Fish price inflation, 1935→2026

Fish Inflation Calculator

Prices for Fish, 1935-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fish and seafood are 5,832.76% higher in 2026 versus 1935 (a $1,166.55 difference in value).

Between 1935 and 2026:Fish experienced an average inflation rate of 4.59% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fish costing $20 in the year 1935 would cost $1,186.55 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.54% during this same period, inflation for fish was higher.

Price Inflation for Fish and seafood since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1942 (31.02%), 1943 (26.53%), and 1948 (15.36%).

View price changes for other categories
Gasoline (all types) · Milk · Seattle, Washington · Alcoholic beverages · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1935

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fish, over time, for $20 beginning in 1935. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1935	$20.00	-
1936	$20.08	0.40%
1937	$20.49	2.02%
1938	$20.59	0.53%
1939	$20.51	-0.39%
1940	$22.54	9.87%
1941	$25.32	12.34%
1942	$33.17	31.02%
1943	$41.97	26.53%
1944	$42.16	0.45%
1945	$44.13	4.67%
1946	$48.04	8.87%
1947	$55.17	14.83%
1948	$63.64	15.36%
1949	$63.94	0.47%
1950	$62.73	-1.90%
1951	$71.66	14.24%
1952	$69.77	-2.64%
1953	$67.21	-3.68%
1954	$67.50	0.44%
1955	$66.07	-2.12%
1956	$66.02	-0.08%
1957	$66.96	1.43%
1958	$71.55	6.85%
1959	$72.87	1.85%
1960	$72.87	0.00% **
1961	$74.47	2.19%
1962	$77.65	4.28%
1963	$77.52	-0.17%
1964	$75.68	-2.37%
1965	$77.92	2.96%
1966	$83.00	6.51%
1967	$85.80	3.38%
1968	$87.26	1.70%
1969	$91.98	5.41%
1970	$101.27	10.09%
1971	$111.71	10.31%
1972	$121.73	8.96%
1973	$139.78	14.83%
1974	$161.08	15.23%
1975	$174.39	8.26%
1976	$195.06	11.86%
1977	$215.92	10.70%
1978	$236.30	9.44%
1979	$259.38	9.77%
1980	$283.43	9.27%
1981	$306.99	8.31%
1982	$318.03	3.60%
1983	$321.65	1.14%
1984	$331.93	3.20%
1985	$348.34	4.94%
1986	$380.27	9.17%
1987	$420.78	10.65%
1988	$444.97	5.75%
1989	$465.05	4.51%
1990	$475.22	2.19%
1991	$480.35	1.08%
1992	$491.28	2.28%
1993	$507.26	3.25%
1994	$530.15	4.51%
1995	$555.82	4.84%
1996	$560.59	0.86%
1997	$573.68	2.34%
1998	$588.56	2.59%
1999	$600.16	1.97%
2000	$616.52	2.73%
2001	$618.87	0.38%
2002	$609.07	-1.58%
2003	$615.36	1.03%
2004	$629.42	2.29%
2005	$648.04	2.96%
2006	$678.57	4.71%
2007	$709.59	4.57%
2008	$751.81	5.95%
2009	$779.13	3.63%
2010	$787.78	1.11%
2011	$843.70	7.10%
2012	$863.65	2.36%
2013	$885.04	2.48%
2014	$936.05	5.76%
2015	$927.31	-0.93%
2016	$920.59	-0.72%
2017	$931.74	1.21%
2018	$951.47	2.12%
2019	$966.78	1.61%
2020	$998.32	3.26%
2021	$1,052.17	5.39%
2022	$1,148.42	9.15%
2023	$1,152.01	0.31%
2024	$1,130.58	-1.86%
2025	$1,151.11	1.82%
2026	$1,186.55	3.08%*

* 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 Fish and seafood:

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	6.175	6.200	6.325	6.358	6.333	6.958	7.817	10.242	12.958	13.017	13.625	14.833	17.033	19.650	19.742	19.367	22.125	21.542	20.750	20.842	20.400	20.383	20.675	22.092	22.500	22.500	22.992	23.975	23.933	23.367	24.058	25.625	26.492	26.942	28.400	31.267	34.492	37.583	43.158	49.733	53.842	60.225	66.667	72.958	80.083	87.508	94.783	98.192	99.308	102.483	107.550	117.408	129.917	137.383	143.583	146.725	148.308	151.683	156.617	163.683	171.608	173.083	177.125	181.717	185.300	190.350	191.075	188.050	189.992	194.333	200.083	209.508	219.087	232.122	240.556	243.229	260.493	266.652	273.255	289.007	286.308	284.233	287.676	293.767	298.493	308.232	324.857	354.576	355.683	349.067	355.404	366.348

Adjust fish prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1935* 1935 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Fish and seafood was 6.175 in the year 1935 and 366.348 in 2026:

366.348 / 6.175* $20 = $1,186.55

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1935 has the same "purchasing power" as $1,186.55 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Fish and seafood).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Fish and seafood in 1935. In addition to fish, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.