According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for instant coffee are 639.80% higher in 2024 versus 1961 (a $127.96 difference in value).
Between 1961 and 2024: Instant coffee experienced an average inflation rate of 3.23% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, instant coffee costing $20 in the year 1961 would cost $147.96 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.78% during this same period, inflation for instant coffee was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Instant coffee, over time, for $20 beginning in 1961. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | $20.00 | - |
| 1962 | $19.50 | -2.49% |
| 1963 | $19.83 | 1.66% |
| 1964 | $23.05 | 16.26% |
| 1965 | $20.60 | -10.63% |
| 1966 | $19.74 | -4.17% |
| 1967 | $19.52 | -1.13% |
| 1968 | $19.85 | 1.68% |
| 1969 | $20.82 | 4.92% |
| 1970 | $23.33 | 12.02% |
| 1971 | $24.33 | 4.32% |
| 1972 | $24.22 | -0.48% |
| 1973 | $25.65 | 5.93% |
| 1974 | $30.79 | 20.01% |
| 1975 | $34.75 | 12.88% |
| 1976 | $44.36 | 27.65% |
| 1977 | $67.06 | 51.17% |
| 1978 | $70.58 | 5.24% |
| 1979 | $67.58 | -4.24% |
| 1980 | $73.40 | 8.61% |
| 1981 | $65.81 | -10.33% |
| 1982 | $67.07 | 1.90% |
| 1983 | $68.42 | 2.02% |
| 1984 | $71.32 | 4.24% |
| 1985 | $73.95 | 3.69% |
| 1986 | $89.50 | 21.02% |
| 1987 | $83.09 | -7.16% |
| 1988 | $81.15 | -2.34% |
| 1989 | $81.59 | 0.55% |
| 1990 | $81.26 | -0.41% |
| 1991 | $80.70 | -0.69% |
| 1992 | $79.01 | -2.10% |
| 1993 | $78.56 | -0.57% |
| 1994 | $92.73 | 18.05% |
| 1995 | $105.21 | 13.45% |
| 1996 | $101.70 | -3.33% |
| 1997 | $105.98 | 4.21% |
| 1998 | $106.29 | 0.28% |
| 1999 | $110.54 | 4.01% |
| 2000 | $110.40 | -0.13% |
| 2001 | $112.24 | 1.67% |
| 2002 | $112.95 | 0.63% |
| 2003 | $113.36 | 0.37% |
| 2004 | $114.52 | 1.02% |
| 2005 | $121.46 | 6.07% |
| 2006 | $123.32 | 1.53% |
| 2007 | $130.38 | 5.72% |
| 2008 | $141.10 | 8.22% |
| 2009 | $138.47 | -1.86% |
| 2010 | $137.20 | -0.92% |
| 2011 | $145.71 | 6.20% |
| 2012 | $147.77 | 1.41% |
| 2013 | $143.18 | -3.11% |
| 2014 | $141.46 | -1.20% |
| 2015 | $140.31 | -0.82% |
| 2016 | $136.00 | -3.07% |
| 2017 | $136.00 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | $129.61 | -4.70% |
| 2019 | $130.30 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | $128.47 | -1.40% |
| 2021 | $130.04 | 1.22% |
| 2022 | $144.10 | 10.82% |
| 2023 | $150.56 | 4.48% |
| 2024 | $147.96 | -1.72%* |
* 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 Instant coffee:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 29.014 | 28.292 | 28.762 | 33.438 | 29.885 | 28.638 | 28.315 | 28.792 | 30.208 | 33.838 | 35.300 | 35.131 | 37.215 | 44.662 | 50.415 | 64.354 | 97.285 | 102.385 | 98.038 | 106.477 | 95.477 | 97.292 | 99.262 | 103.469 | 107.285 | 129.838 | 120.546 | 117.723 | 118.369 | 117.885 | 117.077 | 114.615 | 113.962 | 134.531 | 152.623 | 147.538 | 153.754 | 154.190 | 160.367 | 160.154 | 162.831 | 163.854 | 164.454 | 166.131 | 176.208 | 178.908 | 189.145 | 204.694 | 200.884 | 199.038 | 211.388 | 214.372 | 207.707 | 205.218 | 203.545 | 197.301 | 197.304 | 188.031 | 189.023 | 186.379 | 188.645 | 209.055 | 218.413 | 214.648 |