According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs are 347.75% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $69.55 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs experienced an average inflation rate of 3.17% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, meats, poultry, fish, and eggs costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $89.55 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 15.16%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, 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 | 15.16% |
| 1979 | $22.93 | 14.65% |
| 1980 | $23.71 | 3.39% |
| 1981 | $24.74 | 4.37% |
| 1982 | $25.65 | 3.67% |
| 1983 | $25.55 | -0.41% |
| 1984 | $26.10 | 2.15% |
| 1985 | $25.78 | -1.20% |
| 1986 | $26.93 | 4.46% |
| 1987 | $28.46 | 5.69% |
| 1988 | $29.45 | 3.45% |
| 1989 | $31.25 | 6.14% |
| 1990 | $33.49 | 7.16% |
| 1991 | $34.16 | 1.99% |
| 1992 | $33.72 | -1.30% |
| 1993 | $34.90 | 3.51% |
| 1994 | $35.35 | 1.28% |
| 1995 | $35.76 | 1.17% |
| 1996 | $37.30 | 4.32% |
| 1997 | $38.27 | 2.60% |
| 1998 | $37.95 | -0.84% |
| 1999 | $38.12 | 0.44% |
| 2000 | $39.81 | 4.43% |
| 2001 | $41.57 | 4.43% |
| 2002 | $41.77 | 0.49% |
| 2003 | $43.62 | 4.42% |
| 2004 | $46.83 | 7.35% |
| 2005 | $47.60 | 1.65% |
| 2006 | $48.06 | 0.98% |
| 2007 | $50.40 | 4.86% |
| 2008 | $52.73 | 4.62% |
| 2009 | $52.51 | -0.41% |
| 2010 | $53.51 | 1.91% |
| 2011 | $57.50 | 7.45% |
| 2012 | $59.53 | 3.53% |
| 2013 | $60.80 | 2.13% |
| 2014 | $65.19 | 7.23% |
| 2015 | $67.07 | 2.88% |
| 2016 | $63.81 | -4.86% |
| 2017 | $63.34 | -0.73% |
| 2018 | $64.13 | 1.24% |
| 2019 | $64.36 | 0.36% |
| 2020 | $68.34 | 6.18% |
| 2021 | $72.87 | 6.64% |
| 2022 | $80.81 | 10.90% |
| 2023 | $82.29 | 1.82% |
| 2024 | $84.06 | 2.16% |
| 2025 | $89.02 | 5.91% |
| 2026 | $89.55 | 0.59%* |
* 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, fish, and eggs:
| Year | 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 | 38.008 | 39.050 | 42.608 | 44.575 | 44.142 | 48.025 | 60.958 | 62.200 | 67.033 | 67.975 | 67.408 | 77.625 | 89.000 | 92.017 | 96.033 | 99.558 | 99.150 | 101.283 | 100.067 | 104.525 | 110.475 | 114.292 | 121.308 | 130.000 | 132.583 | 130.858 | 135.450 | 137.183 | 138.783 | 144.783 | 148.542 | 147.300 | 147.942 | 154.500 | 161.342 | 162.133 | 169.300 | 181.742 | 184.742 | 186.550 | 195.616 | 204.653 | 203.805 | 207.694 | 223.161 | 231.042 | 235.961 | 253.014 | 260.307 | 247.653 | 245.840 | 248.899 | 249.804 | 265.233 | 282.833 | 313.658 | 319.370 | 326.254 | 345.524 | 347.565 |