According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for meats, poultry, and fish are 2,431.17% higher in 2024 versus 1938 (a $486.23 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2024: Meats, poultry, and fish experienced an average inflation rate of 3.83% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, meats, poultry, and fish costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $506.23 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.67% during this same period, inflation for meats, poultry, and fish was higher.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by -6.47%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for meats, poultry, and fish during the 1938-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for meats, poultry, and fish was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Meats, poultry, and fish, over time, for $20 beginning in 1938. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | $20.00 | -6.47% |
| 1939 | $19.57 | -2.15% |
| 1940 | $19.38 | -0.98% |
| 1941 | $21.78 | 12.38% |
| 1942 | $25.49 | 17.04% |
| 1943 | $27.09 | 6.27% |
| 1944 | $26.29 | -2.95% |
| 1945 | $26.58 | 1.09% |
| 1946 | $32.63 | 22.77% |
| 1947 | $43.94 | 34.67% |
| 1948 | $49.88 | 13.53% |
| 1949 | $47.22 | -5.33% |
| 1950 | $49.25 | 4.30% |
| 1951 | $55.07 | 11.82% |
| 1952 | $54.59 | -0.87% |
| 1953 | $51.66 | -5.38% |
| 1954 | $50.78 | -1.71% |
| 1955 | $47.73 | -5.99% |
| 1956 | $45.63 | -4.40% |
| 1957 | $49.44 | 8.34% |
| 1958 | $54.11 | 9.44% |
| 1959 | $52.02 | -3.86% |
| 1960 | $51.38 | -1.22% |
| 1961 | $51.46 | 0.14% |
| 1962 | $52.71 | 2.44% |
| 1963 | $51.95 | -1.45% |
| 1964 | $51.10 | -1.63% |
| 1965 | $54.49 | 6.63% |
| 1966 | $59.11 | 8.48% |
| 1967 | $57.63 | -2.50% |
| 1968 | $58.94 | 2.28% |
| 1969 | $63.85 | 8.34% |
| 1970 | $67.15 | 5.16% |
| 1971 | $67.36 | 0.32% |
| 1972 | $73.81 | 9.57% |
| 1973 | $92.46 | 25.27% |
| 1974 | $94.47 | 2.18% |
| 1975 | $102.59 | 8.59% |
| 1976 | $103.42 | 0.81% |
| 1977 | $102.80 | -0.60% |
| 1978 | $120.07 | 16.80% |
| 1979 | $137.94 | 14.88% |
| 1980 | $143.05 | 3.71% |
| 1981 | $148.99 | 4.15% |
| 1982 | $154.96 | 4.01% |
| 1983 | $153.93 | -0.67% |
| 1984 | $156.49 | 1.67% |
| 1985 | $155.99 | -0.32% |
| 1986 | $162.74 | 4.33% |
| 1987 | $173.23 | 6.45% |
| 1988 | $179.36 | 3.53% |
| 1989 | $188.37 | 5.02% |
| 1990 | $202.15 | 7.32% |
| 1991 | $206.75 | 2.28% |
| 1992 | $205.21 | -0.74% |
| 1993 | $211.91 | 3.26% |
| 1994 | $215.05 | 1.48% |
| 1995 | $217.05 | 0.93% |
| 1996 | $224.69 | 3.52% |
| 1997 | $231.13 | 2.87% |
| 1998 | $229.22 | -0.83% |
| 1999 | $230.81 | 0.69% |
| 2000 | $241.22 | 4.51% |
| 2001 | $251.98 | 4.46% |
| 2002 | $253.14 | 0.46% |
| 2003 | $263.29 | 4.01% |
| 2004 | $282.79 | 7.41% |
| 2005 | $289.56 | 2.39% |
| 2006 | $291.96 | 0.83% |
| 2007 | $303.10 | 3.82% |
| 2008 | $315.79 | 4.19% |
| 2009 | $317.43 | 0.52% |
| 2010 | $323.53 | 1.92% |
| 2011 | $347.33 | 7.36% |
| 2012 | $359.73 | 3.57% |
| 2013 | $367.15 | 2.06% |
| 2014 | $393.55 | 7.19% |
| 2015 | $400.96 | 1.88% |
| 2016 | $386.89 | -3.51% |
| 2017 | $386.33 | -0.15% |
| 2018 | $388.90 | 0.67% |
| 2019 | $392.89 | 1.02% |
| 2020 | $417.70 | 6.32% |
| 2021 | $445.96 | 6.77% |
| 2022 | $488.73 | 9.59% |
| 2023 | $498.33 | 1.96% |
| 2024 | $506.23 | 1.59%* |
* 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 Meats, poultry, and fish:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 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 | 13.008 | 12.885 | 13.785 | 12.892 | 12.615 | 12.492 | 14.038 | 16.431 | 17.462 | 16.946 | 17.131 | 21.031 | 28.323 | 32.154 | 30.438 | 31.746 | 35.500 | 35.192 | 33.300 | 32.731 | 30.769 | 29.415 | 31.869 | 34.877 | 33.531 | 33.123 | 33.169 | 33.977 | 33.485 | 32.938 | 35.123 | 38.100 | 37.146 | 37.992 | 41.162 | 43.285 | 43.423 | 47.577 | 59.600 | 60.900 | 66.131 | 66.669 | 66.269 | 77.400 | 88.915 | 92.215 | 96.038 | 99.892 | 99.223 | 100.877 | 100.554 | 104.908 | 111.669 | 115.615 | 121.423 | 130.308 | 133.277 | 132.285 | 136.600 | 138.623 | 139.915 | 144.838 | 148.992 | 147.762 | 148.785 | 155.492 | 162.431 | 163.177 | 169.723 | 182.292 | 186.654 | 188.200 | 195.383 | 203.566 | 204.620 | 208.553 | 223.892 | 231.890 | 236.673 | 253.689 | 258.465 | 249.397 | 249.035 | 250.694 | 253.261 | 269.255 | 287.475 | 315.045 | 321.232 | 326.326 |