According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for dairy and related products are 1,669.72% higher in 2026 versus 1939 (a $333.94 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2026:Dairy and related products experienced an average inflation rate of 3.36% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, dairy and related products costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $353.94 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for dairy and related products was lower.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -3.88%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for dairy and related products during the 1939-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.30%), inflation for dairy and related products was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Dairy and related products, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -3.88% |
| 1940 | $21.18 | 5.92% |
| 1941 | $23.38 | 10.34% |
| 1942 | $26.16 | 11.93% |
| 1943 | $28.12 | 7.49% |
| 1944 | $27.89 | -0.83% |
| 1945 | $27.98 | 0.32% |
| 1946 | $34.47 | 23.18% |
| 1947 | $38.89 | 12.85% |
| 1948 | $42.77 | 9.96% |
| 1949 | $38.98 | -8.85% |
| 1950 | $38.57 | -1.05% |
| 1951 | $43.01 | 11.51% |
| 1952 | $44.85 | 4.27% |
| 1953 | $44.06 | -1.75% |
| 1954 | $42.66 | -3.19% |
| 1955 | $42.57 | -0.21% |
| 1956 | $43.70 | 2.65% |
| 1957 | $44.94 | 2.84% |
| 1958 | $45.63 | 1.55% |
| 1959 | $45.97 | 0.73% |
| 1960 | $46.95 | 2.14% |
| 1961 | $47.67 | 1.53% |
| 1962 | $47.39 | -0.58% |
| 1963 | $47.25 | -0.30% |
| 1964 | $47.64 | 0.82% |
| 1965 | $47.83 | 0.39% |
| 1966 | $50.89 | 6.41% |
| 1967 | $53.12 | 4.37% |
| 1968 | $54.89 | 3.33% |
| 1969 | $56.65 | 3.21% |
| 1970 | $59.40 | 4.87% |
| 1971 | $61.25 | 3.11% |
| 1972 | $62.24 | 1.61% |
| 1973 | $67.95 | 9.18% |
| 1974 | $80.66 | 18.72% |
| 1975 | $83.18 | 3.11% |
| 1976 | $89.92 | 8.10% |
| 1977 | $92.34 | 2.70% |
| 1978 | $98.55 | 6.72% |
| 1979 | $109.96 | 11.58% |
| 1980 | $120.80 | 9.85% |
| 1981 | $129.40 | 7.12% |
| 1982 | $131.20 | 1.39% |
| 1983 | $132.77 | 1.20% |
| 1984 | $134.49 | 1.29% |
| 1985 | $137.01 | 1.88% |
| 1986 | $137.28 | 0.19% |
| 1987 | $140.68 | 2.48% |
| 1988 | $143.91 | 2.30% |
| 1989 | $153.55 | 6.70% |
| 1990 | $168.05 | 9.44% |
| 1991 | $166.15 | -1.13% |
| 1992 | $170.68 | 2.72% |
| 1993 | $171.82 | 0.67% |
| 1994 | $174.98 | 1.84% |
| 1995 | $176.43 | 0.83% |
| 1996 | $188.72 | 6.97% |
| 1997 | $193.25 | 2.40% |
| 1998 | $200.24 | 3.62% |
| 1999 | $211.96 | 5.85% |
| 2000 | $213.39 | 0.67% |
| 2001 | $221.89 | 3.98% |
| 2002 | $223.25 | 0.61% |
| 2003 | $222.94 | -0.14% |
| 2004 | $239.34 | 7.35% |
| 2005 | $242.24 | 1.21% |
| 2006 | $240.87 | -0.56% |
| 2007 | $258.69 | 7.39% |
| 2008 | $279.44 | 8.02% |
| 2009 | $261.67 | -6.36% |
| 2010 | $264.63 | 1.13% |
| 2011 | $282.56 | 6.78% |
| 2012 | $288.57 | 2.13% |
| 2013 | $288.95 | 0.13% |
| 2014 | $299.25 | 3.56% |
| 2015 | $295.41 | -1.28% |
| 2016 | $288.62 | -2.30% |
| 2017 | $288.82 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | $287.50 | -0.46% |
| 2019 | $290.46 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | $303.25 | 4.40% |
| 2021 | $307.37 | 1.36% |
| 2022 | $344.24 | 12.00% |
| 2023 | $357.98 | 3.99% |
| 2024 | $357.11 | -0.24% |
| 2025 | $360.12 | 0.84% |
| 2026 | $353.94 | -1.71%* |
* 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 Dairy and related products:
| 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 | 15.325 | 15.983 | 16.567 | 15.667 | 15.058 | 15.950 | 17.600 | 19.700 | 21.175 | 21.000 | 21.067 | 25.950 | 29.283 | 32.200 | 29.350 | 29.042 | 32.383 | 33.767 | 33.175 | 32.117 | 32.050 | 32.900 | 33.833 | 34.358 | 34.608 | 35.350 | 35.892 | 35.683 | 35.575 | 35.867 | 36.008 | 38.317 | 39.992 | 41.325 | 42.650 | 44.725 | 46.117 | 46.858 | 51.158 | 60.733 | 62.625 | 67.700 | 69.525 | 74.200 | 82.792 | 90.950 | 97.425 | 98.783 | 99.967 | 101.258 | 103.158 | 103.358 | 105.917 | 108.350 | 115.608 | 126.525 | 125.100 | 128.508 | 129.367 | 131.742 | 132.833 | 142.092 | 145.500 | 150.767 | 159.592 | 160.667 | 167.067 | 168.092 | 167.858 | 180.200 | 182.383 | 181.358 | 194.769 | 210.396 | 197.013 | 199.245 | 212.745 | 217.270 | 217.554 | 225.310 | 222.418 | 217.306 | 217.455 | 216.462 | 218.693 | 228.322 | 231.422 | 259.184 | 269.528 | 268.875 | 271.138 | 266.491 |