Whiskey priced at $7.42 in 1952 → $27.34 in 2021

Whiskey Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Whiskey, 1952-2021 ($7.42)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for whiskey at home are 268.49% higher in 2021 versus 1952 (a $19.92 difference in value).

The current national average price is $7.42 for "Bourbon whiskey, 375 ml-1.75 liter (cost per 25.4 ounces/750 ml)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1952 and 2021: Whiskey experienced an average inflation rate of 1.91% per year. In other words, whiskey costing $7.42 in the year 1952 would cost $27.34 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.42% during this same period, inflation for whiskey was lower.

Price Inflation for Whiskey at home since 1952

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1991 (10.16%), 1986 (7.13%), and 1980 (6.27%).

Price history

The average price for Whiskey 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 Bourbon whiskey, 375 ml-1.75 liter (cost per 25.4 ounces/750 ml):

Year Average price (Whiskey) Inflation adjusted price (2021 dollars)
1986 $7.40 $7.32
1985 $7.22 $7.22
View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $7.42 since 1952

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Whiskey, over time, for $7.42 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 $7.42 -
1953 $7.44 0.24%
1954 $7.47 0.41%
1955 $7.51 0.62%
1956 $7.58 0.92%
1957 $7.87 3.75%
1958 $7.86 -0.10%
1959 $7.98 1.57%
1960 $8.09 1.28%
1961 $8.14 0.60%
1962 $8.16 0.35%
1963 $8.26 1.19%
1964 $8.29 0.32%
1965 $8.32 0.41%
1966 $8.37 0.60%
1967 $8.47 1.22%
1968 $8.59 1.33%
1969 $8.68 1.08%
1970 $8.89 2.42%
1971 $9.00 1.30%
1972 $9.19 2.11%
1973 $9.24 0.51%
1974 $9.38 1.54%
1975 $9.66 2.93%
1976 $9.81 1.61%
1977 $9.95 1.34%
1978 $10.35 4.09%
1979 $10.78 4.11%
1980 $11.45 6.27%
1981 $12.10 5.67%
1982 $12.57 3.88%
1983 $12.86 2.27%
1984 $13.01 1.19%
1985 $13.45 3.33%
1986 $14.40 7.13%
1987 $14.56 1.12%
1988 $14.73 1.12%
1989 $15.19 3.10%
1990 $15.99 5.28%
1991 $17.61 10.16%
1992 $17.86 1.40%
1993 $18.18 1.79%
1994 $18.33 0.84%
1995 $18.58 1.34%
1996 $18.87 1.58%
1997 $19.32 2.38%
1998 $19.50 0.93%
1999 $19.93 2.22%
2000 $20.40 2.34%
2001 $21.01 3.00%
2002 $21.47 2.19%
2003 $21.91 2.04%
2004 $22.30 1.76%
2005 $22.63 1.48%
2006 $23.16 2.34%
2007 $23.66 2.16%
2008 $24.10 1.86%
2009 $25.00 3.75%
2010 $25.10 0.42%
2011 $25.20 0.39%
2012 $25.50 1.20%
2013 $25.96 1.78%
2014 $26.46 1.95%
2015 $26.55 0.34%
2016 $26.62 0.23%
2017 $26.55 -0.24%
2018 $26.08 -1.78%
2019 $26.54 1.78%
2020 $26.79 0.95%
2021 $27.34 2.04%*
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Whiskey 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
CPI 57.900 58.040 58.280 58.640 59.180 61.400 61.340 62.300 63.100 63.480 63.700 64.460 64.667 64.933 65.320 66.120 67.000 67.723 69.362 70.262 71.746 72.115 73.223 75.369 76.585 77.608 80.785 84.108 89.385 94.454 98.115 100.346 101.538 104.915 112.400 113.654 114.931 118.492 124.754 137.431 139.362 141.862 143.054 144.969 147.262 150.762 152.162 155.538 159.185 163.962 167.554 170.969 173.985 176.562 180.700 184.606 188.032 195.077 195.893 196.657 199.015 202.563 206.510 207.209 207.684 207.185 203.498 207.124 209.085 213.358

Adjust whiskey prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2021 / CPI in 1952 * 1952 USD value = 2021 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Whiskey at home was 57.900 in the year 1952 and 213.358 in 2021:

213.358 / 57.900 * $7.42 = $27.34

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $7.42 in 1952 has the same "purchasing power" as $27.34 in 2021 (in the CPI category of Whiskey at home).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Whiskey at home in 1952. In addition to whiskey, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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