According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for beef and veal are 1,672.68% higher in 2026 versus 1949 (a $334.54 difference in value).
Between 1949 and 2026:Beef and veal experienced an average inflation rate of 3.80% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, beef and veal costing $20 in the year 1949 would cost $354.54 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.45% during this same period, inflation for beef and veal was higher.
In the year 1949: Pricing changed by -6.72%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for beef and veal during the 1949-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1949 (-0.97%), inflation for beef and veal was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Beef and veal, over time, for $20 beginning in 1949. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | $20.00 | -6.72% |
| 1950 | $22.05 | 10.24% |
| 1951 | $25.74 | 16.76% |
| 1952 | $25.52 | -0.87% |
| 1953 | $20.15 | -21.05% |
| 1954 | $19.37 | -3.85% |
| 1955 | $19.16 | -1.09% |
| 1956 | $18.86 | -1.57% |
| 1957 | $20.27 | 7.49% |
| 1958 | $23.58 | 16.34% |
| 1959 | $24.28 | 2.97% |
| 1960 | $23.67 | -2.52% |
| 1961 | $23.29 | -1.62% |
| 1962 | $24.12 | 3.56% |
| 1963 | $23.84 | -1.17% |
| 1964 | $23.15 | -2.86% |
| 1965 | $24.25 | 4.73% |
| 1966 | $25.52 | 5.26% |
| 1967 | $25.69 | 0.65% |
| 1968 | $26.72 | 4.03% |
| 1969 | $29.41 | 10.06% |
| 1970 | $30.70 | 4.38% |
| 1971 | $32.08 | 4.50% |
| 1972 | $35.09 | 9.39% |
| 1973 | $42.06 | 19.86% |
| 1974 | $43.28 | 2.88% |
| 1975 | $43.68 | 0.92% |
| 1976 | $42.25 | -3.27% |
| 1977 | $42.03 | -0.52% |
| 1978 | $51.64 | 22.86% |
| 1979 | $65.71 | 27.25% |
| 1980 | $69.43 | 5.67% |
| 1981 | $70.02 | 0.86% |
| 1982 | $71.02 | 1.42% |
| 1983 | $69.96 | -1.48% |
| 1984 | $70.79 | 1.18% |
| 1985 | $69.29 | -2.11% |
| 1986 | $69.71 | 0.60% |
| 1987 | $75.02 | 7.61% |
| 1988 | $79.12 | 5.47% |
| 1989 | $84.24 | 6.48% |
| 1990 | $90.88 | 7.88% |
| 1991 | $93.49 | 2.87% |
| 1992 | $93.36 | -0.14% |
| 1993 | $96.77 | 3.65% |
| 1994 | $95.96 | -0.83% |
| 1995 | $95.19 | -0.81% |
| 1996 | $94.93 | -0.27% |
| 1997 | $96.54 | 1.69% |
| 1998 | $96.36 | -0.18% |
| 1999 | $98.26 | 1.97% |
| 2000 | $104.52 | 6.37% |
| 2001 | $113.27 | 8.37% |
| 2002 | $113.36 | 0.08% |
| 2003 | $123.59 | 9.02% |
| 2004 | $137.86 | 11.55% |
| 2005 | $141.48 | 2.62% |
| 2006 | $142.62 | 0.81% |
| 2007 | $148.98 | 4.46% |
| 2008 | $155.71 | 4.51% |
| 2009 | $154.07 | -1.05% |
| 2010 | $158.48 | 2.86% |
| 2011 | $174.62 | 10.18% |
| 2012 | $185.71 | 6.35% |
| 2013 | $189.41 | 1.99% |
| 2014 | $212.28 | 12.07% |
| 2015 | $227.65 | 7.24% |
| 2016 | $213.22 | -6.34% |
| 2017 | $210.63 | -1.21% |
| 2018 | $213.59 | 1.41% |
| 2019 | $216.96 | 1.58% |
| 2020 | $237.87 | 9.64% |
| 2021 | $260.04 | 9.32% |
| 2022 | $273.76 | 5.28% |
| 2023 | $283.62 | 3.60% |
| 2024 | $298.88 | 5.38% |
| 2025 | $331.28 | 10.84% |
| 2026 | $354.54 | 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 |