Alcohol price inflation, 1961→1956

Alcohol Inflation Calculator

Prices for Alcohol, 1961-1956 ($10)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for alcoholic beverages were 5.13% lower in 1956 versus 1961 (a $0.51 difference in value).

The current national average price is $1.81 for "Malt beverages, all types, all sizes, any origin, per 16 oz. (473.2 ml)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1961 and 1956: Alcohol experienced an average inflation rate of -1.05% per year. In other words, alcohol costing $10 in the year 1961 would cost $9.49 in 1956 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of -1.88% during this same period, inflation for alcohol was higher.

In the year 1961: Pricing changed by 0.32%, which is above the average yearly change for alcohol during the 1961-1956 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1961 (1.07%), inflation for alcohol was lower.

Price Inflation for Alcoholic beverages since 1952

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1991 (10.47%), 1980 (8.10%), and 1979 (7.86%).

Price history

The average price for Alcohol 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 Malt beverages, all types, all sizes, any origin, per 16 oz. (473.2 ml):

Year	Average price (Alcohol)	Inflation adjusted price (2025 dollars)
2025	$1.81 (latest available value)	$1.81
2024	$1.78	$1.79
2023	$1.74	$1.79
2022	$1.66	$1.77
2021	$1.53	$1.70
2020	$1.48	$1.69
2019	$1.44	$1.67
2018	$1.41	$1.66
2017	$1.39	$1.65
2016	$1.35	$1.63
2015	$1.32	$1.61
2014	$1.28	$1.58
2013	$1.28	$1.60
2012	$1.25	$1.59
2011	$1.24	$1.61
2010	$1.23	$1.62
2009	$1.21	$1.60
2008	$1.16	$1.59
2007	$1.12	$1.59
2006	$1.11	$1.62
2005	$1.09	$1.62
2004	$1.07	$1.62
2003	$1.01	$1.58
2002	$0.99	$1.58
2001	$0.96	$1.56
2000	$0.92	$1.54
1999	$0.88	$1.51
1998	$0.86	$1.52
1997	$0.84	$1.52
1996	$0.84	$1.54
1995	$0.81	$1.54

View price changes for other categories
Televisions · Wireless telephone services · Public transportation · Gasoline (all types) · More

Buying power of $10.00 since 1961

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Alcohol, over time, for $10 beginning in 1961. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1961	$10.00	0.32%
1962	$10.04	0.37%
1963	$10.14	1.06%
1964	$10.22	0.78%
1965	$10.34	1.13%
1966	$10.51	1.66%
1967	$10.73	2.06%
1968	$11.11	3.55%
1969	$11.49	3.49%
1970	$12.04	4.75%
1971	$12.53	4.06%
1972	$12.82	2.30%
1973	$13.14	2.48%
1974	$14.14	7.62%
1975	$15.24	7.76%
1976	$15.74	3.33%
1977	$16.18	2.79%
1978	$17.13	5.87%
1979	$18.48	7.86%
1980	$19.97	8.10%
1981	$21.39	7.11%
1982	$22.35	4.49%
1983	$23.21	3.84%
1984	$23.81	2.57%
1985	$24.60	3.32%
1986	$25.70	4.46%
1987	$26.38	2.66%
1988	$27.42	3.92%
1989	$28.56	4.15%
1990	$29.89	4.68%
1991	$33.02	10.47%
1992	$34.06	3.14%
1993	$34.60	1.61%
1994	$35.04	1.24%
1995	$35.59	1.59%
1996	$36.66	3.00%
1997	$37.65	2.71%
1998	$38.33	1.79%
1999	$39.25	2.40%
2000	$40.39	2.91%
2001	$41.46	2.65%
2002	$42.46	2.41%
2003	$43.29	1.95%
2004	$44.43	2.65%
2005	$45.31	1.97%
2006	$46.42	2.45%
2007	$47.88	3.14%
2008	$49.60	3.60%
2009	$51.05	2.92%
2010	$51.64	1.15%
2011	$52.42	1.52%
2012	$53.38	1.82%
2013	$54.26	1.66%
2014	$54.88	1.14%
2015	$55.40	0.94%
2016	$56.09	1.25%
2017	$56.76	1.19%
2018	$57.62	1.51%
2019	$58.40	1.37%
2020	$59.49	1.86%
2021	$60.78	2.17%
2022	$63.36	4.24%
2023	$66.01	4.18%
2024	$67.25	1.89%
2025	$67.71	0.67%*

* 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 Alcoholic beverages:

Year	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
CPI	39.400	39.720	40.540	40.440	41.020	42.080	42.000	42.460	43.100	43.240	43.400	43.860	44.200	44.700	45.440	46.377	48.023	49.700	52.062	54.177	55.423	56.800	61.131	65.877	68.069	69.969	74.077	79.900	86.369	92.508	96.662	100.377	102.962	106.385	111.131	114.085	118.554	123.477	129.254	142.785	147.262	149.631	151.492	153.900	158.515	162.815	165.731	169.708	174.654	179.285	183.600	187.177	192.131	195.923	200.715	207.026	214.484	220.751	223.291	226.685	230.800	234.623	237.305	239.530	242.526	245.419	249.134	252.542	257.246	262.829	273.967	285.414	290.809	292.771

Adjust alcohol prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 1956 / CPI in 1961 * 1961 USD value = 1956 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Alcoholic beverages was 43.240 in the year 1961 and 41.020 in 1956:

41.020 / 43.240 * $10 = $9.49

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $10 in 1961 has the same "purchasing power" as $9.49 in 1956 (in the CPI category of Alcoholic beverages).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Alcoholic beverages in 1952. In addition to alcohol, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

In other countries: