White Bread Inflation by Year, 1955

White Bread Inflation Calculator

Prices for White Bread, 1955-2026 ($1.82)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for white bread are 1,434.48% higher in 2026 versus 1955 (a $26.11 difference in value).

The latest available average price is $1.823 in August 2026 for Bread, white, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.

The dollar amounts in this section illustrate the category CPI calculation; they are not a series of observed prices.

Between 1955 and 2026:White bread experienced an average inflation rate of 3.92% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, white bread costing $1.82 in the year 1955 would cost $27.93 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.61% during this same period, inflation for white bread was higher.

In the year 1955: Pricing changed by 3.10%, which is below the average yearly change for white bread during the 1955-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1955 (-0.28%), inflation for white bread was much higher.

Price Inflation for White bread since 1939

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1974 (25.01%), 1947 (20.62%), and 1946 (18.10%).

White bread price history

Bread, white, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm). U.S. city average. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics average prices, through August 2026.

These observed prices cover the specific product and unit above, which may be narrower than the white bread CPI category. Local prices vary.

● Average price paid● In 2026 dollars

Annual averages use the available monthly observations; 2026 is a partial year through August 2026. The latest monthly price above may differ from the annual average. Gaps are left blank.

Annual average prices for Bread, white, pan, per lb. (453.6 gm)
Year	Average price paid	In 2026 dollars
2026 (partial)	$1.832	$1.832
2025	$1.87	$1.944
2024	$1.97	$2.105
2023	$1.96	$2.155
2022	$1.70	$1.946
2021	$1.524	$1.883
2020	$1.452	$1.879
2019	$1.298	$1.70
2018	$1.286	$1.715
2017	$1.333	$1.821
2016	$1.371	$1.914
2015	$1.441	$2.037
2014	$1.401	$1.983
2013	$1.407	$2.023
2012	$1.418	$2.068
2011	$1.445	$2.151
2010	$1.373	$2.11
2009	$1.387	$2.166
2008	$1.366	$2.126
2007	$1.207	$1.951
2006	$1.081	$1.795
2005	$1.04	$1.784
2004	$0.969	$1.719
2003	$1.001	$1.822
2002	$1.016	$1.891
2001	$0.999	$1.89
2000	$0.93	$1.809
1999	$0.887	$1.784
1998	$0.86	$1.768
1997	$0.872	$1.82
1996	$0.876	$1.87
1995	$0.791	$1.739
1994	$0.761	$1.719
1993	$0.752	$1.743
1992	$0.75	$1.79
1991	$0.71	$1.746
1990	$0.695	$1.78
1989	$0.666	$1.798
1988	$0.613	$1.735
1987	$0.547	$1.614
1986	$0.565	$1.726
1985	$0.553	$1.722
1984	$0.541	$1.745
1983	$0.542	$1.821
1982	$0.532	$1.847
1981	$0.525	$1.935
1980	$0.509	$2.068

What did white bread cost in earlier years?

The 1990 annual average was $0.695. The August 2026 monthly price is 162.46% higher. Compare other prices in 1990.
The 2000 annual average was $0.93. The August 2026 monthly price is 95.99% higher. Compare other prices in 2000.
The 2010 annual average was $1.373. The August 2026 monthly price is 32.74% higher. Compare other prices in 2010.
The 2020 annual average was $1.452. The August 2026 monthly price is 25.58% higher. Compare other prices in 2020.

How are prices adjusted for inflation?

Price in 2026 dollars = observed annual price × (2026 all-items CPI ÷ that year's all-items CPI). This measures overall purchasing power using the U.S. inflation index; the latest CPI year may be incomplete.

Average prices describe price levels. Changes in the products and stores sampled can affect these averages; category CPI controls for such changes and can follow a different path. Read the BLS explanation of average prices versus indexes.

View price changes for other categories
Alcoholic beverages · Frankfurters · Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota · Bread · More

Buying power of $1.82 since 1955

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for White bread, over time, for $1.82 beginning in 1955. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1955	$1.82	3.10%
1956	$1.86	2.26%
1957	$1.95	4.65%
1958	$2.00	2.81%
1959	$2.04	2.06%
1960	$2.11	3.09%
1961	$2.17	3.05%
1962	$2.20	1.54%
1963	$2.25	2.06%
1964	$2.26	0.63%
1965	$2.29	1.24%
1966	$2.43	6.03%
1967	$2.47	1.74%
1968	$2.49	0.53%
1969	$2.56	3.00%
1970	$2.70	5.48%
1971	$2.78	2.84%
1972	$2.79	0.58%
1973	$3.13	12.16%
1974	$3.92	25.01%
1975	$4.10	4.70%
1976	$4.02	-1.90%
1977	$4.03	0.08%
1978	$4.30	6.71%
1979	$4.81	11.92%
1980	$5.38	11.87%
1981	$5.83	8.41%
1982	$6.06	3.86%
1983	$6.26	3.38%
1984	$6.46	3.24%
1985	$6.63	2.53%
1986	$6.74	1.76%
1987	$6.93	2.75%
1988	$7.43	7.18%
1989	$8.10	9.06%
1990	$8.54	5.45%
1991	$8.72	2.11%
1992	$9.15	4.92%
1993	$9.53	4.13%
1994	$9.95	4.47%
1995	$10.36	4.08%
1996	$11.12	7.29%
1997	$11.51	3.55%
1998	$11.73	1.88%
1999	$12.05	2.76%
2000	$12.46	3.43%
2001	$13.04	4.64%
2002	$13.36	2.45%
2003	$13.69	2.44%
2004	$13.98	2.15%
2005	$14.53	3.95%
2006	$14.90	2.53%
2007	$16.15	8.40%
2008	$18.42	14.06%
2009	$18.65	1.21%
2010	$18.27	-2.00%
2011	$19.21	5.11%
2012	$19.74	2.78%
2013	$20.13	1.99%
2014	$20.02	-0.58%
2015	$20.26	1.24%
2016	$20.22	-0.20%
2017	$20.25	0.13%
2018	$20.28	0.13%
2019	$20.89	3.00%
2020	$21.78	4.29%
2021	$22.03	1.13%
2022	$24.55	11.43%
2023	$27.11	10.43%
2024	$27.08	-0.11%
2025	$27.16	0.30%
2026	$27.93	2.82%*

* 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 White bread:

Year	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1948	1949	1950	1951	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	2026
CPI	13.142	13.483	13.558	14.492	14.500	14.392	14.408	17.017	20.525	22.783	22.942	23.392	25.617	26.325	27.092	28.192	29.067	29.725	31.108	31.983	32.642	33.650	34.675	35.208	35.933	36.158	36.608	38.817	39.492	39.700	40.892	43.133	44.358	44.617	50.042	62.558	65.500	64.258	64.308	68.625	76.808	85.925	93.150	96.742	100.008	103.250	105.858	107.717	110.675	118.625	129.375	136.425	139.300	146.150	152.183	158.983	165.467	177.525	183.833	187.283	192.450	199.050	208.283	213.392	218.592	223.300	232.117	237.983	257.975	294.237	297.789	291.831	306.751	315.273	321.536	319.665	323.644	322.998	323.417	323.829	333.552	347.861	351.797	392.017	432.915	432.452	433.769	446.021

Adjust white bread prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1955* 1955 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for White bread was 29.067 in the year 1955 and 446.021 in 2026:

446.021 / 29.067* $1.82 = $27.93

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1.82 in 1955 has the same "purchasing power" as $27.93 in 2026 (in the CPI category of White bread).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for White bread in 1939. In addition to white bread, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

In other countries:

White bread priced at $1.82 in 1955→$27.93 in 2026