Margarine prices: $1.01 in 1984→$1.73 in 2019

Last reported price; the Bureau of Labor Statistics no longer tracks this item.

Margarine Inflation Calculator

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of margarine rose 71%, from $1.01 per pound in 1984 to $1.73 in October 2019, the last price it reported. Overall prices rose 222% over the same period, so margarine rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted

Margarine inflation, 1939–2026

Margarine prices are 2,073.81% higher in 2026 versus 1939 (a $35.88 difference in value).

Between 1939 and 2026, Margarine experienced an average inflation rate of 3.60% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, margarine costing $1.73 in the year 1939 would cost $37.61 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.71% during this same period, inflation for margarine was lower.

Price Inflation for Margarine since 1939

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1974 (53.62%), 1947 (44.29%), and 2022 (31.29%).

Margarine prices by year

The average price for margarine 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 margarine, soft, tubs, 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.

YearPrice (per pound)Price, inflation-adjusted
2019 (partial)$1.64$2.14
2018$1.64$2.18
2017$1.73$2.37
2016$1.82$2.54
2015$1.93$2.73
2014$2.07$2.93
2013$2.10$3.01
2012$2.05$3.00
2011$1.83$2.72
2010$1.55$2.39
2009$1.59$2.48
2008$1.39$2.17
2007$1.20$1.94
2006$1.08$1.80
2005$1.02$1.75
2004$1.08$1.92
2003$1.00$1.83
2002$0.90$1.67
2001$0.85$1.61
2000$0.83$1.61
1999No data—
1998No data—
1997No data—
1996$1.00$2.14
1995$1.04$2.29
1994$1.15$2.61
1993$1.18$2.73
1992$1.30$3.10
1991$1.29$3.17
1990$1.20$3.08
1989$1.17$3.17
1988$1.04$2.95
1987$0.97$2.87
1986$1.02$3.12
1985$1.02$3.18
1984$1.01$3.26

Yearly averages; 2019 is through October. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $1.73 since 1939

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Margarine, over time, for $1.73 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1939$1.73-
1940$1.69-2.44%
1941$1.838.26%
1942$2.3830.26%
1943$2.442.63%
1944$2.43-0.36%
1945$2.43-0.06%
1946$2.8517.08%
1947$4.1144.29%
1948$4.161.26%
1949$3.09-25.76%
1950$3.03-1.85%
1951$3.4012.02%
1952$2.89-14.97%
1953$2.910.64%
1954$2.930.91%
1955$2.84-3.11%
1956$2.860.67%
1957$2.973.90%
1958$2.91-1.94%
1959$2.79-4.36%
1960$2.69-3.59%
1961$2.866.58%
1962$2.85-0.62%
1963$2.76-3.03%
1964$2.76-0.02%
1965$2.956.78%
1966$3.022.61%
1967$3.030.27%
1968$2.99-1.46%
1969$2.98-0.25%
1970$3.227.90%
1971$3.529.35%
1972$3.571.47%
1973$4.0413.34%
1974$6.2153.62%
1975$6.819.62%
1976$5.71-16.17%
1977$6.249.24%
1978$6.859.92%
1979$7.286.26%
1980$7.573.92%
1981$7.772.68%
1982$7.830.77%
1983$7.910.98%
1984$8.7410.51%
1985$9.124.34%
1986$8.94-1.95%
1987$8.74-2.29%
1988$9.397.50%
1989$10.3310.01%
1990$10.673.25%
1991$10.851.75%
1992$10.77-0.80%
1993$10.840.69%
1994$11.253.79%
1995$11.562.74%
1996$11.802.07%
1997$11.860.51%
1998$12.293.59%
1999$12.562.22%
2000$12.53-0.24%
2001$13.023.88%
2002$13.513.78%
2003$13.973.44%
2004$14.554.10%
2005$14.45-0.69%
2006$14.621.19%
2007$15.344.96%
2008$18.5821.09%
2009$19.897.08%
2010$19.52-1.86%
2011$22.4014.76%
2012$23.896.62%
2013$23.57-1.31%
2014$23.710.59%
2015$23.66-0.21%
2016$24.031.54%
2017$24.612.42%
2018$24.36-1.02%
2019$24.27-0.37%
2020$24.892.55%
2021$25.773.54%
2022$33.8331.29%
2023$38.5413.91%
2024$37.59-2.45%
2025$38.341.98%
2026$37.61-1.91%*

* 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 Margarine:

Year1939194019411942194319441945194619471948194919501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI21.20020.68322.39229.16729.93329.82529.80834.90050.35850.99237.85837.15841.62535.39235.61735.94234.82535.05836.42535.71734.15832.93335.10034.88333.82533.81736.10837.05037.15036.60836.51739.40043.08343.71749.55076.11783.44269.95076.41784.00089.25892.75895.24295.97596.917107.100111.750109.567107.058115.092126.608130.725133.008131.950132.867137.908141.683144.617145.350150.575153.925153.558159.517165.542171.233178.258177.025179.125188.012227.671243.778239.233274.546292.718288.892290.596289.976294.444301.566298.500297.405304.987315.791414.586472.267460.701469.833460.848

Adjust margarine prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1939* 1939 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Margarine was 21.200 in the year 1939 and 460.848 in 2026:

460.848 / 21.200* $1.73 = $37.61

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1.73 in 1939 has the same "purchasing power" as $37.61 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Margarine).

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