According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for instant coffee are 114.85% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $22.97 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Instant coffee experienced an average inflation rate of 1.68% per year. In other words, instant coffee costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $42.97 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for instant coffee was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 5.24%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for instant coffee during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for instant coffee was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Instant coffee, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 5.24% |
| 1979 | $19.15 | -4.24% |
| 1980 | $20.80 | 8.61% |
| 1981 | $18.65 | -10.33% |
| 1982 | $19.01 | 1.90% |
| 1983 | $19.39 | 2.02% |
| 1984 | $20.21 | 4.24% |
| 1985 | $20.96 | 3.69% |
| 1986 | $25.36 | 21.02% |
| 1987 | $23.55 | -7.16% |
| 1988 | $23.00 | -2.34% |
| 1989 | $23.12 | 0.55% |
| 1990 | $23.03 | -0.41% |
| 1991 | $22.87 | -0.69% |
| 1992 | $22.39 | -2.10% |
| 1993 | $22.26 | -0.57% |
| 1994 | $26.28 | 18.05% |
| 1995 | $29.81 | 13.45% |
| 1996 | $28.82 | -3.33% |
| 1997 | $30.03 | 4.21% |
| 1998 | $30.12 | 0.28% |
| 1999 | $31.33 | 4.01% |
| 2000 | $31.28 | -0.13% |
| 2001 | $31.81 | 1.67% |
| 2002 | $32.01 | 0.63% |
| 2003 | $32.12 | 0.37% |
| 2004 | $32.45 | 1.02% |
| 2005 | $34.42 | 6.07% |
| 2006 | $34.95 | 1.53% |
| 2007 | $36.95 | 5.72% |
| 2008 | $39.99 | 8.22% |
| 2009 | $39.24 | -1.86% |
| 2010 | $38.88 | -0.92% |
| 2011 | $41.29 | 6.20% |
| 2012 | $41.88 | 1.41% |
| 2013 | $40.57 | -3.11% |
| 2014 | $40.09 | -1.20% |
| 2015 | $39.76 | -0.82% |
| 2016 | $38.54 | -3.07% |
| 2017 | $38.54 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | $36.73 | -4.70% |
| 2019 | $36.92 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | $36.41 | -1.40% |
| 2021 | $36.85 | 1.22% |
| 2022 | $40.84 | 10.82% |
| 2023 | $42.67 | 4.48% |
| 2024 | $42.97 | 0.71%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 29.014 | 28.292 | 28.762 | 33.438 | 29.885 | 28.638 | 28.315 | 28.792 | 30.208 | 33.838 | 35.300 | 35.131 | 37.215 | 44.662 | 50.415 | 64.354 | 97.285 | 102.385 | 98.038 | 106.477 | 95.477 | 97.292 | 99.262 | 103.469 | 107.285 | 129.838 | 120.546 | 117.723 | 118.369 | 117.885 | 117.077 | 114.615 | 113.962 | 134.531 | 152.623 | 147.538 | 153.754 | 154.190 | 160.367 | 160.154 | 162.831 | 163.854 | 164.454 | 166.131 | 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 | 219.973 |