According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh whole milk were 169.91% higher in 2024 versus 1980 (a $33.98 difference in value).
Between 1980 and 2024: Fresh whole milk experienced an average inflation rate of 2.28% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh whole milk costing $20 in the year 1980 would cost $53.98 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.08% during this same period, inflation for fresh whole milk was lower.
In the year 1980: Pricing changed by 8.89%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fresh whole milk during the 1980-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1980 (13.55%), inflation for fresh whole milk was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh whole milk, over time, for $20 beginning in 1980. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $20.00 | 8.89% |
| 1981 | $21.13 | 5.65% |
| 1982 | $21.24 | 0.54% |
| 1983 | $21.39 | 0.67% |
| 1984 | $21.55 | 0.76% |
| 1985 | $21.89 | 1.56% |
| 1986 | $21.76 | -0.58% |
| 1987 | $22.17 | 1.90% |
| 1988 | $22.69 | 2.32% |
| 1989 | $24.45 | 7.76% |
| 1990 | $27.10 | 10.85% |
| 1991 | $26.18 | -3.37% |
| 1992 | $27.05 | 3.30% |
| 1993 | $27.36 | 1.15% |
| 1994 | $28.06 | 2.55% |
| 1995 | $28.05 | -0.03% |
| 1996 | $30.19 | 7.61% |
| 1997 | $30.57 | 1.26% |
| 1998 | $31.65 | 3.53% |
| 1999 | $33.42 | 5.61% |
| 2000 | $33.57 | 0.45% |
| 2001 | $35.49 | 5.70% |
| 2002 | $34.68 | -2.26% |
| 2003 | $34.76 | 0.22% |
| 2004 | $39.23 | 12.85% |
| 2005 | $39.56 | 0.85% |
| 2006 | $38.85 | -1.81% |
| 2007 | $43.94 | 13.11% |
| 2008 | $46.47 | 5.76% |
| 2009 | $39.19 | -15.68% |
| 2010 | $40.90 | 4.37% |
| 2011 | $44.83 | 9.60% |
| 2012 | $45.20 | 0.83% |
| 2013 | $45.93 | 1.62% |
| 2014 | $48.72 | 6.08% |
| 2015 | $45.59 | -6.44% |
| 2016 | $43.46 | -4.67% |
| 2017 | $43.00 | -1.06% |
| 2018 | $41.86 | -2.65% |
| 2019 | $42.89 | 2.48% |
| 2020 | $45.49 | 6.05% |
| 2021 | $47.79 | 5.06% |
| 2022 | $54.45 | 13.94% |
| 2023 | $54.04 | -0.75% |
| 2024 | $53.98 | -0.11% |
| 2025 | $54.42 | 0.81% |
| 2026 | $53.95 | -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 |