According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for butter and margarine were 71.95% higher in 2020 versus 2002 (a $14.39 difference in value).
Between 2002 and 2020: Butter and margarine experienced an average inflation rate of 3.06% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, butter and margarine costing $20 in the year 2002 would cost $34.39 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.04% during this same period, inflation for butter and margarine was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Butter and margarine:
| Year | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| CPI | 121.008 | 119.483 | 137.208 | 136.233 | 132.567 | 136.240 | 154.483 | 155.920 | 160.766 | 184.091 | 183.747 | 183.909 | 197.431 | 199.319 | 200.870 | 204.792 | 205.477 | 206.058 | 208.079 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Butter and margarine, over time, for $20 beginning in 2002. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | $20.00 | - |
| 2003 | $19.75 | -1.26% |
| 2004 | $22.68 | 14.83% |
| 2005 | $22.52 | -0.71% |
| 2006 | $21.91 | -2.69% |
| 2007 | $22.52 | 2.77% |
| 2008 | $25.53 | 13.39% |
| 2009 | $25.77 | 0.93% |
| 2010 | $26.57 | 3.11% |
| 2011 | $30.43 | 14.51% |
| 2012 | $30.37 | -0.19% |
| 2013 | $30.40 | 0.09% |
| 2014 | $32.63 | 7.35% |
| 2015 | $32.94 | 0.96% |
| 2016 | $33.20 | 0.78% |
| 2017 | $33.85 | 1.95% |
| 2018 | $33.96 | 0.33% |
| 2019 | $34.06 | 0.28% |
| 2020 | $34.39 | 0.98%* |