White bread priced at $2 in 1939 → $65.77 in 2023

White Bread Inflation Calculator

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Prices for White Bread, 1939-2023 ($2)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for white bread are 3,188.53% higher in 2023 versus 1939 (a $63.77 difference in value).

The current national average price is $2 for "Bread, white, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1939 and 2023: White bread experienced an average inflation rate of 4.25% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, white bread costing $2 in the year 1939 would cost $65.77 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.74% during this same period, inflation for white bread was higher.

Price Inflation for White bread since 1939

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1974 (25.01%), 1947 (20.61%), and 1946 (18.10%).

Price history

The average price for White bread 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 Bread, white, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm):

YearAverage price (White bread)Inflation adjusted price (2023 dollars)
2023$2.00 (latest available value)$2.00
2022$1.70$1.88
2021$1.52$1.87
2020$1.45$1.80
2019$1.30$1.68
2018$1.29$1.72
2017$1.33$1.78
2016$1.37$1.84
2015$1.44$1.92
2014$1.40$1.90
2013$1.41$1.89
2012$1.42$1.94
2011$1.44$2.04
2010$1.37$2.03
2009$1.39$2.01
2008$1.37$2.01
2007$1.21$2.02
2006$1.08$1.96
2005$1.04$1.94
2004$0.97$1.88
2003$1.00$1.98
2002$1.02$2.06
2001$1.00$2.07
2000$0.93$2.02
1999$0.89$1.99
1998$0.86$1.99
1997$0.87$2.05
1996$0.88$2.13
1995$0.79$2.07
1994$0.76$2.07
1993$0.75$2.14
1992$0.75$2.22
1991$0.71$2.20
1990$0.69$2.20
1989$0.67$2.22
1988$0.61$2.23
1987$0.55$2.14
1986$0.56$2.27
1985$0.55$2.26
1984$0.54$2.27
1983$0.54$2.34
1982$0.53$2.38
1981$0.53$2.44
1980$0.51$2.56
View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $2.00 since 1939

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for White bread, over time, for $2 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1939$2.00-
1940$2.052.57%
1941$2.060.57%
1942$2.206.86%
1943$2.210.05%
1944$2.19-0.74%
1945$2.190.11%
1946$2.5918.10%
1947$3.1220.61%
1948$3.4711.02%
1949$3.490.68%
1950$3.561.98%
1951$3.909.50%
1952$4.002.76%
1953$4.122.92%
1954$4.294.06%
1955$4.423.08%
1956$4.522.28%
1957$4.734.66%
1958$4.872.82%
1959$4.972.04%
1960$5.123.11%
1961$5.283.04%
1962$5.361.53%
1963$5.472.05%
1964$5.500.62%
1965$5.571.26%
1966$5.916.03%
1967$6.011.74%
1968$6.040.53%
1969$6.223.00%
1970$6.565.47%
1971$6.752.85%
1972$6.790.57%
1973$7.6112.17%
1974$9.5225.01%
1975$9.964.70%
1976$9.78-1.89%
1977$9.780.07%
1978$10.446.71%
1979$11.6911.93%
1980$13.0711.87%
1981$14.178.42%
1982$14.723.85%
1983$15.213.38%
1984$15.713.25%
1985$16.102.52%
1986$16.391.76%
1987$16.842.75%
1988$18.057.18%
1989$19.689.07%
1990$20.755.45%
1991$21.192.11%
1992$22.244.92%
1993$23.154.13%
1994$24.194.47%
1995$25.174.08%
1996$27.017.28%
1997$27.973.55%
1998$28.491.88%
1999$29.282.76%
2000$30.283.43%
2001$31.694.64%
2002$32.462.45%
2003$33.262.44%
2004$33.972.15%
2005$35.313.95%
2006$36.212.53%
2007$39.258.40%
2008$44.7614.06%
2009$45.301.21%
2010$44.40-2.00%
2011$46.675.11%
2012$47.962.78%
2013$48.921.99%
2014$48.63-0.58%
2015$49.241.24%
2016$49.14-0.20%
2017$49.200.13%
2018$49.270.13%
2019$50.753.00%
2020$52.924.29%
2021$53.521.13%
2022$59.6411.43%
2023$65.7710.28%*

* 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 White bread:

Year1939194019411942194319441945194619471948194919501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
CPI13.14613.48513.56214.49214.50014.39214.40817.01520.52322.78522.93823.39225.61526.32327.09228.19229.06229.72331.10831.98532.63833.65434.67735.20835.93136.15436.60838.81539.49239.70040.89243.13144.36244.61550.04662.56265.50064.26264.30868.62376.80885.92393.15496.738100.008103.254105.854107.715110.677118.623129.377136.423139.300146.154152.185158.985165.469177.523183.831187.285192.454199.054208.285213.392218.592223.300232.115237.985257.975294.237297.789291.831306.751315.273321.536319.665323.644322.998323.418323.829333.552347.861351.797392.017432.316

Adjust white bread prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 1939 * 1939 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for White bread was 13.146 in the year 1939 and 432.316 in 2023:

432.316 / 13.146 * $2 = $65.77

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $2 in 1939 has the same "purchasing power" as $65.77 in 2023 (in the CPI category of White bread).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for White bread in 1939. In addition to white bread, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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