According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for cheese and related products were 234.82% higher in 2020 versus 1978 (a $46.96 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2020: Cheese and related products experienced an average inflation rate of 2.92% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, cheese and related products costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $66.96 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.33% during this same period, inflation for cheese and related products was lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Cheese and related products:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 71.750 | 80.625 | 88.708 | 96.092 | 98.533 | 100.158 | 101.308 | 103.217 | 103.558 | 105.942 | 109.242 | 117.558 | 131.175 | 132.808 | 135.467 | 135.325 | 136.442 | 137.858 | 144.650 | 147.700 | 152.242 | 162.633 | 162.783 | 167.583 | 170.008 | 169.375 | 180.775 | 183.292 | 180.800 | 191.521 | 214.578 | 203.428 | 204.842 | 217.522 | 222.398 | 221.923 | 234.051 | 233.634 | 227.960 | 228.493 | 229.246 | 228.663 | 240.235 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cheese and related products, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | - |
| 1979 | $22.47 | 12.37% |
| 1980 | $24.73 | 10.03% |
| 1981 | $26.79 | 8.32% |
| 1982 | $27.47 | 2.54% |
| 1983 | $27.92 | 1.65% |
| 1984 | $28.24 | 1.15% |
| 1985 | $28.77 | 1.88% |
| 1986 | $28.87 | 0.33% |
| 1987 | $29.53 | 2.30% |
| 1988 | $30.45 | 3.11% |
| 1989 | $32.77 | 7.61% |
| 1990 | $36.56 | 11.58% |
| 1991 | $37.02 | 1.25% |
| 1992 | $37.76 | 2.00% |
| 1993 | $37.72 | -0.10% |
| 1994 | $38.03 | 0.83% |
| 1995 | $38.43 | 1.04% |
| 1996 | $40.32 | 4.93% |
| 1997 | $41.17 | 2.11% |
| 1998 | $42.44 | 3.07% |
| 1999 | $45.33 | 6.83% |
| 2000 | $45.38 | 0.09% |
| 2001 | $46.71 | 2.95% |
| 2002 | $47.39 | 1.45% |
| 2003 | $47.21 | -0.37% |
| 2004 | $50.39 | 6.73% |
| 2005 | $51.09 | 1.39% |
| 2006 | $50.40 | -1.36% |
| 2007 | $53.39 | 5.93% |
| 2008 | $59.81 | 12.04% |
| 2009 | $56.70 | -5.20% |
| 2010 | $57.10 | 0.70% |
| 2011 | $60.63 | 6.19% |
| 2012 | $61.99 | 2.24% |
| 2013 | $61.86 | -0.21% |
| 2014 | $65.24 | 5.46% |
| 2015 | $65.12 | -0.18% |
| 2016 | $63.54 | -2.43% |
| 2017 | $63.69 | 0.23% |
| 2018 | $63.90 | 0.33% |
| 2019 | $63.74 | -0.25% |
| 2020 | $66.96 | 5.06%* |