According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for meats are 2,667.36% higher in 2024 versus 1938 (a $533.47 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2024: Meats experienced an average inflation rate of 3.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, meats costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $553.47 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.67% during this same period, inflation for meats was higher.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by -8.18%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for meats during the 1938-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for meats was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Meats, 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 | -8.18% |
| 1939 | $19.78 | -1.08% |
| 1940 | $19.31 | -2.38% |
| 1941 | $21.81 | 12.92% |
| 1942 | $25.09 | 15.06% |
| 1943 | $25.41 | 1.27% |
| 1944 | $24.16 | -4.91% |
| 1945 | $24.16 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $30.87 | 27.77% |
| 1947 | $43.96 | 42.39% |
| 1948 | $49.93 | 13.58% |
| 1949 | $46.94 | -5.99% |
| 1950 | $49.54 | 5.53% |
| 1951 | $56.10 | 13.26% |
| 1952 | $55.57 | -0.95% |
| 1953 | $51.89 | -6.62% |
| 1954 | $51.65 | -0.47% |
| 1955 | $47.51 | -8.01% |
| 1956 | $45.98 | -3.22% |
| 1957 | $51.01 | 10.94% |
| 1958 | $56.77 | 11.28% |
| 1959 | $54.74 | -3.57% |
| 1960 | $53.76 | -1.79% |
| 1961 | $54.45 | 1.28% |
| 1962 | $55.52 | 1.96% |
| 1963 | $54.61 | -1.63% |
| 1964 | $53.83 | -1.45% |
| 1965 | $57.89 | 7.54% |
| 1966 | $63.28 | 9.32% |
| 1967 | $61.62 | -2.64% |
| 1968 | $63.03 | 2.29% |
| 1969 | $68.72 | 9.03% |
| 1970 | $72.46 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $71.97 | -0.69% |
| 1972 | $79.64 | 10.67% |
| 1973 | $99.27 | 24.65% |
| 1974 | $101.17 | 1.91% |
| 1975 | $109.64 | 8.37% |
| 1976 | $109.84 | 0.19% |
| 1977 | $107.42 | -2.20% |
| 1978 | $127.46 | 18.65% |
| 1979 | $149.12 | 16.99% |
| 1980 | $153.35 | 2.84% |
| 1981 | $158.92 | 3.63% |
| 1982 | $166.58 | 4.82% |
| 1983 | $164.68 | -1.14% |
| 1984 | $165.23 | 0.33% |
| 1985 | $163.65 | -0.96% |
| 1986 | $168.80 | 3.14% |
| 1987 | $181.46 | 7.50% |
| 1988 | $185.67 | 2.32% |
| 1989 | $193.14 | 4.02% |
| 1990 | $212.59 | 10.07% |
| 1991 | $219.35 | 3.18% |
| 1992 | $216.23 | -1.42% |
| 1993 | $222.81 | 3.04% |
| 1994 | $224.01 | 0.54% |
| 1995 | $224.20 | 0.09% |
| 1996 | $231.95 | 3.46% |
| 1997 | $238.92 | 3.00% |
| 1998 | $234.40 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $235.54 | 0.49% |
| 2000 | $249.45 | 5.90% |
| 2001 | $263.64 | 5.69% |
| 2002 | $265.25 | 0.61% |
| 2003 | $279.67 | 5.44% |
| 2004 | $303.18 | 8.41% |
| 2005 | $310.38 | 2.37% |
| 2006 | $312.50 | 0.68% |
| 2007 | $322.70 | 3.26% |
| 2008 | $334.00 | 3.50% |
| 2009 | $331.90 | -0.63% |
| 2010 | $341.31 | 2.84% |
| 2011 | $371.45 | 8.83% |
| 2012 | $383.93 | 3.36% |
| 2013 | $388.56 | 1.21% |
| 2014 | $424.46 | 9.24% |
| 2015 | $437.30 | 3.03% |
| 2016 | $417.92 | -4.43% |
| 2017 | $415.48 | -0.58% |
| 2018 | $417.18 | 0.41% |
| 2019 | $422.59 | 1.30% |
| 2020 | $453.76 | 7.38% |
| 2021 | $488.54 | 7.66% |
| 2022 | $528.60 | 8.20% |
| 2023 | $539.53 | 2.07% |
| 2024 | $553.47 | 2.58%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 12.454 | 12.192 | 13.162 | 12.085 | 11.954 | 11.669 | 13.177 | 15.162 | 15.354 | 14.600 | 14.600 | 18.654 | 26.562 | 30.169 | 28.362 | 29.931 | 33.900 | 33.577 | 31.354 | 31.208 | 28.708 | 27.785 | 30.823 | 34.300 | 33.077 | 32.485 | 32.900 | 33.546 | 33.000 | 32.523 | 34.977 | 38.238 | 37.231 | 38.085 | 41.523 | 43.785 | 43.485 | 48.123 | 59.985 | 61.131 | 66.246 | 66.369 | 64.908 | 77.015 | 90.100 | 92.662 | 96.023 | 100.654 | 99.508 | 99.838 | 98.885 | 101.992 | 109.646 | 112.185 | 116.700 | 128.454 | 132.538 | 130.654 | 134.631 | 135.354 | 135.469 | 140.154 | 144.362 | 141.631 | 142.323 | 150.723 | 159.300 | 160.269 | 168.985 | 183.192 | 187.538 | 188.823 | 194.983 | 201.815 | 200.545 | 206.232 | 224.439 | 231.981 | 234.778 | 256.469 | 264.232 | 252.521 | 251.048 | 252.076 | 255.341 | 274.178 | 295.191 | 319.398 | 326.000 | 334.424 |