Poultry prices are 508.48% higher in 2026 versus 1959 (a $10.47 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $2.06 in September 2026 for Chicken, fresh, whole, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.
Between 1959 and 2026, Poultry experienced an average inflation rate of 2.73% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, poultry costing $2.06 in the year 1959 would cost $12.53 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.70% during this same period, inflation for poultry was lower.
In the year 1959: Pricing changed by -8.84%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for poultry during the 1959-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1959 (1.01%), inflation for poultry was much lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of poultry rose 191%, from $0.71 per pound in 1980 to $2.06 in September 2026. Overall prices rose 309% over the same period, so poultry rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
The average price for poultry is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of chicken, fresh, whole, per lb. (453.6 gm) each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.
| Year | Price (per pound) | Price, inflation-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | $2.03 | $2.03 |
| 2025 | $2.06 | $2.15 |
| 2024 | $2.00 | $2.15 |
| 2023 | $1.91 | $2.12 |
| 2022 | $1.80 | $2.07 |
| 2021 | $1.53 | $1.90 |
| 2020 | $1.56 | $2.03 |
| 2019 | $1.50 | $1.97 |
| 2018 | $1.50 | $2.01 |
| 2017 | $1.47 | $2.02 |
| 2016 | $1.46 | $2.05 |
| 2015 | $1.49 | $2.12 |
| 2014 | $1.53 | $2.18 |
| 2013 | $1.50 | $2.16 |
| 2012 | $1.42 | $2.09 |
| 2011 | $1.29 | $1.93 |
| 2010 | $1.26 | $1.95 |
| 2009 | $1.28 | $2.01 |
| 2008 | $1.21 | $1.89 |
| 2007 | $1.12 | $1.81 |
| 2006 | $1.05 | $1.75 |
| 2005 | $1.06 | $1.82 |
| 2004 | $1.07 | $1.91 |
| 2003 | $1.03 | $1.89 |
| 2002 | $1.07 | $2.01 |
| 2001 | $1.11 | $2.10 |
| 2000 | $1.07 | $2.10 |
| 1999 | $1.06 | $2.14 |
| 1998 | $1.04 | $2.16 |
| 1997 | $1.00 | $2.10 |
| 1996 | $0.97 | $2.09 |
| 1995 | $0.92 | $2.03 |
| 1994 | $0.90 | $2.05 |
| 1993 | $0.89 | $2.08 |
| 1992 | $0.87 | $2.09 |
| 1991 | $0.88 | $2.18 |
| 1990 | $0.90 | $2.32 |
| 1989 | $0.93 | $2.52 |
| 1988 | $0.85 | $2.43 |
| 1987 | $0.78 | $2.33 |
| 1986 | $0.84 | $2.57 |
| 1985 | $0.76 | $2.39 |
| 1984 | $0.81 | $2.63 |
| 1983 | $0.72 | $2.45 |
| 1982 | $0.71 | $2.49 |
| 1981 | $0.73 | $2.71 |
| 1980 | $0.71 | $2.90 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through September. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Poultry, over time, for $2.06 beginning in 1959. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | $2.06 | -8.84% |
