According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for alcoholic beverages are 428.72% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $42.87 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $1.879 in August 2026 for Malt beverages, all types, all sizes, any origin, per 16 oz. (473.2 ml). See observed price history.
The dollar amounts in this section illustrate the category CPI calculation; they are not a series of observed prices.
Between 1973 and 2026:Alcohol experienced an average inflation rate of 3.19% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, alcohol costing $10 in the year 1973 would cost $52.87 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for alcohol was lower.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 2.48%, which is below the average yearly change for alcohol during the 1973-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for alcohol was much lower.
Malt beverages, all types, all sizes, any origin, per 16 oz. (473.2 ml). U.S. city average. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics average prices, through August 2026.
These observed prices cover the specific product and unit above, which may be narrower than the alcohol CPI category. Local prices vary.
● Average price paid● In 2026 dollars
Annual averages use the available monthly observations; 2026 is a partial year through August 2026. The latest monthly price above may differ from the annual average. Gaps are left blank.
| Year | Average price paid | In 2026 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | $1.864 | $1.864 |
| 2025 | $1.829 | $1.902 |
| 2024 | $1.78 | $1.902 |
| 2023 | $1.743 | $1.916 |
| 2022 | $1.657 | $1.897 |
| 2021 | $1.527 | $1.888 |
| 2020 | $1.483 | $1.92 |
| 2019 | $1.437 | $1.883 |
| 2018 | $1.413 | $1.884 |
| 2017 | $1.387 | $1.896 |
| 2016 | $1.354 | $1.889 |
| 2015 | $1.316 | $1.86 |
| 2014 | $1.283 | $1.815 |
| 2013 | $1.28 | $1.841 |
| 2012 | $1.253 | $1.828 |
| 2011 | $1.245 | $1.854 |
| 2010 | $1.233 | $1.894 |
| 2009 | $1.206 | $1.883 |
| 2008 | $1.162 | $1.807 |
| 2007 | $1.123 | $1.815 |
| 2006 | $1.112 | $1.847 |
| 2005 | $1.086 | $1.863 |
| 2004 | $1.066 | $1.889 |
| 2003 | $1.013 | $1.845 |
| 2002 | $0.992 | $1.847 |
| 2001 | $0.955 | $1.807 |
| 2000 | $0.918 | $1.786 |
| 1999 | $0.878 | $1.765 |
| 1998 | $0.861 | $1.77 |
| 1997 | $0.844 | $1.762 |
| 1996 | $0.836 | $1.785 |
| 1995 | $0.811 | $1.783 |
Price in 2026 dollars = observed annual price × (2026 all-items CPI ÷ that year's all-items CPI). This measures overall purchasing power using the U.S. inflation index; the latest CPI year may be incomplete.
Average prices describe price levels. Changes in the products and stores sampled can affect these averages; category CPI controls for such changes and can follow a different path. Read the BLS explanation of average prices versus indexes.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Alcohol, over time, for $10 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | $10.00 | 2.48% |
| 1974 | $10.76 | 7.63% |
| 1975 | $11.60 | 7.76% |
| 1976 | $11.98 | 3.33% |
| 1977 | $12.32 | 2.79% |
| 1978 | $13.04 | 5.87% |
| 1979 | $14.07 | 7.86% |
| 1980 | $15.21 | 8.09% |
| 1981 | $16.29 | 7.11% |
| 1982 | $17.02 | 4.49% |
| 1983 | $17.67 | 3.85% |
| 1984 | $18.13 | 2.57% |
| 1985 | $18.73 | 3.33% |
| 1986 | $19.57 | 4.46% |
| 1987 | $20.09 | 2.65% |
| 1988 | $20.87 | 3.92% |
| 1989 | $21.74 | 4.15% |
| 1990 | $22.76 | 4.68% |
| 1991 | $25.14 | 10.47% |
| 1992 | $25.93 | 3.13% |
| 1993 | $26.34 | 1.61% |
| 1994 | $26.67 | 1.24% |
| 1995 | $27.10 | 1.59% |
| 1996 | $27.91 | 3.00% |
| 1997 | $28.66 | 2.71% |
| 1998 | $29.18 | 1.79% |
| 1999 | $29.88 | 2.40% |
| 2000 | $30.75 | 2.91% |
| 2001 | $31.56 | 2.65% |
| 2002 | $32.32 | 2.41% |
| 2003 | $32.95 | 1.95% |
| 2004 | $33.83 | 2.65% |
| 2005 | $34.49 | 1.97% |
| 2006 | $35.34 | 2.45% |
| 2007 | $36.45 | 3.14% |
| 2008 | $37.76 | 3.60% |
| 2009 | $38.86 | 2.92% |
| 2010 | $39.31 | 1.15% |
| 2011 | $39.91 | 1.52% |
| 2012 | $40.63 | 1.82% |
| 2013 | $41.31 | 1.66% |
| 2014 | $41.78 | 1.14% |
| 2015 | $42.17 | 0.94% |
| 2016 | $42.70 | 1.25% |
| 2017 | $43.21 | 1.19% |
| 2018 | $43.86 | 1.51% |
| 2019 | $44.46 | 1.37% |
| 2020 | $45.29 | 1.86% |
| 2021 | $46.27 | 2.17% |
| 2022 | $48.23 | 4.24% |
| 2023 | $50.25 | 4.18% |
| 2024 | $51.20 | 1.89% |
| 2025 | $52.08 | 1.72% |
| 2026 | $52.87 | 1.53%* |
* 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 39.400 | 39.533 | 40.575 | 40.408 | 40.858 | 41.975 | 42.017 | 42.342 | 43.033 | 43.208 | 43.367 | 43.775 | 44.117 | 44.417 | 45.367 | 46.375 | 48.025 | 49.700 | 52.058 | 54.175 | 55.425 | 56.800 | 61.133 | 65.875 | 68.067 | 69.967 | 74.075 | 79.900 | 86.367 | 92.508 | 96.658 | 100.375 | 102.958 | 106.383 | 111.133 | 114.083 | 118.550 | 123.475 | 129.250 | 142.783 | 147.258 | 149.633 | 151.492 | 153.900 | 158.517 | 162.817 | 165.733 | 169.708 | 174.650 | 179.283 | 183.600 | 187.175 | 192.133 | 195.925 | 200.717 | 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 | 295.797 | 300.311 |