Whiskey prices: $7.22 in 1985→$7.42 in 1986
Last reported price; the Bureau of Labor Statistics no longer tracks this item.
Last reported price; the Bureau of Labor Statistics no longer tracks this item.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of whiskey rose 3%, from $7.22 per 750 ml bottle in 1985 to $7.42 in December 1986, the last price it reported. Overall prices rose 211% over the same period, so whiskey rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
Whiskey prices are 284.59% higher in 2026 versus 1952 (a $21.12 difference in value).
Between 1952 and 2026, Whiskey experienced an average inflation rate of 1.84% per year. In other words, whiskey costing $7.42 in the year 1952 would cost $28.54 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for whiskey was lower.
The average price for whiskey 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 bourbon whiskey, 375 ml-1.75 liter (cost per 25.4 ounces/750 ml) 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.
Yearly averages. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Whiskey, over time, for $7.42 beginning in 1952. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | $7.42 | - |
| 1953 | $7.43 | 0.14% |
| 1954 | $7.47 | 0.53% |
| 1955 | $7.50 | 0.41% |
| 1956 | $7.57 | 0.90% |
| 1957 | $7.83 | 3.49% |
| 1958 | $7.87 | 0.45% |
| 1959 | $7.95 | 1.06% |
| 1960 | $8.08 | 1.63% |
| 1961 | $8.13 | 0.57% |
| 1962 | $8.16 | 0.43% |
| 1963 | $8.24 | 0.96% |
| 1964 | $8.29 | 0.62% |
| 1965 | $8.30 | 0.08% |
| 1966 | $8.36 | 0.80% |
| 1967 | $8.45 | 1.09% |
| 1968 | $8.58 | 1.44% |
| 1969 | $8.68 | 1.21% |
| 1970 | $8.89 | 2.41% |
| 1971 | $9.00 | 1.30% |
| 1972 | $9.19 | 2.12% |
| 1973 | $9.24 | 0.51% |
| 1974 | $9.38 | 1.54% |
| 1975 | $9.66 | 2.92% |
| 1976 | $9.81 | 1.61% |
| 1977 | $9.95 | 1.34% |
| 1978 | $10.35 | 4.09% |
| 1979 | $10.78 | 4.12% |
| 1980 | $11.45 | 6.27% |
| 1981 | $12.10 | 5.67% |
| 1982 | $12.57 | 3.88% |
| 1983 | $12.86 | 2.28% |
| 1984 | $13.01 | 1.19% |
| 1985 | $13.45 | 3.32% |
| 1986 | $14.40 | 7.13% |
| 1987 | $14.56 | 1.11% |
| 1988 | $14.73 | 1.13% |
| 1989 | $15.18 | 3.10% |
| 1990 | $15.99 | 5.28% |
| 1991 | $17.61 | 10.17% |
| 1992 | $17.86 | 1.40% |
| 1993 | $18.18 | 1.79% |
| 1994 | $18.33 | 0.84% |
| 1995 | $18.58 | 1.34% |
| 1996 | $18.87 | 1.58% |
| 1997 | $19.32 | 2.38% |
| 1998 | $19.50 | 0.93% |
| 1999 | $19.93 | 2.22% |
| 2000 | $20.40 | 2.34% |
| 2001 | $21.01 | 3.00% |
| 2002 | $21.47 | 2.19% |
| 2003 | $21.91 | 2.04% |
| 2004 | $22.30 | 1.76% |
| 2005 | $22.63 | 1.48% |
| 2006 | $23.16 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $23.66 | 2.16% |
| 2008 | $24.10 | 1.86% |
| 2009 | $25.00 | 3.75% |
| 2010 | $25.10 | 0.42% |
| 2011 | $25.20 | 0.39% |
| 2012 | $25.50 | 1.20% |
| 2013 | $25.96 | 1.78% |
| 2014 | $26.46 | 1.95% |
| 2015 | $26.55 | 0.34% |
| 2016 | $26.62 | 0.23% |
| 2017 | $26.55 | -0.24% |
| 2018 | $26.08 | -1.78% |
| 2019 | $26.54 | 1.78% |
| 2020 | $26.79 | 0.95% |
| 2021 | $27.34 | 2.04% |
| 2022 | $27.93 | 2.14% |
| 2023 | $28.41 | 1.74% |
| 2024 | $28.51 | 0.33% |
| 2025 | $28.26 | -0.85% |
| 2026 | $28.54 | 0.97%* |
* 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 Whiskey at home:
| 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 57.900 | 57.983 | 58.292 | 58.533 | 59.058 | 61.117 | 61.392 | 62.042 | 63.050 | 63.408 | 63.683 | 64.292 | 64.692 | 64.742 | 65.258 | 65.967 | 66.917 | 67.725 | 69.358 | 70.258 | 71.750 | 72.117 | 73.225 | 75.367 | 76.583 | 77.608 | 80.783 | 84.108 | 89.383 | 94.450 | 98.117 | 100.350 | 101.542 | 104.917 | 112.400 | 113.650 | 114.933 | 118.492 | 124.750 | 137.433 | 139.358 | 141.858 | 143.050 | 144.967 | 147.258 | 150.758 | 152.158 | 155.542 | 159.183 | 163.958 | 167.550 | 170.967 | 173.983 | 176.558 | 180.700 | 184.606 | 188.032 | 195.077 | 195.893 | 196.657 | 199.015 | 202.563 | 206.510 | 207.209 | 207.684 | 207.185 | 203.498 | 207.124 | 209.085 | 213.358 | 217.917 | 221.704 | 222.436 | 220.544 | 222.677 |