According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for meats, poultry, and fish are 2,631.35% higher in 2026 versus 1938 (a $526.27 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2026: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 $546.27 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% 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 1938-2026 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 | -2.13% |
| 1940 | $19.38 | -0.99% |
| 1941 | $21.78 | 12.41% |
| 1942 | $25.49 | 17.03% |
| 1943 | $27.07 | 6.19% |
| 1944 | $26.30 | -2.87% |
| 1945 | $26.58 | 1.08% |
| 1946 | $32.63 | 22.76% |
| 1947 | $43.94 | 34.67% |
| 1948 | $49.89 | 13.53% |
| 1949 | $47.23 | -5.34% |
| 1950 | $49.24 | 4.27% |
| 1951 | $55.07 | 11.84% |
| 1952 | $54.60 | -0.87% |
| 1953 | $51.66 | -5.38% |
| 1954 | $50.78 | -1.70% |
| 1955 | $47.73 | -6.01% |
| 1956 | $45.64 | -4.39% |
| 1957 | $49.44 | 8.33% |
| 1958 | $54.10 | 9.44% |
| 1959 | $52.01 | -3.87% |
| 1960 | $51.39 | -1.19% |
| 1961 | $51.45 | 0.13% |
| 1962 | $52.71 | 2.44% |
| 1963 | $51.95 | -1.45% |
| 1964 | $51.09 | -1.64% |
| 1965 | $54.49 | 6.65% |
| 1966 | $59.11 | 8.47% |
| 1967 | $57.62 | -2.52% |
| 1968 | $58.94 | 2.29% |
| 1969 | $63.85 | 8.34% |
| 1970 | $67.15 | 5.16% |
| 1971 | $67.37 | 0.33% |
| 1972 | $73.81 | 9.56% |
| 1973 | $92.46 | 25.28% |
| 1974 | $94.48 | 2.18% |
| 1975 | $102.60 | 8.59% |
| 1976 | $103.43 | 0.81% |
| 1977 | $102.81 | -0.60% |
| 1978 | $120.08 | 16.80% |
| 1979 | $137.94 | 14.88% |
| 1980 | $143.06 | 3.71% |
| 1981 | $149.00 | 4.15% |
| 1982 | $154.97 | 4.01% |
| 1983 | $153.94 | -0.67% |
| 1984 | $156.50 | 1.66% |
| 1985 | $156.01 | -0.31% |
| 1986 | $162.75 | 4.33% |
| 1987 | $173.24 | 6.44% |
| 1988 | $179.37 | 3.54% |
| 1989 | $188.38 | 5.02% |
| 1990 | $202.16 | 7.32% |
| 1991 | $206.76 | 2.28% |
| 1992 | $205.22 | -0.74% |
| 1993 | $211.92 | 3.26% |
| 1994 | $215.06 | 1.48% |
| 1995 | $217.07 | 0.93% |
| 1996 | $224.71 | 3.52% |
| 1997 | $231.14 | 2.87% |
| 1998 | $229.23 | -0.83% |
| 1999 | $230.82 | 0.69% |
| 2000 | $241.23 | 4.51% |
| 2001 | $252.00 | 4.46% |
| 2002 | $253.15 | 0.46% |
| 2003 | $263.31 | 4.01% |
| 2004 | $282.81 | 7.40% |
| 2005 | $289.57 | 2.39% |
| 2006 | $291.97 | 0.83% |
| 2007 | $303.12 | 3.82% |
| 2008 | $315.81 | 4.19% |
| 2009 | $317.44 | 0.52% |
| 2010 | $323.55 | 1.92% |
| 2011 | $347.34 | 7.36% |
| 2012 | $359.75 | 3.57% |
| 2013 | $367.17 | 2.06% |
| 2014 | $393.57 | 7.19% |
| 2015 | $400.98 | 1.88% |
| 2016 | $386.91 | -3.51% |
| 2017 | $386.35 | -0.15% |
| 2018 | $388.92 | 0.67% |
| 2019 | $392.91 | 1.02% |
| 2020 | $417.72 | 6.32% |
| 2021 | $445.99 | 6.77% |
| 2022 | $488.76 | 9.59% |
| 2023 | $498.36 | 1.96% |
| 2024 | $506.61 | 1.66% |
| 2025 | $528.76 | 4.37% |
| 2026 | $546.27 | 3.31%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 13.008 | 12.883 | 13.783 | 12.892 | 12.617 | 12.492 | 14.042 | 16.433 | 17.450 | 16.950 | 17.133 | 21.033 | 28.325 | 32.158 | 30.442 | 31.742 | 35.500 | 35.192 | 33.300 | 32.733 | 30.767 | 29.417 | 31.867 | 34.875 | 33.525 | 33.125 | 33.167 | 33.975 | 33.483 | 32.933 | 35.125 | 38.100 | 37.142 | 37.992 | 41.158 | 43.283 | 43.425 | 47.575 | 59.600 | 60.900 | 66.133 | 66.667 | 66.267 | 77.400 | 88.917 | 92.217 | 96.042 | 99.892 | 99.225 | 100.875 | 100.558 | 104.908 | 111.667 | 115.617 | 121.425 | 130.308 | 133.275 | 132.283 | 136.600 | 138.625 | 139.917 | 144.842 | 148.992 | 147.758 | 148.783 | 155.492 | 162.433 | 163.175 | 169.725 | 182.292 | 186.650 | 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 | 326.550 | 340.829 | 352.116 |