According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for coffee were 499.26% higher in 2021 versus 1971 (a $99.85 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2021: Coffee experienced an average inflation rate of 3.65% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, coffee costing $20 in the year 1971 would cost $119.85 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.81% during this same period, inflation for coffee was lower.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 2.86%, which is below the average yearly change for coffee during the 1971-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.30%), inflation for coffee was lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Coffee:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 26.623 | 26.485 | 26.854 | 31.715 | 32.623 | 32.100 | 35.715 | 42.554 | 46.392 | 63.754 | 112.923 | 107.200 | 101.815 | 111.608 | 96.185 | 98.500 | 98.815 | 102.708 | 105.462 | 132.692 | 116.177 | 114.962 | 120.408 | 117.485 | 115.254 | 110.738 | 109.777 | 140.431 | 163.131 | 149.162 | 168.015 | 163.431 | 154.754 | 153.992 | 146.731 | 142.585 | 144.931 | 145.323 | 161.223 | 165.277 | 175.647 | 188.027 | 186.317 | 186.418 | 213.824 | 217.441 | 204.712 | 200.984 | 205.540 | 199.307 | 199.156 | 194.876 | 193.237 | 194.177 | 195.498 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Coffee, over time, for $20 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $20.00 | 2.86% |
| 1972 | $19.68 | -1.60% |
| 1973 | $21.90 | 11.26% |
| 1974 | $26.09 | 19.15% |
| 1975 | $28.44 | 9.02% |
| 1976 | $39.09 | 37.42% |
| 1977 | $69.23 | 77.12% |
| 1978 | $65.72 | -5.07% |
| 1979 | $62.42 | -5.02% |
| 1980 | $68.42 | 9.62% |
| 1981 | $58.97 | -13.82% |
| 1982 | $60.39 | 2.41% |
| 1983 | $60.58 | 0.32% |
| 1984 | $62.97 | 3.94% |
| 1985 | $64.65 | 2.68% |
| 1986 | $81.35 | 25.82% |
| 1987 | $71.22 | -12.45% |
| 1988 | $70.48 | -1.05% |
| 1989 | $73.82 | 4.74% |
| 1990 | $72.03 | -2.43% |
| 1991 | $70.66 | -1.90% |
| 1992 | $67.89 | -3.92% |
| 1993 | $67.30 | -0.87% |
| 1994 | $86.09 | 27.92% |
| 1995 | $100.01 | 16.16% |
| 1996 | $91.45 | -8.56% |
| 1997 | $103.00 | 12.64% |
| 1998 | $100.19 | -2.73% |
| 1999 | $94.87 | -5.31% |
| 2000 | $94.41 | -0.49% |
| 2001 | $89.96 | -4.72% |
| 2002 | $87.41 | -2.83% |
| 2003 | $88.85 | 1.65% |
| 2004 | $89.09 | 0.27% |
| 2005 | $98.84 | 10.94% |
| 2006 | $101.33 | 2.51% |
| 2007 | $107.68 | 6.27% |
| 2008 | $115.27 | 7.05% |
| 2009 | $114.22 | -0.91% |
| 2010 | $114.29 | 0.05% |
| 2011 | $131.09 | 14.70% |
| 2012 | $133.31 | 1.69% |
| 2013 | $125.50 | -5.85% |
| 2014 | $123.22 | -1.82% |
| 2015 | $126.01 | 2.27% |
| 2016 | $122.19 | -3.03% |
| 2017 | $122.09 | -0.08% |
| 2018 | $119.47 | -2.15% |
| 2019 | $118.47 | -0.84% |
| 2020 | $119.04 | 0.49% |
| 2021 | $119.85 | 0.68%* |