Pork priced at $20 in 1935 $235.19 in 2009

Pork Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Pork, 1935-2009 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for pork were 1,075.94% higher in 2009 versus 1935 (a $215.19 difference in value).

The current national average price is $0.43 for "Pork and beans, canned (cost per 16 ounces/453.6 grams)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1935 and 2009: Pork experienced an average inflation rate of 3.39% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, pork costing $20 in the year 1935 would cost $235.19 in 2009 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.79% during this same period, inflation for pork was lower.

Price Inflation for Pork since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1947 (45.67%), 1973 (32.94%), and 1946 (31.63%).

Price history

The average price for Pork is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

Average prices for Pork and beans, canned (cost per 16 ounces/453.6 grams):

YearAverage price (Pork)Inflation adjusted price (2024 dollars)
1986$0.43$0.43
1985$0.43$0.47
1984$0.45$0.49
1983$0.43$0.46
1982$0.43$0.46
1981$0.40$0.48
1980$0.36$0.46

View price changes for other categories
Educational books and supplies · St Louis, Missouri · Dental services · Alcoholic beverages · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1935

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Pork, over time, for $20 beginning in 1935. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1935$20.00-
1936$19.75-1.25%
1937$20.363.08%
1938$18.39-9.65%
1939$16.97-7.75%
1940$15.33-9.64%
1941$19.1124.66%
1942$22.9720.20%
1943$22.90-0.30%
1944$21.42-6.49%
1945$21.510.42%
1946$28.3131.63%
1947$41.2445.67%
1948$42.513.10%
1949$39.29-7.58%
1950$38.80-1.24%
1951$41.196.14%
1952$40.74-1.09%
1953$45.3311.26%
1954$46.713.06%
1955$40.21-13.92%
1956$38.18-5.04%
1957$44.0315.31%
1958$46.936.59%
1959$41.75-11.05%
1960$41.48-0.65%
1961$43.454.76%
1962$43.820.85%
1963$42.71-2.53%
1964$42.49-0.51%
1965$48.3713.83%
1966$55.3014.33%
1967$50.79-8.15%
1968$50.840.10%
1969$55.378.91%
1970$58.816.22%
1971$53.30-9.38%
1972$61.7515.85%
1973$82.0832.94%
1974$81.74-0.43%
1975$99.9922.33%
1976$101.271.28%
1977$95.86-5.34%
1978$108.1712.84%
1979$109.861.56%
1980$106.17-3.35%
1981$116.029.27%
1982$131.0112.92%
1983$129.83-0.91%
1984$128.17-1.28%
1985$128.480.24%
1986$138.978.17%
1987$150.358.19%
1988$145.84-3.01%
1989$146.760.64%
1990$168.3014.67%
1991$173.923.34%
1992$165.75-4.70%
1993$170.733.01%
1994$173.611.68%
1995$174.830.71%
1996$192.159.90%
1997$202.155.21%
1998$192.51-4.77%
1999$189.18-1.73%
2000$202.957.28%
2001$210.583.76%
2002$209.80-0.37%
2003$213.791.90%
2004$225.935.68%
2005$230.472.01%
2006$229.90-0.25%
2007$234.602.05%
2008$239.942.28%
2009$235.19-1.98%
2010$246.334.74%
2011$267.208.47%
2012$267.930.27%
2013$270.450.94%
2014$295.199.15%
2015$283.63-3.91%
2016$272.14-4.05%
2017$273.710.58%
2018$272.56-0.42%
2019$275.801.19%
2020$293.086.27%
2021$318.338.62%
2022$345.968.68%
2023$341.90-1.17%
2024$337.87-1.18%*

* 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 Pork:

Year193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI15.42315.23115.70014.18513.08511.82314.73817.71517.66216.51516.58521.83131.80032.78530.30029.92331.76231.41534.95436.02331.00829.44633.95436.19232.19231.98533.50833.79232.93832.76937.30042.64639.16939.20842.70045.35441.10047.61563.30063.03177.10878.09273.92383.41584.71581.87789.469101.031100.11598.83899.077107.169115.946112.462113.177129.785134.115127.815131.662133.877134.823148.177155.892148.454145.885156.508162.392161.785164.862174.223177.731177.285180.912185.034181.366189.957206.053206.612208.557227.634218.726209.863211.070210.187212.681226.011245.483266.788263.656260.551

Adjust pork prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2009 / CPI in 1935 * 1935 USD value = 2009 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Pork was 15.423 in the year 1935 and 181.366 in 2009:

181.366 / 15.423 * $20 = $235.19

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1935 has the same "purchasing power" as $235.19 in 2009 (in the CPI category of Pork).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Pork in 1935. In addition to pork, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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