According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh whole chicken are 725.44% higher in 2026 versus 1938 (a $145.09 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2026:Fresh whole chicken experienced an average inflation rate of 2.43% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh whole chicken costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $165.09 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% during this same period, inflation for fresh whole chicken was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by -0.29%, which is below the average yearly change for fresh whole chicken during the 1938-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for fresh whole chicken was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh whole chicken, over time, for $20 beginning in 1938. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | $20.00 | -0.29% |
| 1939 | $17.93 | -10.35% |
| 1940 | $18.12 | 1.08% |
| 1941 | $19.51 | 7.67% |
| 1942 | $23.45 | 20.16% |
| 1943 | $27.92 | 19.07% |
| 1944 | $28.86 | 3.37% |
| 1945 | $29.52 | 2.30% |
| 1946 | $33.24 | 12.60% |
| 1947 | $35.02 | 5.34% |
| 1948 | $38.84 | 10.90% |
| 1949 | $36.62 | -5.72% |
| 1950 | $35.04 | -4.31% |
| 1951 | $36.71 | 4.78% |
| 1952 | $36.85 | 0.38% |
| 1953 | $35.93 | -2.50% |
| 1954 | $32.45 | -9.70% |
| 1955 | $33.76 | 4.06% |
| 1956 | $29.59 | -12.35% |
| 1957 | $28.88 | -2.41% |
| 1958 | $28.51 | -1.28% |
| 1959 | $25.99 | -8.85% |
| 1960 | $26.42 | 1.65% |
| 1961 | $23.86 | -9.66% |
| 1962 | $25.20 | 5.60% |
| 1963 | $24.82 | -1.48% |
| 1964 | $24.27 | -2.23% |
| 1965 | $25.09 | 3.36% |
| 1966 | $26.57 | 5.93% |
| 1967 | $24.56 | -7.57% |
| 1968 | $25.77 | 4.92% |
| 1969 | $27.27 | 5.83% |
| 1970 | $26.37 | -3.31% |
| 1971 | $26.67 | 1.13% |
| 1972 | $26.93 | 0.99% |
| 1973 | $38.85 | 44.26% |
| 1974 | $36.42 | -6.26% |
| 1975 | $41.03 | 12.65% |
| 1976 | $38.74 | -5.58% |
| 1977 | $38.93 | 0.49% |
| 1978 | $43.16 | 10.86% |
| 1979 | $43.96 | 1.87% |
| 1980 | $47.58 | 8.21% |
| 1981 | $48.63 | 2.22% |
| 1982 | $47.74 | -1.83% |
| 1983 | $48.51 | 1.60% |
| 1984 | $54.91 | 13.19% |
| 1985 | $52.66 | -4.10% |
| 1986 | $58.16 | 10.45% |
| 1987 | $57.08 | -1.86% |
| 1988 | $63.02 | 10.41% |
| 1989 | $69.09 | 9.63% |
| 1990 | $67.99 | -1.59% |
| 1991 | $66.36 | -2.40% |
| 1992 | $66.45 | 0.13% |
| 1993 | $69.54 | 4.65% |
| 1994 | $70.59 | 1.51% |
| 1995 | $71.66 | 1.53% |
| 1996 | $76.87 | 7.27% |
| 1997 | $79.85 | 3.87% |
| 1998 | $80.41 | 0.70% |
| 1999 | $81.54 | 1.41% |
| 2000 | $82.07 | 0.65% |
| 2001 | $84.64 | 3.13% |
| 2002 | $85.20 | 0.66% |
| 2003 | $83.54 | -1.95% |
| 2004 | $91.89 | 10.00% |
| 2005 | $94.08 | 2.38% |
| 2006 | $92.73 | -1.43% |
| 2007 | $98.85 | 6.60% |
| 2008 | $104.73 | 5.95% |
| 2009 | $106.73 | 1.91% |
| 2010 | $106.35 | -0.36% |
| 2011 | $110.38 | 3.78% |
| 2012 | $115.62 | 4.75% |
| 2013 | $122.69 | 6.12% |
| 2014 | $126.99 | 3.51% |
| 2015 | $127.73 | 0.58% |
| 2016 | $125.69 | -1.60% |
| 2017 | $123.37 | -1.84% |
| 2018 | $125.19 | 1.48% |
| 2019 | $124.83 | -0.29% |
| 2020 | $131.33 | 5.21% |
| 2021 | $136.24 | 3.74% |
| 2022 | $154.47 | 13.38% |
| 2023 | $162.03 | 4.89% |
| 2024 | $165.20 | 1.96% |
| 2025 | $166.53 | 0.80% |
| 2026 | $165.09 | -0.86%* |
* 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 Fresh whole chicken:
| 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 | 36.225 | 38.333 | 39.808 | 39.692 | 35.583 | 35.967 | 38.725 | 46.533 | 55.408 | 57.275 | 58.592 | 65.975 | 69.500 | 77.075 | 72.667 | 69.533 | 72.858 | 73.133 | 71.308 | 64.392 | 67.008 | 58.733 | 57.317 | 56.583 | 51.575 | 52.425 | 47.358 | 50.008 | 49.267 | 48.167 | 49.783 | 52.733 | 48.742 | 51.142 | 54.125 | 52.333 | 52.925 | 53.450 | 77.108 | 72.283 | 81.425 | 76.883 | 77.258 | 85.650 | 87.250 | 94.417 | 96.517 | 94.750 | 96.267 | 108.967 | 104.500 | 115.417 | 113.275 | 125.067 | 137.117 | 134.942 | 131.700 | 131.867 | 138.000 | 140.083 | 142.225 | 152.558 | 158.467 | 159.575 | 161.825 | 162.875 | 167.975 | 169.092 | 165.792 | 182.367 | 186.708 | 184.033 | 196.176 | 207.853 | 211.823 | 211.065 | 219.049 | 229.451 | 243.490 | 252.024 | 253.482 | 249.434 | 244.847 | 248.459 | 247.733 | 260.639 | 270.383 | 306.568 | 321.563 | 327.862 | 330.488 | 327.631 |