According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh whole chicken are 720.66% higher in 2024 versus 1938 (a $144.13 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2024: Fresh whole chicken experienced an average inflation rate of 2.48% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh whole chicken costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $164.13 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.67% during this same period, inflation for fresh whole chicken was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by -0.31%, which is below the average yearly change for fresh whole chicken during the 1938-2024 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 | -0.31% |
| 1939 | $17.93 | -10.33% |
| 1940 | $18.13 | 1.08% |
| 1941 | $19.52 | 7.66% |
| 1942 | $23.45 | 20.18% |
| 1943 | $27.92 | 19.06% |
| 1944 | $28.87 | 3.37% |
| 1945 | $29.53 | 2.30% |
| 1946 | $33.25 | 12.60% |
| 1947 | $35.03 | 5.34% |
| 1948 | $38.84 | 10.89% |
| 1949 | $36.62 | -5.71% |
| 1950 | $35.04 | -4.32% |
| 1951 | $36.72 | 4.79% |
| 1952 | $36.86 | 0.37% |
| 1953 | $35.94 | -2.49% |
| 1954 | $32.45 | -9.70% |
| 1955 | $33.77 | 4.06% |
| 1956 | $29.60 | -12.34% |
| 1957 | $28.89 | -2.42% |
| 1958 | $28.52 | -1.27% |
| 1959 | $25.99 | -8.85% |
| 1960 | $26.42 | 1.64% |
| 1961 | $23.87 | -9.66% |
| 1962 | $25.20 | 5.59% |
| 1963 | $24.83 | -1.48% |
| 1964 | $24.28 | -2.23% |
| 1965 | $25.09 | 3.35% |
| 1966 | $26.57 | 5.92% |
| 1967 | $24.57 | -7.56% |
| 1968 | $25.78 | 4.92% |
| 1969 | $27.28 | 5.82% |
| 1970 | $26.38 | -3.30% |
| 1971 | $26.67 | 1.12% |
| 1972 | $26.94 | 0.99% |
| 1973 | $38.86 | 44.27% |
| 1974 | $36.43 | -6.25% |
| 1975 | $41.04 | 12.64% |
| 1976 | $38.75 | -5.57% |
| 1977 | $38.94 | 0.49% |
| 1978 | $43.16 | 10.85% |
| 1979 | $43.97 | 1.87% |
| 1980 | $47.58 | 8.22% |
| 1981 | $48.64 | 2.22% |
| 1982 | $47.75 | -1.83% |
| 1983 | $48.52 | 1.60% |
| 1984 | $54.92 | 13.19% |
| 1985 | $52.67 | -4.10% |
| 1986 | $58.17 | 10.45% |
| 1987 | $57.09 | -1.85% |
| 1988 | $63.03 | 10.41% |
| 1989 | $69.10 | 9.63% |
| 1990 | $68.01 | -1.59% |
| 1991 | $66.37 | -2.40% |
| 1992 | $66.46 | 0.13% |
| 1993 | $69.55 | 4.65% |
| 1994 | $70.60 | 1.51% |
| 1995 | $71.68 | 1.53% |
| 1996 | $76.89 | 7.27% |
| 1997 | $79.86 | 3.87% |
| 1998 | $80.42 | 0.70% |
| 1999 | $81.55 | 1.41% |
| 2000 | $82.09 | 0.65% |
| 2001 | $84.66 | 3.13% |
| 2002 | $85.22 | 0.66% |
| 2003 | $83.55 | -1.95% |
| 2004 | $91.91 | 10.00% |
| 2005 | $94.10 | 2.38% |
| 2006 | $92.75 | -1.43% |
| 2007 | $98.87 | 6.60% |
| 2008 | $104.75 | 5.95% |
| 2009 | $106.75 | 1.91% |
| 2010 | $106.37 | -0.36% |
| 2011 | $110.39 | 3.78% |
| 2012 | $115.64 | 4.75% |
| 2013 | $122.71 | 6.12% |
| 2014 | $127.01 | 3.50% |
| 2015 | $127.75 | 0.58% |
| 2016 | $125.71 | -1.60% |
| 2017 | $123.40 | -1.84% |
| 2018 | $125.22 | 1.48% |
| 2019 | $124.85 | -0.29% |
| 2020 | $131.36 | 5.21% |
| 2021 | $136.27 | 3.74% |
| 2022 | $154.50 | 13.38% |
| 2023 | $162.06 | 4.89% |
| 2024 | $164.13 | 1.28%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 36.223 | 38.331 | 39.808 | 39.685 | 35.585 | 35.969 | 38.723 | 46.538 | 55.408 | 57.277 | 58.592 | 65.977 | 69.500 | 77.069 | 72.669 | 69.531 | 72.862 | 73.131 | 71.308 | 64.392 | 67.008 | 58.738 | 57.315 | 56.585 | 51.577 | 52.423 | 47.362 | 50.008 | 49.269 | 48.169 | 49.785 | 52.731 | 48.746 | 51.146 | 54.123 | 52.338 | 52.923 | 53.446 | 77.108 | 72.285 | 81.423 | 76.885 | 77.262 | 85.646 | 87.246 | 94.415 | 96.515 | 94.754 | 96.269 | 108.969 | 104.500 | 115.415 | 113.277 | 125.069 | 137.115 | 134.938 | 131.700 | 131.869 | 138.000 | 140.085 | 142.223 | 152.562 | 158.469 | 159.577 | 161.823 | 162.877 | 167.977 | 169.092 | 165.792 | 182.369 | 186.708 | 184.031 | 196.176 | 207.853 | 211.823 | 211.065 | 219.049 | 229.451 | 243.490 | 252.024 | 253.483 | 249.434 | 244.847 | 248.459 | 247.733 | 260.639 | 270.383 | 306.568 | 321.563 | 325.678 |