Whiskey price inflation, 1952→2023

Whiskey Inflation Calculator

Prices for Whiskey, 1952-2023 ($7.42)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for whiskey at home are 281.29% higher in 2023 versus 1952 (a $20.87 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 2023: Whiskey experienced an average inflation rate of 1.90% per year. In other words, whiskey costing $7.42 in the year 1952 would cost $28.29 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.49% 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 (2023 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%
2022	$27.93	2.14%
2023	$28.29	1.31%*

* 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 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	2022	2023
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	217.917	220.766

Adjust whiskey prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 1952 * 1952 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Whiskey at home was 57.900 in the year 1952 and 220.766 in 2023:

220.766 / 57.900 * $7.42 = $28.29

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $7.42 in 1952 has the same "purchasing power" as $28.29 in 2023 (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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