According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for instant coffee are 699.64% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $139.93 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026:Instant coffee experienced an average inflation rate of 3.93% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, instant coffee costing $20 in the year 1972 would cost $159.93 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for instant coffee was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by -0.47%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for instant coffee during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for instant coffee was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Instant coffee, over time, for $20 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $20.00 | -0.47% |
| 1973 | $21.19 | 5.93% |
| 1974 | $25.42 | 20.00% |
| 1975 | $28.70 | 12.89% |
| 1976 | $36.63 | 27.64% |
| 1977 | $55.38 | 51.18% |
| 1978 | $58.28 | 5.24% |
| 1979 | $55.81 | -4.24% |
| 1980 | $60.61 | 8.60% |
| 1981 | $54.35 | -10.33% |
| 1982 | $55.38 | 1.90% |
| 1983 | $56.50 | 2.02% |
| 1984 | $58.90 | 4.24% |
| 1985 | $61.07 | 3.69% |
| 1986 | $73.91 | 21.02% |
| 1987 | $68.62 | -7.15% |
| 1988 | $67.02 | -2.34% |
| 1989 | $67.38 | 0.55% |
| 1990 | $67.11 | -0.41% |
| 1991 | $66.65 | -0.69% |
| 1992 | $65.25 | -2.10% |
| 1993 | $64.87 | -0.57% |
| 1994 | $76.58 | 18.05% |
| 1995 | $86.88 | 13.45% |
| 1996 | $83.99 | -3.33% |
| 1997 | $87.52 | 4.21% |
| 1998 | $88.70 | 1.35% |
| 1999 | $91.29 | 2.92% |
| 2000 | $91.17 | -0.14% |
| 2001 | $92.69 | 1.68% |
| 2002 | $93.27 | 0.62% |
| 2003 | $93.61 | 0.37% |
| 2004 | $94.57 | 1.02% |
| 2005 | $100.31 | 6.06% |
| 2006 | $101.85 | 1.53% |
| 2007 | $107.67 | 5.72% |
| 2008 | $116.52 | 8.22% |
| 2009 | $114.36 | -1.86% |
| 2010 | $113.30 | -0.92% |
| 2011 | $120.33 | 6.20% |
| 2012 | $122.03 | 1.41% |
| 2013 | $118.24 | -3.11% |
| 2014 | $116.82 | -1.20% |
| 2015 | $115.87 | -0.82% |
| 2016 | $112.32 | -3.07% |
| 2017 | $112.32 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | $107.04 | -4.70% |
| 2019 | $107.60 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | $106.10 | -1.40% |
| 2021 | $107.39 | 1.22% |
| 2022 | $119.01 | 10.82% |
| 2023 | $124.33 | 4.48% |
| 2024 | $125.60 | 1.02% |
| 2025 | $145.53 | 15.87% |
| 2026 | $159.93 | 9.89%* |
* 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 Instant coffee:
| Year | 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 | 29.017 | 28.292 | 28.767 | 33.442 | 29.883 | 28.642 | 28.317 | 28.792 | 30.208 | 33.842 | 35.300 | 35.133 | 37.217 | 44.658 | 50.417 | 64.350 | 97.283 | 102.383 | 98.042 | 106.475 | 95.475 | 97.292 | 99.258 | 103.467 | 107.283 | 129.833 | 120.550 | 117.725 | 118.367 | 117.883 | 117.075 | 114.617 | 113.958 | 134.533 | 152.625 | 147.542 | 153.750 | 155.819 | 160.367 | 160.150 | 162.833 | 163.850 | 164.450 | 166.133 | 176.208 | 178.908 | 189.145 | 204.694 | 200.884 | 199.038 | 211.388 | 214.372 | 207.707 | 205.218 | 203.545 | 197.301 | 197.304 | 188.031 | 189.023 | 186.379 | 188.645 | 209.055 | 218.413 | 220.639 | 255.647 | 280.939 |