US Average Bread Price Adjusted for Inflation

Tracking inflation-adjusted bread prices reveals how consumer purchasing power has changed over time, providing a clearer picture of real price trends.

The prices in this page represent white bread sold by the pound (453.6 grams) in urban areas across the United States. This includes all white pre-packaged regular bread regardless of size, both frozen and fresh.

Adjusted prices are shown in "today’s dollars", meaning they are benchmarked to the purchasing power of February 2026 (our latest available CPI data baseline).

Key Takeaways
  • The latest average price for a pound of bread was $1.85, in February 2026.
  • In January 1980, the nominal price was $0.501, which is equivalent to $2.104 in today's dollars.
  • Since January 1980, the inflation-adjusted price has fallen 12.09%, an average decline of -0.28% per year.
  • The peak inflation-adjusted price was $2.2, reached in December 2008.

As one of America's fundamental dietary components, bread serves as a key economic indicator in consumer spending patterns and food price monitoring systems nationwide.

This historical data reveals how bread prices have changed over time due to factors such as wheat prices, production costs, market competition and consumer preferences.

Although nominal prices have risen steadily, inflation-adjusted values show that the real cost of bread has remained relatively stable, with only modest fluctuations over time.

Inflation-Adjusted Values by Month

By examining the inflation-adjusted price over time, consumers and analysts can better understand the underlying purchasing power cost of bread, separate from the general rise in the cost of living.

The following table provides a month-by-month breakdown.

