According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for cigarettes are 512.28% higher in 2025 versus 1998 (a $25.61 difference in value).
Between 1998 and 2025: Cigarettes experienced an average inflation rate of 6.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, cigarettes costing $5 in the year 1998 would cost $30.61 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.52% during this same period, inflation for cigarettes was significantly higher.
In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 9.79%, which is above the average yearly change for cigarettes during the 1998-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for cigarettes was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cigarettes, over time, for $5 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | $5.00 | 9.79% |
| 1999 | $6.55 | 30.95% |
| 2000 | $7.28 | 11.21% |
| 2001 | $7.86 | 7.90% |
| 2002 | $8.55 | 8.80% |
| 2003 | $8.67 | 1.45% |
| 2004 | $8.81 | 1.60% |
| 2005 | $9.27 | 5.17% |
| 2006 | $9.58 | 3.40% |
| 2007 | $10.24 | 6.85% |
| 2008 | $10.88 | 6.30% |
| 2009 | $13.54 | 24.45% |
| 2010 | $14.98 | 10.65% |
| 2011 | $15.48 | 3.34% |
| 2012 | $15.83 | 2.21% |
| 2013 | $16.26 | 2.75% |
| 2014 | $16.78 | 3.18% |
| 2015 | $17.30 | 3.13% |
| 2016 | $17.92 | 3.56% |
| 2017 | $19.05 | 6.30% |
| 2018 | $19.80 | 3.97% |
| 2019 | $20.81 | 5.09% |
| 2020 | $21.93 | 5.37% |
| 2021 | $23.59 | 7.59% |
| 2022 | $25.35 | 7.44% |
| 2023 | $27.06 | 6.75% |
| 2024 | $29.23 | 8.03% |
| 2025 | $30.61 | 4.73%* |
* 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 Cigarettes:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 109.792 | 143.769 | 159.885 | 172.515 | 187.692 | 190.408 | 193.454 | 203.462 | 210.369 | 224.787 | 238.951 | 297.381 | 329.046 | 340.026 | 347.536 | 357.104 | 368.444 | 379.982 | 393.495 | 418.274 | 434.883 | 457.011 | 481.555 | 518.090 | 556.619 | 594.187 | 641.882 | 672.239 |