Ground beef priced at $5.89 in 1961 $62.40 in 2024

Ground Beef Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Ground Beef, 1961-2024 ($5.89)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for uncooked ground beef are 959.42% higher in 2024 versus 1961 (a $56.51 difference in value).

The current national average price is $5.89 for "All uncooked ground beef, per lb. (453.6 gm)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1961 and 2024: Ground beef experienced an average inflation rate of 3.82% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, ground beef costing $5.89 in the year 1961 would cost $62.40 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.80% during this same period, inflation for ground beef was higher.

In the year 1961: Pricing changed by -2%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for ground beef during the 1961-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1961 (1.07%), inflation for ground beef was much lower.

Price Inflation for Uncooked ground beef since 1943

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1979 (33.44%), 1947 (28.85%), and 1948 (27.55%).

Price history

The average price for Ground beef 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 All uncooked ground beef, per lb. (453.6 gm):

YearAverage price (Ground beef)Inflation adjusted price (2024 dollars)
2024$5.89 (latest available value)$5.89
2023$5.43$5.67
2022$5.31$5.71
2021$4.88$5.66
2020$4.63$5.63
2019$4.23$5.65
2018$4.12$5.53
2017$4.12$5.56
2016$4.25$5.71
2015$4.63$5.64
2014$4.30$5.61
2013$3.82$5.58
2012$3.72$5.52
2011$3.46$5.49
2010$3.18$5.62
2009$3.10$5.63
2008$3.04$5.58
2007$2.85$5.56
2006$2.72$5.55
2005$2.74$5.63
2004$2.68$5.81
2003$2.45$5.92
2002$2.29$5.97
2001$2.19$5.83
2000$2.01$5.78
1999$1.89$5.75
1998$1.84$5.70

View price changes for other categories
Financial services · Public transportation · St Louis, Missouri · Fresh fruits · More

Buying power of $5.89 since 1961

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Ground beef, over time, for $5.89 beginning in 1961. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1961$5.89-2.00%
1962$6.001.92%
1963$5.92-1.38%
1964$5.78-2.43%
1965$6.054.80%
1966$6.588.72%
1967$6.640.85%
1968$6.914.08%
1969$7.6811.13%
1970$8.146.04%
1971$8.382.98%
1972$9.138.87%
1973$11.5326.37%
1974$11.691.39%
1975$10.79-7.72%
1976$10.67-1.09%
1977$10.42-2.37%
1978$13.2026.71%
1979$17.6233.44%
1980$18.122.83%
1981$17.78-1.89%
1982$17.69-0.47%
1983$17.23-2.64%
1984$17.05-1.01%
1985$16.62-2.55%
1986$16.44-1.07%
1987$17.365.57%
1988$17.923.23%
1989$18.814.99%
1990$20.468.75%
1991$20.771.52%
1992$20.59-0.84%
1993$21.092.41%
1994$20.73-1.71%
1995$20.12-2.96%
1996$19.80-1.55%
1997$20.161.80%
1998$20.11-0.26%
1999$20.512.01%
2000$21.695.75%
2001$23.488.22%
2002$23.931.92%
2003$25.848.00%
2004$28.8011.45%
2005$30.345.34%
2006$30.550.68%
2007$31.924.51%
2008$34.036.60%
2009$34.381.04%
2010$35.282.60%
2011$39.2711.32%
2012$42.047.07%
2013$42.751.68%
2014$47.8111.84%
2015$51.167.01%
2016$46.46-9.19%
2017$46.19-0.57%
2018$46.460.58%
2019$46.640.40%
2020$51.319.99%
2021$53.774.81%
2022$58.118.07%
2023$59.772.84%
2024$62.404.41%*

* 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 Uncooked ground beef:

Year1943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI18.45817.48517.50821.75428.03135.75432.70036.17742.76940.83829.80026.86226.06925.51527.84634.99236.33134.69234.00034.65434.17733.34634.94637.99238.31539.87744.31546.99248.39252.68566.57767.50062.29261.61560.15476.223101.715104.592102.615102.13199.43898.43895.93194.900100.185103.423108.585118.085119.877118.869121.738119.662116.115114.315116.377116.077118.415125.223135.515138.123149.169166.254175.138176.331184.280196.436198.469203.635226.679242.701246.767275.982295.321268.171266.630268.177269.257296.163310.402335.466345.004360.203

Adjust ground beef prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1961 * 1961 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Uncooked ground beef was 34.000 in the year 1961 and 360.203 in 2024:

360.203 / 34.000 * $5.89 = $62.40

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5.89 in 1961 has the same "purchasing power" as $62.40 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Uncooked ground beef).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Uncooked ground beef in 1943. In addition to ground beef, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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