According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for dairy and related products are 926.94% higher in 2026 versus 1946 (a $185.39 difference in value).
Between 1946 and 2026:Dairy and related products experienced an average inflation rate of 2.95% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, dairy and related products costing $20 in the year 1946 would cost $205.39 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.57% during this same period, inflation for dairy and related products was lower.
In the year 1946: Pricing changed by 23.18%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for dairy and related products during the 1946-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1946 (8.48%), inflation for dairy and related products was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Dairy and related products, over time, for $20 beginning in 1946. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | $20.00 | 23.18% |
| 1947 | $22.57 | 12.85% |
| 1948 | $24.82 | 9.96% |
| 1949 | $22.62 | -8.85% |
| 1950 | $22.38 | -1.05% |
| 1951 | $24.96 | 11.51% |
| 1952 | $26.02 | 4.27% |
| 1953 | $25.57 | -1.75% |
| 1954 | $24.75 | -3.19% |
| 1955 | $24.70 | -0.21% |
| 1956 | $25.36 | 2.65% |
| 1957 | $26.08 | 2.84% |
| 1958 | $26.48 | 1.55% |
| 1959 | $26.67 | 0.73% |
| 1960 | $27.24 | 2.14% |
| 1961 | $27.66 | 1.53% |
| 1962 | $27.50 | -0.58% |
| 1963 | $27.42 | -0.30% |
| 1964 | $27.64 | 0.82% |
| 1965 | $27.75 | 0.39% |
| 1966 | $29.53 | 6.41% |
| 1967 | $30.82 | 4.37% |
| 1968 | $31.85 | 3.33% |
| 1969 | $32.87 | 3.21% |
| 1970 | $34.47 | 4.87% |
| 1971 | $35.54 | 3.11% |
| 1972 | $36.11 | 1.61% |
| 1973 | $39.43 | 9.18% |
| 1974 | $46.81 | 18.72% |
| 1975 | $48.27 | 3.11% |
| 1976 | $52.18 | 8.10% |
| 1977 | $53.58 | 2.70% |
| 1978 | $57.19 | 6.72% |
| 1979 | $63.81 | 11.58% |
| 1980 | $70.10 | 9.85% |
| 1981 | $75.09 | 7.12% |
| 1982 | $76.13 | 1.39% |
| 1983 | $77.05 | 1.20% |
| 1984 | $78.04 | 1.29% |
| 1985 | $79.51 | 1.88% |
| 1986 | $79.66 | 0.19% |
| 1987 | $81.63 | 2.48% |
| 1988 | $83.51 | 2.30% |
| 1989 | $89.10 | 6.70% |
| 1990 | $97.51 | 9.44% |
| 1991 | $96.42 | -1.13% |
| 1992 | $99.04 | 2.72% |
| 1993 | $99.70 | 0.67% |
| 1994 | $101.54 | 1.84% |
| 1995 | $102.38 | 0.83% |
| 1996 | $109.51 | 6.97% |
| 1997 | $112.14 | 2.40% |
| 1998 | $116.20 | 3.62% |
| 1999 | $123.00 | 5.85% |
| 2000 | $123.83 | 0.67% |
| 2001 | $128.76 | 3.98% |
| 2002 | $129.55 | 0.61% |
| 2003 | $129.37 | -0.14% |
| 2004 | $138.88 | 7.35% |
| 2005 | $140.57 | 1.21% |
| 2006 | $139.78 | -0.56% |
| 2007 | $150.11 | 7.39% |
| 2008 | $162.15 | 8.02% |
| 2009 | $151.84 | -6.36% |
| 2010 | $153.56 | 1.13% |
| 2011 | $163.97 | 6.78% |
| 2012 | $167.45 | 2.13% |
| 2013 | $167.67 | 0.13% |
| 2014 | $173.65 | 3.56% |
| 2015 | $171.42 | -1.28% |
| 2016 | $167.48 | -2.30% |
| 2017 | $167.60 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | $166.83 | -0.46% |
| 2019 | $168.55 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | $175.97 | 4.40% |
| 2021 | $178.36 | 1.36% |
| 2022 | $199.76 | 12.00% |
| 2023 | $207.73 | 3.99% |
| 2024 | $207.23 | -0.24% |
| 2025 | $208.97 | 0.84% |
| 2026 | $205.39 | -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 |