Month Nominal Inflation-Adjusted
Feb 2026 1.85 1.85
Jan 2026 1.843 1.852
Dec 2025 1.833 1.848
Nov 2025 1.79 1.805
Sep 2025 1.867 1.878
Aug 2025 1.841 1.857
Jul 2025 1.851 1.872
Jun 2025 1.864 1.888
May 2025 1.876 1.907
Apr 2025 1.913 1.949
Mar 2025 1.88 1.921
Feb 2025 1.925 1.971
Jan 2025 1.925 1.98
Dec 2024 1.912 1.98
Nov 2024 1.916 1.985
Oct 2024 1.937 2.005
Sep 2024 1.976 2.048
Aug 2024 1.951 2.025
Jul 2024 1.975 2.052
Jun 2024 1.973 2.052
May 2024 1.971 2.051
Apr 2024 1.998 2.082
Mar 2024 1.997 2.089
Feb 2024 2.006 2.112
Jan 2024 2.033 2.154
Dec 2023 2.024 2.156
Nov 2023 1.976 2.103
Oct 2023 2.002 2.126
Sep 2023 1.972 2.094
Aug 2023 1.97 2.097
Jul 2023 1.98 2.117
Jun 2023 1.937 2.075
May 2023 1.951 2.096
Apr 2023 1.989 2.143
Mar 2023 1.936 2.096
Feb 2023 1.896 2.06
Jan 2023 1.888 2.062
Dec 2022 1.873 2.062
Nov 2022 1.847 2.027
Oct 2022 1.814 1.989
Sep 2022 1.749 1.926
Aug 2022 1.756 1.938
Jul 2022 1.715 1.892
Jun 2022 1.691 1.865
May 2022 1.606 1.795
Apr 2022 1.612 1.822
Mar 2022 1.607 1.827
Feb 2022 1.578 1.818
Jan 2022 1.555 1.807
Dec 2021 1.532 1.796
Nov 2021 1.547 1.819
Oct 2021 1.526 1.803
Sep 2021 1.58 1.882
Aug 2021 1.467 1.752
Jul 2021 1.491 1.785
Jun 2021 1.51 1.816
May 2021 1.511 1.834
Apr 2021 1.51 1.848
Mar 2021 1.526 1.883
Feb 2021 1.537 1.91
Jan 2021 1.546 1.931
Dec 2020 1.538 1.93
Nov 2020 1.515 1.902
Oct 2020 1.503 1.886
Sep 2020 1.492 1.873
Aug 2020 1.495 1.88
Jul 2020 1.485 1.873
Jun 2020 1.474 1.868
May 2020 1.412 1.8
Apr 2020 1.406 1.792
Mar 2020 1.374 1.74
Feb 2020 1.375 1.737
Jan 2020 1.351 1.711
Dec 2019 1.363 1.733
Nov 2019 1.361 1.729
Oct 2019 1.325 1.683
Sep 2019 1.296 1.649
Aug 2019 1.275 1.624
Jul 2019 1.281 1.632
Jun 2019 1.28 1.633
May 2019 1.289 1.645
Apr 2019 1.285 1.643
Mar 2019 1.261 1.621
Feb 2019 1.282 1.657
Jan 2019 1.274 1.654
Dec 2018 1.29 1.678
Nov 2018 1.274 1.652
Oct 2018 1.277 1.65
Sep 2018 1.288 1.667
Aug 2018 1.302 1.687
Jul 2018 1.293 1.677
Jun 2018 1.279 1.659
May 2018 1.293 1.679
Apr 2018 1.281 1.671
Mar 2018 1.309 1.714
Feb 2018 1.265 1.66
Jan 2018 1.281 1.689
Dec 2017 1.316 1.744
Nov 2017 1.295 1.716
Oct 2017 1.328 1.759
Sep 2017 1.349 1.786
Aug 2017 1.348 1.794
Jul 2017 1.327 1.772
Jun 2017 1.335 1.781
May 2017 1.327 1.772
Apr 2017 1.328 1.775
Mar 2017 1.329 1.781
Feb 2017 1.358 1.822
Jan 2017 1.351 1.818
Dec 2016 1.362 1.844
Nov 2016 1.362 1.844
Oct 2016 1.343 1.816
Sep 2016 1.329 1.799
Aug 2016 1.341 1.819
Jul 2016 1.349 1.832
Jun 2016 1.333 1.807
May 2016 1.382 1.88
Apr 2016 1.406 1.92
Mar 2016 1.416 1.943
Feb 2016 1.407 1.939
Jan 2016 1.425 1.966
Dec 2015 1.428 1.973
Nov 2015 1.409 1.94
Oct 2015 1.418 1.948
Sep 2015 1.432 1.967
Aug 2015 1.42 1.947
Jul 2015 1.447 1.981
Jun 2015 1.467 2.009
May 2015 1.463 2.01
Apr 2015 1.454 2.008
Mar 2015 1.44 1.993
Feb 2015 1.435 1.998
Jan 2015 1.479 2.068
Dec 2014 1.466 2.04
Nov 2014 1.42 1.965
Oct 2014 1.414 1.946
Sep 2014 1.405 1.929
Aug 2014 1.396 1.918
Jul 2014 1.413 1.938
Jun 2014 1.4 1.919
May 2014 1.401 1.924
Apr 2014 1.388 1.913
Mar 2014 1.359 1.879
Feb 2014 1.388 1.932
Jan 2014 1.365 1.907
Dec 2013 1.385 1.942
Nov 2013 1.382 1.938
Oct 2013 1.358 1.9
