White bread priced at $1.98 in 1940 → $24.30 in 1995

White Bread Inflation Calculator

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Prices for White Bread, 1940-1995 ($1.98)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for white bread were 1,127.10% higher in 1995 versus 1940 (a $22.32 difference in value).

The current national average price is $1.98 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 1940 and 1995: White bread experienced an average inflation rate of 4.66% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, white bread costing $1.98 in the year 1940 would cost $24.30 in 1995 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 4.44% during this same period, inflation for white bread was higher.

In the year 1940: Pricing changed by 2.57%, which is below the average yearly change for white bread during the 1940-1995 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1940 (0.72%), 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 (2024 dollars)
2024$1.98 (latest available value)$1.98
2023$1.96$1.96
2022$1.70$1.87
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$1.83
2015$1.44$1.92
2014$1.40$1.89
2013$1.41$1.89
2012$1.42$1.94
2011$1.44$2.03
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$1.98
1997$0.87$2.05
1996$0.88$2.13
1995$0.79$2.07
1994$0.76$2.07
1993$0.75$2.13
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$2.26
1985$0.55$2.26
1984$0.54$2.26
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 $1.98 since 1940

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for White bread, over time, for $1.98 beginning in 1940. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1940$1.982.57%
1941$1.990.57%
1942$2.136.86%
1943$2.130.05%
1944$2.11-0.74%
1945$2.120.11%
1946$2.5018.10%
1947$3.0120.61%
1948$3.3511.02%
1949$3.370.68%
1950$3.431.98%
1951$3.769.50%
1952$3.872.76%
1953$3.982.92%
1954$4.144.06%
1955$4.273.08%
1956$4.362.28%
1957$4.574.66%
1958$4.702.82%
1959$4.792.04%
1960$4.943.11%
1961$5.093.04%
1962$5.171.53%
1963$5.282.05%
1964$5.310.62%
1965$5.381.26%
1966$5.706.03%
1967$5.801.74%
1968$5.830.53%
1969$6.003.00%
1970$6.335.47%
1971$6.512.85%
1972$6.550.57%
1973$7.3512.17%
1974$9.1925.01%
1975$9.624.70%
1976$9.44-1.89%
1977$9.440.07%
1978$10.086.71%
1979$11.2811.93%
1980$12.6211.87%
1981$13.688.42%
1982$14.203.85%
1983$14.683.38%
1984$15.163.25%
1985$15.542.52%
1986$15.821.76%
1987$16.252.75%
1988$17.427.18%
1989$19.009.07%
1990$20.035.45%
1991$20.452.11%
1992$21.464.92%
1993$22.354.13%
1994$23.344.47%
1995$24.304.08%
1996$26.077.28%
1997$26.993.55%
1998$27.501.88%
1999$28.262.76%
2000$29.233.43%
2001$30.584.64%
2002$31.332.45%
2003$32.102.44%
2004$32.792.15%
2005$34.083.95%
2006$34.942.53%
2007$37.888.40%
2008$43.2014.06%
2009$43.731.21%
2010$42.85-2.00%
2011$45.045.11%
2012$46.292.78%
2013$47.211.99%
2014$46.94-0.58%
2015$47.521.24%
2016$47.43-0.20%
2017$47.490.13%
2018$47.550.13%
2019$48.983.00%
2020$51.084.29%
2021$51.661.13%
2022$57.5611.43%
2023$63.5710.43%
2024$63.42-0.23%*

* 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:

Year19391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI13.14613.48513.56214.49214.50014.39214.40817.01520.52322.78522.93823.39225.61526.32327.09228.19229.06229.72331.10831.98532.63833.65434.67735.20835.93136.15436.60838.81539.49239.70040.89243.13144.36244.61550.04662.56265.50064.26264.30868.62376.80885.92393.15496.738100.008103.254105.854107.715110.677118.623129.377136.423139.300146.154152.185158.985165.469177.523183.831187.285192.454199.054208.285213.392218.592223.300232.115237.985257.975294.237297.789291.831306.751315.273321.536319.665323.644322.998323.418323.829333.552347.861351.797392.017432.915431.937

Adjust white bread prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 1995 / CPI in 1940 * 1940 USD value = 1995 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for White bread was 13.485 in the year 1940 and 165.469 in 1995:

165.469 / 13.485 * $1.98 = $24.30

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1.98 in 1940 has the same "purchasing power" as $24.30 in 1995 (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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