White bread prices were 228.61% higher in 2020 versus 1985 (a $1.26 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $1.83 in September 2026 for Bread, white, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.
Between 1985 and 2020, White bread experienced an average inflation rate of 3.46% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, white bread costing $0.55 in the year 1985 would cost $1.81 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.54% during this same period, inflation for white bread was higher.
In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 2.53%, which is below the average yearly change for white bread during the 1985-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for white bread was 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 white bread rose 231%, from $0.55 per pound in 1985 to $1.83 in September 2026. Overall prices rose 213% over the same period, so white bread rose faster 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 white bread 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 bread, white, pan, 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) | $1.83 | $1.83 |
| 2025 | $1.87 | $1.96 |
| 2024 | $1.97 | $2.12 |
| 2023 | $1.96 | $2.17 |
| 2022 | $1.70 | $1.96 |
| 2021 | $1.52 | $1.89 |
| 2020 | $1.45 | $1.89 |
| 2019 | $1.30 | $1.71 |
| 2018 | $1.29 | $1.72 |
| 2017 | $1.33 | $1.83 |
| 2016 | $1.37 | $1.93 |
| 2015 | $1.44 | $2.05 |
| 2014 | $1.40 | $1.99 |
| 2013 | $1.41 | $2.03 |
| 2012 | $1.42 | $2.08 |
| 2011 | $1.44 | $2.16 |
| 2010 | $1.37 | $2.12 |
| 2009 | $1.39 | $2.18 |
| 2008 | $1.37 | $2.14 |
| 2007 | $1.21 | $1.96 |
| 2006 | $1.08 | $1.81 |
| 2005 | $1.04 | $1.79 |
| 2004 | $0.97 | $1.73 |
| 2003 | $1.00 | $1.83 |
| 2002 | $1.02 | $1.90 |
| 2001 | $1.00 | $1.90 |
| 2000 | $0.93 | $1.82 |
| 1999 | $0.89 | $1.79 |
| 1998 | $0.86 | $1.78 |
| 1997 | $0.87 | $1.83 |
| 1996 | $0.88 | $1.88 |
| 1995 | $0.79 | $1.75 |
| 1994 | $0.76 | $1.73 |
| 1993 | $0.75 | $1.75 |
| 1992 | $0.75 | $1.80 |
| 1991 | $0.71 | $1.76 |
| 1990 | $0.69 | $1.79 |
| 1989 | $0.67 | $1.81 |
| 1988 | $0.61 | $1.75 |
| 1987 | $0.55 | $1.62 |
| 1986 | $0.56 | $1.74 |
| 1985 | $0.55 | $1.73 |
| 1984 | $0.54 | $1.76 |
| 1983 | $0.54 | $1.83 |
| 1982 | $0.53 | $1.86 |
| 1981 | $0.53 | $1.95 |
| 1980 | $0.51 | $2.08 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through September. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for White bread, over time, for $0.55 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $0.55 | 2.53% |
| 1986 | $0.56 | 1.76% |
| 1987 | $0.58 | 2.75% |
| 1988 | $0.62 | 7.18% |
| 1989 | $0.67 | 9.06% |
| 1990 | $0.71 | 5.45% |
| 1991 | $0.72 | 2.11% |
| 1992 | $0.76 | 4.92% |
| 1993 | $0.79 | 4.13% |
| 1994 | $0.83 | 4.47% |
| 1995 | $0.86 | 4.08% |
| 1996 | $0.92 | 7.29% |
| 1997 | $0.96 | 3.55% |
| 1998 | $0.97 | 1.88% |
| 1999 | $1.00 | 2.76% |
| 2000 | $1.03 | 3.43% |
| 2001 | $1.08 | 4.64% |
| 2002 | $1.11 | 2.45% |
| 2003 | $1.14 | 2.44% |
| 2004 | $1.16 | 2.15% |
| 2005 | $1.21 | 3.95% |
| 2006 | $1.24 | 2.53% |
| 2007 | $1.34 | 8.40% |
| 2008 | $1.53 | 14.06% |
| 2009 | $1.55 | 1.21% |
| 2010 | $1.52 | -2.00% |
| 2011 | $1.59 | 5.11% |
| 2012 | $1.64 | 2.78% |
| 2013 | $1.67 | 1.99% |
| 2014 | $1.66 | -0.58% |
| 2015 | $1.68 | 1.24% |
| 2016 | $1.68 | -0.20% |
| 2017 | $1.68 | 0.13% |
| 2018 | $1.68 | 0.13% |
| 2019 | $1.73 | 3.00% |
| 2020 | $1.81 | 4.29% |
| 2021 | $1.83 | 1.13% |
| 2022 | $2.04 | 11.43% |
| 2023 | $2.25 | 10.43% |
| 2024 | $2.25 | -0.11% |
| 2025 | $2.25 | 0.30% |
| 2026 | $2.32 | 2.93%* |
* 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:
| Year | 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 | 13.142 | 13.483 | 13.558 | 14.492 | 14.500 | 14.392 | 14.408 | 17.017 | 20.525 | 22.783 | 22.942 | 23.392 | 25.617 | 26.325 | 27.092 | 28.192 | 29.067 | 29.725 | 31.108 | 31.983 | 32.642 | 33.650 | 34.675 | 35.208 | 35.933 | 36.158 | 36.608 | 38.817 | 39.492 | 39.700 | 40.892 | 43.133 | 44.358 | 44.617 | 50.042 | 62.558 | 65.500 | 64.258 | 64.308 | 68.625 | 76.808 | 85.925 | 93.150 | 96.742 | 100.008 | 103.250 | 105.858 | 107.717 | 110.675 | 118.625 | 129.375 | 136.425 | 139.300 | 146.150 | 152.183 | 158.983 | 165.467 | 177.525 | 183.833 | 187.283 | 192.450 | 199.050 | 208.283 | 213.392 | 218.592 | 223.300 | 232.117 | 237.983 | 257.975 | 294.237 | 297.789 | 291.831 | 306.751 | 315.273 | 321.536 | 319.665 | 323.644 | 322.998 | 323.417 | 323.829 | 333.552 | 347.861 | 351.797 | 392.017 | 432.915 | 432.452 | 433.769 | 446.465 |