Sep 2013 1.419 1.98
Aug 2013 1.408 1.967
Jul 2013 1.434 2.006
Jun 2013 1.439 2.014
May 2013 1.401 1.965
Apr 2013 1.409 1.98
Mar 2013 1.412 1.982
Feb 2013 1.411 1.986
Jan 2013 1.422 2.018
Dec 2012 1.436 2.044
Nov 2012 1.418 2.013
Oct 2012 1.422 2.009
Sep 2012 1.401 1.978
Aug 2012 1.407 1.996
Jul 2012 1.427 2.035
Jun 2012 1.403 1.998
May 2012 1.412 2.008
Apr 2012 1.426 2.025
Mar 2012 1.395 1.987
Feb 2012 1.442 2.07
Jan 2012 1.423 2.052
Dec 2011 1.42 2.056
Nov 2011 1.399 2.021
Oct 2011 1.457 2.103
Sep 2011 1.477 2.127
Aug 2011 1.474 2.126
Jul 2011 1.513 2.188
Jun 2011 1.49 2.157
May 2011 1.472 2.129
Apr 2011 1.42 2.063
Mar 2011 1.415 2.069
Feb 2011 1.398 2.064
Jan 2011 1.401 2.079
Dec 2010 1.386 2.066
Nov 2010 1.375 2.054
Oct 2010 1.407 2.102
Sep 2010 1.386 2.073
Aug 2010 1.372 2.054
Jul 2010 1.36 2.039
Jun 2010 1.383 2.073
May 2010 1.359 2.035
Apr 2010 1.363 2.043
Mar 2010 1.368 2.054
Feb 2010 1.361 2.052
Jan 2010 1.36 2.051
Dec 2009 1.39 2.103
Nov 2009 1.373 2.074
Oct 2009 1.392 2.104
Sep 2009 1.34 2.028
Aug 2009 1.375 2.082
Jul 2009 1.391 2.111
Jun 2009 1.385 2.098
May 2009 1.413 2.159
Apr 2009 1.395 2.138
Mar 2009 1.41 2.166
Feb 2009 1.404 2.162
Jan 2009 1.381 2.137
Dec 2008 1.415 2.2
Nov 2008 1.377 2.118
Oct 2008 1.393 2.102
Sep 2008 1.379 2.06
Aug 2008 1.381 2.06
Jul 2008 1.384 2.056
Jun 2008 1.373 2.05
May 2008 1.37 2.067
Apr 2008 1.373 2.089
Mar 2008 1.35 2.066
Feb 2008 1.321 2.039
Jan 2008 1.281 1.983
Dec 2007 1.28 1.991
Nov 2007 1.235 1.92
Oct 2007 1.274 1.993
Sep 2007 1.212 1.9
Aug 2007 1.21 1.902
Jul 2007 1.209 1.897
Jun 2007 1.193 1.871
May 2007 1.192 1.873
Apr 2007 1.201 1.899
Mar 2007 1.161 1.848
Feb 2007 1.168 1.876
Jan 2007 1.153 1.861
Dec 2006 1.137 1.841
Nov 2006 1.143 1.854
Oct 2006 1.097 1.776
Sep 2006 1.083 1.744
Aug 2006 1.088 1.744
Jul 2006 1.071 1.72
Jun 2006 1.074 1.73
May 2006 1.086 1.753
Apr 2006 1.072 1.739
Mar 2006 1.04 1.701
Feb 2006 1.029 1.692
Jan 2006 1.046 1.724
Dec 2005 1.046 1.737
Nov 2005 1.055 1.745
Oct 2005 1.043 1.711
Sep 2005 1.052 1.729
Aug 2005 1.06 1.764
Jul 2005 1.067 1.784
Jun 2005 1.09 1.831
May 2005 1.086 1.826
Apr 2005 1.004 1.686
Mar 2005 1.002 1.694
Feb 2005 0.982 1.673
Jan 2005 0.997 1.708
Dec 2004 0.97 1.666
Nov 2004 0.976 1.67
Oct 2004 0.972 1.664
Sep 2004 0.985 1.695
Aug 2004 0.996 1.718
Jul 2004 0.985 1.699
Jun 2004 0.979 1.686
May 2004 0.96 1.659
Apr 2004 0.974 1.693
Mar 2004 0.947 1.651
Feb 2004 0.943 1.655
Jan 2004 0.946 1.669
Dec 2003 0.954 1.692
Nov 2003 0.953 1.688
Oct 2003 0.969 1.712
Sep 2003 0.994 1.754
Aug 2003 0.996 1.763
Jul 2003 1.002 1.781
Jun 2003 0.961 1.71
May 2003 1.001 1.783
Apr 2003 1.047 1.862
Mar 2003 1.042 1.849
Feb 2003 1.048 1.87
Jan 2003 1.042 1.874
Dec 2002 1.026 1.853
Nov 2002 1.054 1.9
Oct 2002 1.015 1.829
Sep 2002 1.016 1.834
Aug 2002 1.012 1.83
Jul 2002 1.015 1.842
Jun 2002 1.011 1.836
May 2002 1.012 1.839
Apr 2002 1.005 1.827
Mar 2002 1.012 1.85
Feb 2002 1.008 1.853
Jan 2002 1.001 1.847
Dec 2001 1.005 1.859
Nov 2001 1.012 1.864
Oct 2001 1.01 1.857
Sep 2001 0.996 1.825
Aug 2001 0.991 1.824
Jul 2001 0.987 1.817
Jun 2001 0.989 1.816
May 2001 0.995 1.83
Apr 2001 1.008 1.862
