According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for meats are 3,002.43% higher in 2026 versus 1939 (a $600.49 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2026:Meats experienced an average inflation rate of 4.03% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, meats costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $620.49 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for meats was higher.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -1.10%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for meats during the 1939-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.30%), inflation for meats was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Meats, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -1.10% |
| 1940 | $19.53 | -2.37% |
| 1941 | $22.06 | 13.00% |
| 1942 | $25.37 | 14.98% |
| 1943 | $25.69 | 1.26% |
| 1944 | $24.44 | -4.89% |
| 1945 | $24.44 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $31.21 | 27.74% |
| 1947 | $44.45 | 42.40% |
| 1948 | $50.49 | 13.59% |
| 1949 | $47.46 | -5.99% |
| 1950 | $50.10 | 5.55% |
| 1951 | $56.74 | 13.25% |
| 1952 | $56.19 | -0.96% |
| 1953 | $52.47 | -6.63% |
| 1954 | $52.23 | -0.45% |
| 1955 | $48.05 | -8.01% |
| 1956 | $46.51 | -3.19% |
| 1957 | $51.59 | 10.91% |
| 1958 | $57.41 | 11.27% |
| 1959 | $55.36 | -3.57% |
| 1960 | $54.37 | -1.79% |
| 1961 | $55.06 | 1.28% |
| 1962 | $56.14 | 1.95% |
| 1963 | $55.23 | -1.61% |
| 1964 | $54.44 | -1.44% |
| 1965 | $58.54 | 7.53% |
| 1966 | $64.00 | 9.34% |
| 1967 | $62.32 | -2.64% |
| 1968 | $63.74 | 2.28% |
| 1969 | $69.50 | 9.04% |
| 1970 | $73.28 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $72.78 | -0.69% |
| 1972 | $80.54 | 10.67% |
| 1973 | $100.39 | 24.64% |
| 1974 | $102.32 | 1.92% |
| 1975 | $110.86 | 8.36% |
| 1976 | $111.07 | 0.19% |
| 1977 | $108.63 | -2.20% |
| 1978 | $128.90 | 18.65% |
| 1979 | $150.79 | 16.99% |
| 1980 | $155.08 | 2.84% |
| 1981 | $160.71 | 3.63% |
| 1982 | $168.45 | 4.82% |
| 1983 | $166.54 | -1.13% |
| 1984 | $167.10 | 0.33% |
| 1985 | $165.50 | -0.96% |
| 1986 | $170.70 | 3.14% |
| 1987 | $183.51 | 7.51% |
| 1988 | $187.75 | 2.31% |
| 1989 | $195.31 | 4.03% |
| 1990 | $214.98 | 10.07% |
| 1991 | $221.83 | 3.19% |
| 1992 | $218.66 | -1.43% |
| 1993 | $225.33 | 3.05% |
| 1994 | $226.53 | 0.53% |
| 1995 | $226.72 | 0.09% |
| 1996 | $234.56 | 3.46% |
| 1997 | $241.60 | 3.00% |
| 1998 | $237.04 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $238.20 | 0.49% |
| 2000 | $252.26 | 5.90% |
| 2001 | $266.61 | 5.69% |
| 2002 | $268.23 | 0.61% |
| 2003 | $282.82 | 5.44% |
| 2004 | $306.60 | 8.41% |
| 2005 | $313.88 | 2.37% |
| 2006 | $316.03 | 0.68% |
| 2007 | $326.33 | 3.26% |
| 2008 | $337.77 | 3.50% |
| 2009 | $335.64 | -0.63% |
| 2010 | $345.16 | 2.84% |
| 2011 | $375.63 | 8.83% |
| 2012 | $388.25 | 3.36% |
| 2013 | $392.93 | 1.21% |
| 2014 | $429.24 | 9.24% |
| 2015 | $442.23 | 3.03% |
| 2016 | $422.63 | -4.43% |
| 2017 | $420.16 | -0.58% |
| 2018 | $421.88 | 0.41% |
| 2019 | $427.35 | 1.30% |
| 2020 | $458.88 | 7.38% |
| 2021 | $494.04 | 7.66% |
| 2022 | $534.56 | 8.20% |
| 2023 | $545.61 | 2.07% |
| 2024 | $561.15 | 2.85% |
| 2025 | $593.97 | 5.85% |
| 2026 | $620.49 | 4.46%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 12.458 | 12.192 | 13.167 | 12.083 | 11.950 | 11.667 | 13.183 | 15.158 | 15.350 | 14.600 | 14.600 | 18.650 | 26.558 | 30.167 | 28.358 | 29.933 | 33.900 | 33.575 | 31.350 | 31.208 | 28.708 | 27.792 | 30.825 | 34.300 | 33.075 | 32.483 | 32.900 | 33.542 | 33.000 | 32.525 | 34.975 | 38.242 | 37.233 | 38.083 | 41.525 | 43.783 | 43.483 | 48.125 | 59.983 | 61.133 | 66.242 | 66.367 | 64.908 | 77.017 | 90.100 | 92.658 | 96.025 | 100.650 | 99.508 | 99.842 | 98.883 | 101.992 | 109.650 | 112.183 | 116.700 | 128.450 | 132.542 | 130.650 | 134.633 | 135.350 | 135.467 | 140.150 | 144.358 | 141.633 | 142.325 | 150.725 | 159.300 | 160.267 | 168.983 | 183.192 | 187.542 | 188.825 | 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 | 319.397 | 326.000 | 335.289 | 354.897 | 370.740 |