According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh whole milk were 160.19% higher in 2021 versus 1979 (a $32.04 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2021: Fresh whole milk experienced an average inflation rate of 2.30% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh whole milk costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $52.04 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.19% during this same period, inflation for fresh whole milk was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 11.48%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fresh whole milk during the 1979-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for fresh whole milk was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh whole milk, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 11.48% |
| 1980 | $21.78 | 8.89% |
| 1981 | $23.01 | 5.65% |
| 1982 | $23.13 | 0.54% |
| 1983 | $23.29 | 0.67% |
| 1984 | $23.46 | 0.75% |
| 1985 | $23.83 | 1.57% |
| 1986 | $23.69 | -0.58% |
| 1987 | $24.14 | 1.90% |
| 1988 | $24.70 | 2.32% |
| 1989 | $26.62 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $29.51 | 10.85% |
| 1991 | $28.51 | -3.38% |
| 1992 | $29.45 | 3.30% |
| 1993 | $29.79 | 1.16% |
| 1994 | $30.55 | 2.56% |
| 1995 | $30.54 | -0.04% |
| 1996 | $32.87 | 7.61% |
| 1997 | $33.28 | 1.26% |
| 1998 | $34.46 | 3.53% |
| 1999 | $36.39 | 5.61% |
| 2000 | $36.56 | 0.45% |
| 2001 | $38.64 | 5.70% |
| 2002 | $37.77 | -2.26% |
| 2003 | $37.85 | 0.22% |
| 2004 | $42.71 | 12.85% |
| 2005 | $43.08 | 0.85% |
| 2006 | $42.30 | -1.81% |
| 2007 | $47.85 | 13.11% |
| 2008 | $50.60 | 5.76% |
| 2009 | $42.67 | -15.68% |
| 2010 | $44.53 | 4.37% |
| 2011 | $48.81 | 9.60% |
| 2012 | $49.22 | 0.83% |
| 2013 | $50.01 | 1.62% |
| 2014 | $53.05 | 6.08% |
| 2015 | $49.64 | -6.44% |
| 2016 | $47.32 | -4.67% |
| 2017 | $46.82 | -1.06% |
| 2018 | $45.57 | -2.65% |
| 2019 | $46.71 | 2.48% |
| 2020 | $49.53 | 6.05% |
| 2021 | $52.04 | 5.06% |
| 2022 | $59.29 | 13.94% |
| 2023 | $58.85 | -0.75% |
| 2024 | $58.46 | -0.66%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 18.538 | 19.115 | 20.846 | 22.515 | 23.854 | 24.169 | 24.200 | 27.800 | 31.108 | 34.662 | 33.169 | 32.238 | 35.762 | 37.523 | 37.092 | 36.331 | 36.377 | 37.469 | 38.792 | 39.515 | 39.900 | 40.846 | 40.992 | 40.800 | 40.585 | 40.723 | 40.515 | 43.108 | 44.823 | 46.715 | 48.008 | 50.038 | 51.415 | 52.154 | 57.085 | 68.392 | 68.485 | 72.069 | 72.800 | 77.015 | 85.854 | 93.485 | 98.769 | 99.300 | 99.969 | 100.723 | 102.300 | 101.708 | 103.638 | 106.038 | 114.269 | 126.669 | 122.392 | 126.431 | 127.892 | 131.162 | 131.115 | 141.092 | 142.877 | 147.923 | 156.223 | 156.923 | 165.869 | 162.115 | 162.477 | 183.362 | 184.923 | 181.585 | 205.397 | 217.220 | 183.170 | 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 | 250.935 |