Mar 2001 1.02 1.892
Feb 2001 0.994 1.848
Jan 2001 0.982 1.833
Dec 2000 0.987 1.854
Nov 2000 0.953 1.789
Oct 2000 0.934 1.754
Sep 2000 0.918 1.727
Aug 2000 0.923 1.746
Jul 2000 0.935 1.768
Jun 2000 0.915 1.734
May 2000 0.915 1.743
Apr 2000 0.927 1.768
Mar 2000 0.924 1.764
Feb 2000 0.924 1.778
Jan 2000 0.907 1.756
Dec 1999 0.899 1.746
Nov 1999 0.899 1.746
Oct 1999 0.889 1.727
Sep 1999 0.878 1.709
Aug 1999 0.884 1.729
Jul 1999 0.893 1.751
Jun 1999 0.885 1.74
May 1999 0.886 1.742
Apr 1999 0.897 1.764
Mar 1999 0.883 1.749
Feb 1999 0.88 1.748
Jan 1999 0.872 1.734
Dec 1998 0.866 1.727
Nov 1998 0.855 1.704
Oct 1998 0.849 1.692
Sep 1998 0.86 1.718
Aug 1998 0.869 1.738
Jul 1998 0.867 1.736
Jun 1998 0.859 1.722
May 1998 0.866 1.738
Apr 1998 0.863 1.735
Mar 1998 0.853 1.719
Feb 1998 0.86 1.736
Jan 1998 0.855 1.729
Dec 1997 0.884 1.791
Nov 1997 0.897 1.815
Oct 1997 0.899 1.818
Sep 1997 0.885 1.794
Aug 1997 0.872 1.772
Jul 1997 0.872 1.775
Jun 1997 0.874 1.782
May 1997 0.854 1.743
Apr 1997 0.855 1.744
Mar 1997 0.855 1.746
Feb 1997 0.858 1.757
Jan 1997 0.862 1.771
Dec 1996 0.875 1.803
Nov 1996 0.88 1.813
Oct 1996 0.873 1.802
Sep 1996 0.886 1.835
Aug 1996 0.915 1.901
Jul 1996 0.889 1.85
Jun 1996 0.886 1.848
May 1996 0.869 1.813
Apr 1996 0.865 1.809
Mar 1996 0.852 1.788
Feb 1996 0.858 1.81
Jan 1996 0.86 1.82
Dec 1995 0.837 1.782
Nov 1995 0.821 1.747
Oct 1995 0.809 1.72
Sep 1995 0.808 1.724
Aug 1995 0.797 1.703
Jul 1995 0.789 1.691
Jun 1995 0.781 1.674
May 1995 0.768 1.649
Apr 1995 0.776 1.669
Mar 1995 0.775 1.673
Feb 1995 0.767 1.661
Jan 1995 0.767 1.668
Dec 1994 0.748 1.633
Nov 1994 0.766 1.672
Oct 1994 0.756 1.653
Sep 1994 0.776 1.697
Aug 1994 0.753 1.651
Jul 1994 0.759 1.671
Jun 1994 0.761 1.68
May 1994 0.765 1.695
Apr 1994 0.765 1.696
Mar 1994 0.755 1.676
Feb 1994 0.756 1.684
Jan 1994 0.768 1.717
Dec 1993 0.76 1.703
Nov 1993 0.771 1.728
Oct 1993 0.75 1.682
Sep 1993 0.748 1.685
Aug 1993 0.745 1.681
Jul 1993 0.762 1.724
Jun 1993 0.752 1.702
May 1993 0.752 1.704
Apr 1993 0.744 1.688
Mar 1993 0.742 1.689
Feb 1993 0.751 1.715
Jan 1993 0.748 1.714
Dec 1992 0.738 1.7
Nov 1992 0.747 1.719
Oct 1992 0.752 1.733
Sep 1992 0.756 1.748
Aug 1992 0.776 1.8
Jul 1992 0.771 1.793
Jun 1992 0.757 1.764
May 1992 0.752 1.759
Apr 1992 0.746 1.748
Mar 1992 0.747 1.752
Feb 1992 0.73 1.721
Jan 1992 0.726 1.718
Dec 1991 0.717 1.699
Nov 1991 0.731 1.734
Oct 1991 0.72 1.712
Sep 1991 0.717 1.708
Aug 1991 0.714 1.708
Jul 1991 0.7 1.68
Jun 1991 0.705 1.694
May 1991 0.705 1.699
Apr 1991 0.701 1.694
Mar 1991 0.702 1.699
Feb 1991 0.701 1.699
Jan 1991 0.705 1.712
Dec 1990 0.7 1.71
Nov 1990 0.71 1.734
Oct 1990 0.706 1.728
Sep 1990 0.7 1.724
Aug 1990 0.713 1.77
Jul 1990 0.685 1.717
Jun 1990 0.687 1.728
May 1990 0.678 1.715
Apr 1990 0.686 1.739
Mar 1990 0.68 1.727
Feb 1990 0.701 1.79
Jan 1990 0.689 1.767
Dec 1989 0.688 1.783
Nov 1989 0.676 1.755
Oct 1989 0.674 1.754
Sep 1989 0.671 1.754
Aug 1989 0.674 1.768
Jul 1989 0.671 1.763
Jun 1989 0.664 1.748
May 1989 0.655 1.729
Apr 1989 0.655 1.739
Mar 1989 0.654 1.747
Feb 1989 0.652 1.752
Jan 1989 0.653 1.762
Dec 1988 0.657 1.782
Nov 1988 0.645 1.752
Oct 1988 0.642 1.745
