According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for butter are 298.64% higher in 2024 versus 1979 (a $9.50 difference in value).
The current national average price is $3.18 for "Butter, salted, grade AA, stick, per lb. (453.6 gm)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
Between 1979 and 2024: Butter experienced an average inflation rate of 3.12% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, butter costing $3.18 in the year 1979 would cost $12.68 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.30% during this same period, inflation for butter was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 13.14%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for butter during the 1979-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for butter was higher.
The average price for Butter is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.
Average prices for Butter, salted, grade AA, stick, per lb. (453.6 gm):
| Year | Average price (Butter) | Inflation adjusted price (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $3.38 | $3.38 |
| 2011 | $3.60 | $3.35 |
| 2010 | $3.12 | $3.36 |
| 2009 | $2.84 | $3.37 |
| 2008 | $3.14 | $3.45 |
| 2007 | $3.03 | $3.49 |
| 2006 | $2.92 | $3.35 |
| 2005 | $3.28 | $3.49 |
| 2004 | $3.49 | $3.66 |
| 2003 | $2.81 | $3.81 |
| 2002 | $3.07 | $3.86 |
| 2001 | $3.30 | $3.77 |
| 2000 | $2.52 | $3.64 |
| 1999 | $2.65 | $3.57 |
| 1998 | $2.86 | $3.73 |
| 1997 | $2.17 | $3.70 |
| 1996 | $2.05 | $3.73 |
| 1995 | $1.61 | $3.68 |
| 1994 | $1.60 | $3.79 |
| 1993 | $1.66 | $3.75 |
| 1992 | $1.83 | $3.88 |
| 1991 | $1.94 | $3.96 |
| 1990 | $1.99 | $3.97 |
| 1989 | $2.13 | $3.98 |
| 1988 | $2.16 | $4.03 |
| 1987 | $2.17 | $4.04 |
| 1986 | $2.15 | $4.08 |
| 1985 | $2.12 | $4.04 |
| 1984 | $2.11 | $4.05 |
| 1983 | $2.06 | $4.07 |
| 1982 | $2.05 | $4.08 |
| 1981 | $1.99 | $4.06 |
| 1980 | $1.88 | $4.12 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Butter, over time, for $3.18 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $3.18 | 13.14% |
| 1980 | $3.57 | 12.38% |
| 1981 | $3.85 | 7.64% |
| 1982 | $3.93 | 2.27% |
| 1983 | $3.98 | 1.17% |
| 1984 | $4.08 | 2.43% |
| 1985 | $4.12 | 1.08% |
| 1986 | $4.13 | 0.30% |
| 1987 | $4.21 | 1.79% |
| 1988 | $4.19 | -0.31% |
| 1989 | $4.20 | 0.03% |
| 1990 | $3.94 | -6.18% |
| 1991 | $3.83 | -2.71% |
| 1992 | $3.69 | -3.55% |
| 1993 | $3.47 | -6.10% |
| 1994 | $3.31 | -4.48% |
| 1995 | $3.43 | 3.38% |
| 1996 | $4.30 | 25.58% |
| 1997 | $4.59 | 6.65% |
| 1998 | $6.01 | 31.11% |
| 1999 | $5.83 | -3.12% |
| 2000 | $5.43 | -6.79% |
| 2001 | $6.86 | 26.32% |
| 2002 | $6.23 | -9.13% |
| 2003 | $5.79 | -7.10% |
| 2004 | $7.48 | 29.15% |
| 2005 | $7.38 | -1.35% |
| 2006 | $6.84 | -7.28% |
| 2007 | $6.82 | -0.28% |
| 2008 | $7.12 | 4.39% |
| 2009 | $6.61 | -7.17% |
| 2010 | $7.30 | 10.39% |
| 2011 | $8.43 | 15.45% |
| 2012 | $7.84 | -6.97% |
| 2013 | $7.93 | 1.18% |
| 2014 | $9.09 | 14.60% |
| 2015 | $9.31 | 2.40% |
| 2016 | $9.37 | 0.71% |
| 2017 | $9.61 | 2.53% |
| 2018 | $9.75 | 1.44% |
| 2019 | $9.86 | 1.12% |
| 2020 | $9.94 | 0.84% |
| 2021 | $9.93 | -0.10% |
| 2022 | $11.86 | 19.42% |
| 2023 | $12.23 | 3.11% |
| 2024 | $12.68 | 3.66%* |
* 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 Butter:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 14.508 | 16.146 | 18.469 | 21.269 | 23.431 | 22.269 | 22.546 | 31.808 | 36.085 | 38.892 | 32.508 | 32.685 | 36.692 | 38.338 | 35.600 | 32.623 | 31.977 | 32.708 | 33.692 | 33.662 | 34.154 | 34.000 | 34.723 | 34.215 | 34.154 | 34.500 | 35.054 | 38.138 | 39.192 | 39.500 | 40.000 | 40.954 | 41.462 | 41.277 | 43.392 | 44.746 | 48.692 | 60.008 | 63.423 | 70.315 | 79.554 | 89.400 | 96.231 | 98.415 | 99.569 | 101.992 | 103.092 | 103.400 | 105.254 | 104.931 | 104.962 | 98.477 | 95.808 | 92.408 | 86.769 | 82.885 | 85.685 | 107.600 | 114.754 | 150.454 | 145.754 | 135.862 | 171.615 | 155.954 | 144.877 | 187.115 | 184.592 | 171.162 | 170.683 | 178.170 | 165.401 | 182.593 | 210.795 | 196.102 | 198.410 | 227.375 | 232.833 | 234.484 | 240.409 | 243.882 | 246.620 | 248.691 | 248.454 | 296.713 | 305.928 | 317.137 |