According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for dairy and related products are 261.77% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $52.35 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Dairy and related products experienced an average inflation rate of 2.83% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, dairy and related products costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $72.35 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for dairy and related products was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 6.73%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for dairy and related products during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), 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 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 6.73% |
| 1979 | $22.32 | 11.58% |
| 1980 | $24.51 | 9.85% |
| 1981 | $26.26 | 7.12% |
| 1982 | $26.63 | 1.40% |
| 1983 | $26.95 | 1.20% |
| 1984 | $27.29 | 1.29% |
| 1985 | $27.81 | 1.88% |
| 1986 | $27.86 | 0.19% |
| 1987 | $28.55 | 2.48% |
| 1988 | $29.21 | 2.30% |
| 1989 | $31.16 | 6.69% |
| 1990 | $34.10 | 9.44% |
| 1991 | $33.72 | -1.12% |
| 1992 | $34.64 | 2.72% |
| 1993 | $34.87 | 0.67% |
| 1994 | $35.51 | 1.83% |
| 1995 | $35.80 | 0.83% |
| 1996 | $38.30 | 6.97% |
| 1997 | $39.22 | 2.40% |
| 1998 | $40.64 | 3.62% |
| 1999 | $43.02 | 5.85% |
| 2000 | $43.31 | 0.67% |
| 2001 | $45.03 | 3.98% |
| 2002 | $45.31 | 0.61% |
| 2003 | $45.25 | -0.14% |
| 2004 | $48.57 | 7.35% |
| 2005 | $49.16 | 1.21% |
| 2006 | $48.88 | -0.56% |
| 2007 | $52.50 | 7.39% |
| 2008 | $56.71 | 8.02% |
| 2009 | $53.10 | -6.36% |
| 2010 | $53.70 | 1.13% |
| 2011 | $57.34 | 6.78% |
| 2012 | $58.56 | 2.13% |
| 2013 | $58.64 | 0.13% |
| 2014 | $60.73 | 3.56% |
| 2015 | $59.95 | -1.28% |
| 2016 | $58.57 | -2.30% |
| 2017 | $58.61 | 0.07% |
| 2018 | $58.35 | -0.46% |
| 2019 | $58.95 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | $61.54 | 4.40% |
| 2021 | $62.38 | 1.36% |
| 2022 | $69.86 | 12.00% |
| 2023 | $72.65 | 3.99% |
| 2024 | $72.35 | -0.41%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 15.323 | 15.985 | 16.569 | 15.669 | 15.062 | 15.946 | 17.600 | 19.700 | 21.177 | 21.000 | 21.062 | 25.954 | 29.285 | 32.200 | 29.354 | 29.038 | 32.385 | 33.769 | 33.177 | 32.115 | 32.054 | 32.900 | 33.838 | 34.362 | 34.608 | 35.354 | 35.892 | 35.685 | 35.577 | 35.869 | 36.008 | 38.315 | 39.992 | 41.323 | 42.654 | 44.723 | 46.115 | 46.854 | 51.162 | 60.731 | 62.623 | 67.700 | 69.523 | 74.200 | 82.792 | 90.946 | 97.423 | 98.785 | 99.969 | 101.262 | 103.162 | 103.354 | 105.915 | 108.354 | 115.608 | 126.523 | 125.100 | 128.508 | 129.369 | 131.738 | 132.831 | 142.092 | 145.500 | 150.769 | 159.592 | 160.669 | 167.069 | 168.092 | 167.862 | 180.200 | 182.385 | 181.362 | 194.770 | 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 | 268.433 |