According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh whole milk are 604.99% higher in 2026 versus 1951 (a $121 difference in value).
Between 1951 and 2026:Fresh whole milk experienced an average inflation rate of 2.64% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh whole milk costing $20 in the year 1951 would cost $141 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.42% during this same period, inflation for fresh whole milk was lower.
In the year 1951: Pricing changed by 10.93%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fresh whole milk during the 1951-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1951 (7.86%), inflation for fresh whole milk was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh whole milk, over time, for $20 beginning in 1951. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | $20.00 | 10.93% |
| 1952 | $20.98 | 4.92% |
| 1953 | $20.74 | -1.15% |
| 1954 | $20.32 | -2.04% |
| 1955 | $20.34 | 0.11% |
| 1956 | $20.95 | 3.00% |
| 1957 | $21.69 | 3.54% |
| 1958 | $22.10 | 1.87% |
| 1959 | $22.31 | 0.97% |
| 1960 | $22.84 | 2.36% |
| 1961 | $22.92 | 0.37% |
| 1962 | $22.81 | -0.47% |
| 1963 | $22.69 | -0.53% |
| 1964 | $22.77 | 0.35% |
| 1965 | $22.66 | -0.51% |
| 1966 | $24.11 | 6.40% |
| 1967 | $25.07 | 3.98% |
| 1968 | $26.12 | 4.22% |
| 1969 | $26.85 | 2.76% |
| 1970 | $27.98 | 4.24% |
| 1971 | $28.75 | 2.75% |
| 1972 | $29.16 | 1.43% |
| 1973 | $31.92 | 9.46% |
| 1974 | $38.24 | 19.81% |
| 1975 | $38.29 | 0.13% |
| 1976 | $40.30 | 5.23% |
| 1977 | $40.71 | 1.02% |
| 1978 | $43.07 | 5.79% |
| 1979 | $48.01 | 11.47% |
| 1980 | $52.27 | 8.89% |
| 1981 | $55.23 | 5.65% |
| 1982 | $55.53 | 0.54% |
| 1983 | $55.90 | 0.67% |
| 1984 | $56.32 | 0.76% |
| 1985 | $57.20 | 1.56% |
| 1986 | $56.87 | -0.58% |
| 1987 | $57.95 | 1.90% |
| 1988 | $59.30 | 2.32% |
| 1989 | $63.90 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $70.83 | 10.85% |
| 1991 | $68.44 | -3.37% |
| 1992 | $70.70 | 3.30% |
| 1993 | $71.51 | 1.15% |
| 1994 | $73.34 | 2.55% |
| 1995 | $73.32 | -0.03% |
| 1996 | $78.90 | 7.61% |
| 1997 | $79.89 | 1.26% |
| 1998 | $82.72 | 3.53% |
| 1999 | $87.36 | 5.61% |
| 2000 | $87.75 | 0.45% |
| 2001 | $92.75 | 5.70% |
| 2002 | $90.65 | -2.26% |
| 2003 | $90.85 | 0.22% |
| 2004 | $102.53 | 12.85% |
| 2005 | $103.41 | 0.85% |
| 2006 | $101.54 | -1.81% |
| 2007 | $114.85 | 13.11% |
| 2008 | $121.47 | 5.76% |
| 2009 | $102.42 | -15.68% |
| 2010 | $106.90 | 4.37% |
| 2011 | $117.16 | 9.60% |
| 2012 | $118.14 | 0.83% |
| 2013 | $120.05 | 1.62% |
| 2014 | $127.35 | 6.08% |
| 2015 | $119.15 | -6.44% |
| 2016 | $113.59 | -4.67% |
| 2017 | $112.38 | -1.06% |
| 2018 | $109.40 | -2.65% |
| 2019 | $112.11 | 2.48% |
| 2020 | $118.89 | 6.05% |
| 2021 | $124.91 | 5.06% |
| 2022 | $142.32 | 13.94% |
| 2023 | $141.25 | -0.75% |
| 2024 | $141.09 | -0.11% |
| 2025 | $142.24 | 0.81% |
| 2026 | $141.00 | -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 |