Sep 1988 0.636 1.735
Aug 1988 0.619 1.7
Jul 1988 0.602 1.66
Jun 1988 0.601 1.664
May 1988 0.598 1.663
Apr 1988 0.595 1.66
Mar 1988 0.587 1.647
Feb 1988 0.586 1.651
Jan 1988 0.586 1.655
Dec 1987 0.571 1.617
Nov 1987 0.559 1.583
Oct 1987 0.559 1.584
Sep 1987 0.551 1.566
Aug 1987 0.546 1.56
Jul 1987 0.544 1.562
Jun 1987 0.533 1.535
May 1987 0.54 1.56
Apr 1987 0.542 1.572
Mar 1987 0.541 1.577
Feb 1987 0.539 1.578
Jan 1987 0.544 1.599
Dec 1986 0.566 1.674
Nov 1986 0.564 1.669
Oct 1986 0.565 1.674
Sep 1986 0.566 1.678
Aug 1986 0.57 1.698
Jul 1986 0.564 1.683
Jun 1986 0.569 1.698
May 1986 0.562 1.686
Apr 1986 0.561 1.688
Mar 1986 0.56 1.682
Feb 1986 0.563 1.683
Jan 1986 0.566 1.688
Dec 1985 0.568 1.698
Nov 1985 0.564 1.691
Oct 1985 0.566 1.702
Sep 1985 0.561 1.693
Aug 1985 0.553 1.673
Jul 1985 0.556 1.685
Jun 1985 0.546 1.658
May 1985 0.542 1.651
Apr 1985 0.544 1.663
Mar 1985 0.544 1.671
Feb 1985 0.544 1.677
Jan 1985 0.551 1.707
Dec 1984 0.544 1.688
Nov 1984 0.543 1.685
Oct 1984 0.54 1.676
Sep 1984 0.539 1.677
Aug 1984 0.543 1.698
Jul 1984 0.541 1.698
Jun 1984 0.542 1.708
May 1984 0.541 1.71
Apr 1984 0.536 1.699
Mar 1984 0.542 1.726
Feb 1984 0.541 1.726
Jan 1984 0.543 1.741
Dec 1983 0.547 1.765
Nov 1983 0.547 1.766
Oct 1983 0.535 1.731
Sep 1983 0.536 1.739
Aug 1983 0.539 1.758
Jul 1983 0.544 1.779
Jun 1983 0.542 1.78
May 1983 0.542 1.785
Apr 1983 0.538 1.783
Mar 1983 0.544 1.816
Feb 1983 0.544 1.816
Jan 1983 0.541 1.808
Dec 1982 0.537 1.798
Nov 1982 0.534 1.781
Oct 1982 0.534 1.777
Sep 1982 0.536 1.789
Aug 1982 0.534 1.786
Jul 1982 0.534 1.79
Jun 1982 0.525 1.769
May 1982 0.529 1.804
Apr 1982 0.526 1.811
Mar 1982 0.526 1.819
Feb 1982 0.534 1.845
Jan 1982 0.537 1.861
Dec 1981 0.521 1.811
Nov 1981 0.527 1.838
Oct 1981 0.521 1.823
Sep 1981 0.524 1.837
Aug 1981 0.519 1.838
Jul 1981 0.521 1.859
Jun 1981 0.523 1.886
May 1981 0.525 1.91
Apr 1981 0.519 1.903
Mar 1981 0.538 1.987
Feb 1981 0.533 1.982
Jan 1981 0.531 1.995
Dec 1980 0.519 1.965
Nov 1980 0.519 1.984
Oct 1980 0.514 1.981
Sep 1980 0.511 1.988
Aug 1980 0.507 1.989
Jul 1980 0.511 2.019
Jun 1980 0.503 1.988
May 1980 0.504 2.013
Apr 1980 0.507 2.045
Mar 1980 0.502 2.048
Feb 1980 0.507 2.1
Jan 1980 0.501 2.104

About the Data

Price data is collected and published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on a monthly basis. The US Average Bread Price represents the average cost of a pound of white, pan bread in urban areas across the United States.

We have adjusted these prices for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). While a specific CPI for "Food" exists, using the broader CPI-U allows us to compare bread prices against the overall cost of goods and services typically purchased by households, revealing whether bread has become relatively more or less expensive compared to general inflation over time.

This data allows consumers and policymakers to understand trends in staple food prices and their impact on household budgets. By adjusting for inflation, this page provides insights into the real cost of bread over time, helping users make informed decisions and conduct meaningful analyses.