According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for meats are 2,697.63% higher in 2024 versus 1939 (a $539.53 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2024: Meats experienced an average inflation rate of 4% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, meats costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $559.53 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.73% during this same period, inflation for meats was higher.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -1.08%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for meats during the 1939-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.31%), 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 | -1.08% |
| 1940 | $19.52 | -2.38% |
| 1941 | $22.05 | 12.92% |
| 1942 | $25.37 | 15.06% |
| 1943 | $25.69 | 1.27% |
| 1944 | $24.43 | -4.91% |
| 1945 | $24.43 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $31.21 | 27.77% |
| 1947 | $44.44 | 42.39% |
| 1948 | $50.48 | 13.58% |
| 1949 | $47.45 | -5.99% |
| 1950 | $50.08 | 5.53% |
| 1951 | $56.72 | 13.26% |
| 1952 | $56.18 | -0.95% |
| 1953 | $52.46 | -6.62% |
| 1954 | $52.21 | -0.47% |
| 1955 | $48.03 | -8.01% |
| 1956 | $46.49 | -3.22% |
| 1957 | $51.57 | 10.94% |
| 1958 | $57.39 | 11.28% |
| 1959 | $55.34 | -3.57% |
| 1960 | $54.35 | -1.79% |
| 1961 | $55.05 | 1.28% |
| 1962 | $56.13 | 1.96% |
| 1963 | $55.21 | -1.63% |
| 1964 | $54.41 | -1.45% |
| 1965 | $58.52 | 7.54% |
| 1966 | $63.98 | 9.32% |
| 1967 | $62.29 | -2.64% |
| 1968 | $63.72 | 2.29% |
| 1969 | $69.47 | 9.03% |
| 1970 | $73.26 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $72.75 | -0.69% |
| 1972 | $80.51 | 10.67% |
| 1973 | $100.36 | 24.65% |
| 1974 | $102.28 | 1.91% |
| 1975 | $110.84 | 8.37% |
| 1976 | $111.04 | 0.19% |
| 1977 | $108.60 | -2.20% |
| 1978 | $128.85 | 18.65% |
| 1979 | $150.75 | 16.99% |
| 1980 | $155.03 | 2.84% |
| 1981 | $160.66 | 3.63% |
| 1982 | $168.40 | 4.82% |
| 1983 | $166.49 | -1.14% |
| 1984 | $167.04 | 0.33% |
| 1985 | $165.44 | -0.96% |
| 1986 | $170.64 | 3.14% |
| 1987 | $183.45 | 7.50% |
| 1988 | $187.70 | 2.32% |
| 1989 | $195.25 | 4.02% |
| 1990 | $214.92 | 10.07% |
| 1991 | $221.75 | 3.18% |
| 1992 | $218.60 | -1.42% |
| 1993 | $225.25 | 3.04% |
| 1994 | $226.46 | 0.54% |
| 1995 | $226.65 | 0.09% |
| 1996 | $234.49 | 3.46% |
| 1997 | $241.53 | 3.00% |
| 1998 | $236.96 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $238.12 | 0.49% |
| 2000 | $252.18 | 5.90% |
| 2001 | $266.53 | 5.69% |
| 2002 | $268.15 | 0.61% |
| 2003 | $282.73 | 5.44% |
| 2004 | $306.50 | 8.41% |
| 2005 | $313.77 | 2.37% |
| 2006 | $315.92 | 0.68% |
| 2007 | $326.23 | 3.26% |
| 2008 | $337.66 | 3.50% |
| 2009 | $335.53 | -0.63% |
| 2010 | $345.05 | 2.84% |
| 2011 | $375.51 | 8.83% |
| 2012 | $388.13 | 3.36% |
| 2013 | $392.81 | 1.21% |
| 2014 | $429.10 | 9.24% |
| 2015 | $442.09 | 3.03% |
| 2016 | $422.49 | -4.43% |
| 2017 | $420.03 | -0.58% |
| 2018 | $421.75 | 0.41% |
| 2019 | $427.21 | 1.30% |
| 2020 | $458.73 | 7.38% |
| 2021 | $493.88 | 7.66% |
| 2022 | $534.38 | 8.20% |
| 2023 | $545.43 | 2.07% |
| 2024 | $559.53 | 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 |