| 1960 | $2.09 | 1.61% |
| 1961 | $1.89 | -9.69% |
| 1962 | $2.00 | 5.64% |
| 1963 | $1.97 | -1.46% |
| 1964 | $1.92 | -2.21% |
| 1965 | $1.98 | 3.06% |
| 1966 | $2.09 | 5.41% |
| 1967 | $1.96 | -6.36% |
| 1968 | $2.02 | 3.14% |
| 1969 | $2.13 | 5.63% |
| 1970 | $2.12 | -0.47% |
| 1971 | $2.14 | 0.58% |
| 1972 | $2.16 | 1.26% |
| 1973 | $3.03 | 40.25% |
| 1974 | $2.88 | -5.14% |
| 1975 | $3.18 | 10.53% |
| 1976 | $3.05 | -4.07% |
| 1977 | $3.07 | 0.63% |
| 1978 | $3.39 | 10.31% |
| 1979 | $3.55 | 4.98% |
| 1980 | $3.74 | 5.11% |
| 1981 | $3.89 | 4.10% |
| 1982 | $3.82 | -1.75% |
| 1983 | $3.87 | 1.21% |
| 1984 | $4.28 | 10.65% |
| 1985 | $4.24 | -0.97% |
| 1986 | $4.56 | 7.57% |
| 1987 | $4.49 | -1.48% |
| 1988 | $4.82 | 7.22% |
| 1989 | $5.29 | 9.91% |
| 1990 | $5.28 | -0.14% |
| 1991 | $5.24 | -0.76% |
| 1992 | $5.24 | -0.04% |
| 1993 | $5.46 | 4.20% |
| 1994 | $5.65 | 3.37% |
| 1995 | $5.72 | 1.36% |
| 1996 | $6.08 | 6.24% |
| 1997 | $6.25 | 2.76% |
| 1998 | $6.27 | 0.32% |
| 1999 | $6.30 | 0.49% |
| 2000 | $6.38 | 1.21% |
| 2001 | $6.58 | 3.15% |
| 2002 | $6.66 | 1.32% |
| 2003 | $6.74 | 1.22% |
| 2004 | $7.25 | 7.46% |
| 2005 | $7.39 | 1.96% |
| 2006 | $7.26 | -1.77% |
| 2007 | $7.63 | 5.15% |
| 2008 | $8.01 | 4.99% |
| 2009 | $8.15 | 1.65% |
| 2010 | $8.14 | -0.12% |
| 2011 | $8.37 | 2.91% |
| 2012 | $8.83 | 5.46% |
| 2013 | $9.24 | 4.68% |
| 2014 | $9.43 | 1.97% |
| 2015 | $9.46 | 0.40% |
| 2016 | $9.21 | -2.66% |
| 2017 | $9.23 | 0.17% |
| 2018 | $9.26 | 0.32% |
| 2019 | $9.23 | -0.25% |
| 2020 | $9.75 | 5.60% |
| 2021 | $10.25 | 5.11% |
| 2022 | $11.74 | 14.58% |
| 2023 | $12.11 | 3.10% |
| 2024 | $12.21 | 0.83% |
| 2025 | $12.43 | 1.78% |
| 2026 | $12.53 | 0.88%* |
* 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 Poultry:
| 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 | 36.267 | 38.392 | 39.875 | 39.742 | 35.625 | 36.000 | 38.775 | 46.575 | 55.475 | 57.325 | 58.667 | 66.058 | 69.567 | 77.142 | 72.733 | 69.608 | 72.950 | 73.217 | 71.400 | 64.425 | 67.092 | 58.783 | 57.375 | 56.650 | 51.642 | 52.475 | 47.392 | 50.067 | 49.333 | 48.242 | 49.717 | 52.408 | 49.075 | 50.617 | 53.467 | 53.217 | 53.525 | 54.200 | 76.017 | 72.108 | 79.700 | 76.458 | 76.942 | 84.875 | 89.100 | 93.650 | 97.492 | 95.783 | 96.942 | 107.267 | 106.225 | 114.267 | 112.575 | 120.708 | 132.667 | 132.475 | 131.467 | 131.408 | 136.933 | 141.542 | 143.467 | 152.425 | 156.633 | 157.142 | 157.908 | 159.817 | 164.858 | 167.042 | 169.083 | 181.700 | 185.258 | 181.983 | 191.359 | 200.901 | 204.220 | 203.978 | 209.916 | 221.381 | 231.744 | 236.314 | 237.251 | 230.941 | 231.332 | 232.077 | 231.492 | 244.446 | 256.929 | 294.380 | 303.518 | 306.042 | 311.482 | 314.230 |