | 211.060 | 220.586 | 218.273 | 224.511 | 247.377 | 263.089 | 268.327 | 300.724 | 322.504 | 302.062 | 298.399 | 302.592 | 307.362 | 336.980 | 368.383 | 387.828 | 401.794 | 423.407 | 469.315 | 502.259 |