According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for beer, ale, and other malt beverages at home are 619.60% higher in 2025 versus 1952 (a $123.92 difference in value).
Between 1952 and 2025: Beer, ale, and other malt beverages at home experienced an average inflation rate of 2.74% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, beer, ale, and other malt beverages at home costing $20 in the year 1952 would cost $143.92 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for beer, ale, and other malt beverages at home was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Beer, ale, and other malt beverages at home, over time, for $20 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 | $20.00 | - |
| 1953 | $20.25 | 1.24% |
| 1954 | $20.91 | 3.28% |
| 1955 | $20.76 | -0.74% |
| 1956 | $21.12 | 1.75% |
| 1957 | $21.50 | 1.82% |
| 1958 | $21.44 | -0.29% |
| 1959 | $21.63 | 0.87% |
| 1960 | $21.95 | 1.49% |
| 1961 | $21.98 | 0.14% |
| 1962 | $22.11 | 0.61% |
| 1963 | $22.31 | 0.89% |
| 1964 | $22.49 | 0.79% |
| 1965 | $22.71 | 1.00% |
| 1966 | $23.03 | 1.38% |
| 1967 | $23.48 | 1.98% |
| 1968 | $24.08 | 2.56% |
| 1969 | $24.70 | 2.56% |
| 1970 | $25.52 | 3.34% |
| 1971 | $26.45 | 3.64% |
| 1972 | $26.68 | 0.84% |
| 1973 | $27.07 | 1.49% |
| 1974 | $29.70 | 9.70% |
| 1975 | $32.87 | 10.67% |
| 1976 | $33.67 | 2.44% |
| 1977 | $34.18 | 1.50% |
| 1978 | $36.07 | 5.53% |
| 1979 | $39.84 | 10.45% |
| 1980 | $43.91 | 10.24% |
| 1981 | $47.09 | 7.22% |
| 1982 | $49.31 | 4.72% |
| 1983 | $52.16 | 5.78% |
| 1984 | $53.97 | 3.48% |
| 1985 | $55.32 | 2.49% |
| 1986 | $56.34 | 1.85% |
| 1987 | $57.44 | 1.95% |
| 1988 | $59.25 | 3.16% |
| 1989 | $61.24 | 3.36% |
| 1990 | $64.03 | 4.56% |
| 1991 | $71.72 | 12.01% |
| 1992 | $74.36 | 3.67% |
| 1993 | $74.20 | -0.21% |
| 1994 | $74.32 | 0.17% |
| 1995 | $74.55 | 0.31% |
| 1996 | $76.39 | 2.48% |
| 1997 | $76.77 | 0.49% |
| 1998 | $76.92 | 0.20% |
| 1999 | $78.71 | 2.33% |
| 2000 | $81.26 | 3.24% |
| 2001 | $83.28 | 2.48% |
| 2002 | $85.34 | 2.47% |
| 2003 | $87.31 | 2.30% |
| 2004 | $90.48 | 3.63% |
| 2005 | $91.38 | 1.00% |
| 2006 | $92.29 | 1.00% |
| 2007 | $95.40 | 3.37% |
| 2008 | $98.61 | 3.36% |
| 2009 | $102.30 | 3.75% |
| 2010 | $104.14 | 1.80% |
| 2011 | $105.64 | 1.43% |
| 2012 | $107.56 | 1.82% |
| 2013 | $109.36 | 1.68% |
| 2014 | $110.77 | 1.29% |
| 2015 | $111.41 | 0.58% |
| 2016 | $113.44 | 1.82% |
| 2017 | $115.50 | 1.82% |
| 2018 | $117.08 | 1.36% |
| 2019 | $119.23 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $123.35 | 3.45% |
| 2021 | $125.53 | 1.77% |
| 2022 | $131.79 | 4.99% |
| 2023 | $138.56 | 5.14% |
| 2024 | $142.70 | 2.99% |
| 2025 | $143.92 | 0.86%* |
* 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 Beer, ale, and other malt beverages 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 |
| CPI | 38.600 | 39.080 | 40.360 | 40.060 | 40.760 | 41.500 | 41.380 | 41.740 | 42.360 | 42.420 | 42.680 | 43.060 | 43.400 | 43.833 | 44.440 | 45.320 | 46.480 | 47.669 | 49.262 | 51.054 | 51.485 | 52.254 | 57.323 | 63.438 | 64.985 | 65.962 | 69.608 | 76.885 | 84.754 | 90.877 | 95.169 | 100.669 | 104.169 | 106.762 | 108.738 | 110.854 | 114.354 | 118.200 | 123.585 | 138.423 | 143.508 | 143.200 | 143.438 | 143.877 | 147.438 | 148.162 | 148.462 | 151.915 | 156.838 | 160.731 | 164.708 | 168.500 | 174.623 | 176.362 | 178.123 | 184.125 | 190.320 | 197.448 | 201.000 | 203.878 | 207.581 | 211.069 | 213.790 | 215.026 | 218.937 | 222.924 | 225.956 | 230.114 | 238.062 | 242.278 | 254.360 | 267.426 | 275.409 | 277.767 |