According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh whole milk were 1,271.91% higher in 2025 versus 1939 (a $3.31 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2025:Fresh whole milk experienced an average inflation rate of 3.09% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh whole milk costing $0.26 in the year 1939 would cost $3.57 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.72% during this same period, inflation for fresh whole milk was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh whole milk, over time, for $0.26 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $0.26 | - |
| 1940 | $0.27 | 3.10% |
| 1941 | $0.29 | 9.02% |
| 1942 | $0.32 | 8.04% |
| 1943 | $0.33 | 5.92% |
| 1944 | $0.34 | 1.33% |
| 1945 | $0.34 | 0.14% |
| 1946 | $0.39 | 14.88% |
| 1947 | $0.44 | 11.90% |
| 1948 | $0.49 | 11.44% |
| 1949 | $0.47 | -4.33% |
| 1950 | $0.45 | -2.79% |
| 1951 | $0.50 | 10.93% |
| 1952 | $0.53 | 4.92% |
| 1953 | $0.52 | -1.15% |
| 1954 | $0.51 | -2.04% |
| 1955 | $0.51 | 0.11% |
| 1956 | $0.53 | 3.00% |
| 1957 | $0.54 | 3.54% |
| 1958 | $0.55 | 1.87% |
| 1959 | $0.56 | 0.97% |
| 1960 | $0.57 | 2.36% |
| 1961 | $0.57 | 0.37% |
| 1962 | $0.57 | -0.47% |
| 1963 | $0.57 | -0.53% |
| 1964 | $0.57 | 0.35% |
| 1965 | $0.57 | -0.51% |
| 1966 | $0.60 | 6.40% |
| 1967 | $0.63 | 3.98% |
| 1968 | $0.66 | 4.22% |
| 1969 | $0.67 | 2.76% |
| 1970 | $0.70 | 4.24% |
| 1971 | $0.72 | 2.75% |
| 1972 | $0.73 | 1.43% |
| 1973 | $0.80 | 9.46% |
| 1974 | $0.96 | 19.81% |
| 1975 | $0.96 | 0.13% |
| 1976 | $1.01 | 5.23% |
| 1977 | $1.02 | 1.02% |
| 1978 | $1.08 | 5.79% |
| 1979 | $1.20 | 11.47% |
| 1980 | $1.31 | 8.89% |
| 1981 | $1.38 | 5.65% |
| 1982 | $1.39 | 0.54% |
| 1983 | $1.40 | 0.67% |
| 1984 | $1.41 | 0.76% |
| 1985 | $1.43 | 1.56% |
| 1986 | $1.43 | -0.58% |
| 1987 | $1.45 | 1.90% |
| 1988 | $1.49 | 2.32% |
| 1989 | $1.60 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $1.78 | 10.85% |
| 1991 | $1.72 | -3.37% |
| 1992 | $1.77 | 3.30% |
| 1993 | $1.79 | 1.15% |
| 1994 | $1.84 | 2.55% |
| 1995 | $1.84 | -0.03% |
| 1996 | $1.98 | 7.61% |
| 1997 | $2.00 | 1.26% |
| 1998 | $2.07 | 3.53% |
| 1999 | $2.19 | 5.61% |
| 2000 | $2.20 | 0.45% |
| 2001 | $2.33 | 5.70% |
| 2002 | $2.27 | -2.26% |
| 2003 | $2.28 | 0.22% |
| 2004 | $2.57 | 12.85% |
| 2005 | $2.59 | 0.85% |
| 2006 | $2.55 | -1.81% |
| 2007 | $2.88 | 13.11% |
| 2008 | $3.05 | 5.76% |
| 2009 | $2.57 | -15.68% |
| 2010 | $2.68 | 4.37% |
| 2011 | $2.94 | 9.60% |
| 2012 | $2.96 | 0.83% |
| 2013 | $3.01 | 1.62% |
| 2014 | $3.19 | 6.08% |
| 2015 | $2.99 | -6.44% |
| 2016 | $2.85 | -4.67% |
| 2017 | $2.82 | -1.06% |
| 2018 | $2.74 | -2.65% |
| 2019 | $2.81 | 2.48% |
| 2020 | $2.98 | 6.05% |
| 2021 | $3.13 | 5.06% |
| 2022 | $3.57 | 13.94% |
| 2023 | $3.54 | -0.75% |
| 2024 | $3.54 | -0.11% |
| 2025 | $3.57 | 0.81% |
| 2026 | $3.54 | -0.87%* |
* 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 milk:
| Year | 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 | 18.542 | 19.117 | 20.842 | 22.517 | 23.850 | 24.167 | 24.200 | 27.800 | 31.108 | 34.667 | 33.167 | 32.242 | 35.767 | 37.525 | 37.092 | 36.333 | 36.375 | 37.467 | 38.792 | 39.517 | 39.900 | 40.842 | 40.992 | 40.800 | 40.583 | 40.725 | 40.517 | 43.108 | 44.825 | 46.717 | 48.008 | 50.042 | 51.417 | 52.150 | 57.083 | 68.392 | 68.483 | 72.067 | 72.800 | 77.017 | 85.850 | 93.483 | 98.767 | 99.300 | 99.967 | 100.725 | 102.300 | 101.708 | 103.642 | 106.042 | 114.267 | 126.667 | 122.392 | 126.433 | 127.892 | 131.158 | 131.117 | 141.092 | 142.875 | 147.925 | 156.225 | 156.925 | 165.867 | 162.117 | 162.475 | 183.358 | 184.925 | 181.583 | 205.397 | 217.220 | 183.169 | 191.173 | 209.530 | 211.266 | 214.683 | 227.740 | 213.082 | 203.133 | 200.974 | 195.638 | 200.491 | 212.621 | 223.383 | 254.519 | 252.607 | 252.324 | 254.376 | 252.152 |