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 March 2026 (our latest available CPI data baseline).

Key Takeaways
  • The latest average price for a pound of bread was $1.808, in March 2026.
  • In January 1980, the nominal price was $0.501, which is equivalent to $2.126 in today's dollars.
  • Since January 1980, the inflation-adjusted price has fallen 14.98%, an average decline of -0.35% per year.
  • The peak inflation-adjusted price was $2.223, 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
Mar 2026 1.808 1.808
Feb 2026 1.85 1.869
Jan 2026 1.843 1.871
Dec 2025 1.833 1.868
Nov 2025 1.79 1.824
Sep 2025 1.867 1.898
Aug 2025 1.841 1.876
Jul 2025 1.851 1.892
Jun 2025 1.864 1.908
May 2025 1.876 1.927
Apr 2025 1.913 1.969
Mar 2025 1.88 1.941
Feb 2025 1.925 1.992
Jan 2025 1.925 2.001
Dec 2024 1.912 2
Nov 2024 1.916 2.005
Oct 2024 1.937 2.026
Sep 2024 1.976 2.069
Aug 2024 1.951 2.047
Jul 2024 1.975 2.073
Jun 2024 1.973 2.074
May 2024 1.971 2.072
Apr 2024 1.998 2.104
Mar 2024 1.997 2.111
Feb 2024 2.006 2.135
Jan 2024 2.033 2.177
Dec 2023 2.024 2.179
Nov 2023 1.976 2.125
Oct 2023 2.002 2.149
Sep 2023 1.972 2.116
Aug 2023 1.97 2.119
Jul 2023 1.98 2.139
Jun 2023 1.937 2.096
May 2023 1.951 2.118
Apr 2023 1.989 2.165
Mar 2023 1.936 2.118
Feb 2023 1.896 2.081
Jan 2023 1.888 2.084
Dec 2022 1.873 2.084
Nov 2022 1.847 2.049
Oct 2022 1.814 2.01
Sep 2022 1.749 1.946
Aug 2022 1.756 1.958
Jul 2022 1.715 1.911
Jun 2022 1.691 1.884
May 2022 1.606 1.814
Apr 2022 1.612 1.841
Mar 2022 1.607 1.846
Feb 2022 1.578 1.837
Jan 2022 1.555 1.826
Dec 2021 1.532 1.815
Nov 2021 1.547 1.838
Oct 2021 1.526 1.822
Sep 2021 1.58 1.902
Aug 2021 1.467 1.771
Jul 2021 1.491 1.803
Jun 2021 1.51 1.835
May 2021 1.511 1.853
Apr 2021 1.51 1.867
Mar 2021 1.526 1.902
Feb 2021 1.537 1.93
Jan 2021 1.546 1.952
Dec 2020 1.538 1.95
Nov 2020 1.515 1.922
Oct 2020 1.503 1.906
Sep 2020 1.492 1.893
Aug 2020 1.495 1.899
Jul 2020 1.485 1.893
Jun 2020 1.474 1.888
May 2020 1.412 1.819
Apr 2020 1.406 1.811
Mar 2020 1.374 1.758
Feb 2020 1.375 1.755
Jan 2020 1.351 1.729
Dec 2019 1.363 1.751
Nov 2019 1.361 1.747
Oct 2019 1.325 1.7
Sep 2019 1.296 1.667
Aug 2019 1.275 1.641
Jul 2019 1.281 1.649
Jun 2019 1.28 1.65
May 2019 1.289 1.662
Apr 2019 1.285 1.66
Mar 2019 1.261 1.638
Feb 2019 1.282 1.675
Jan 2019 1.274 1.671
Dec 2018 1.29 1.696
Nov 2018 1.274 1.669
Oct 2018 1.277 1.667
Sep 2018 1.288 1.685
Aug 2018 1.302 1.705
Jul 2018 1.293 1.694
Jun 2018 1.279 1.676
May 2018 1.293 1.697
Apr 2018 1.281 1.688
Mar 2018 1.309 1.732
Feb 2018 1.265 1.678
Jan 2018 1.281 1.707
Dec 2017 1.316 1.763
Nov 2017 1.295 1.734
Oct 2017 1.328 1.778
Sep 2017 1.349 1.805
Aug 2017 1.348 1.813
Jul 2017 1.327 1.79
Jun 2017 1.335 1.8
May 2017 1.327 1.79
Apr 2017 1.328 1.793
Mar 2017 1.329 1.8
Feb 2017 1.358 1.841
Jan 2017 1.351 1.837
Dec 2016 1.362 1.863
Nov 2016 1.362 1.863
Oct 2016 1.343 1.835
Sep 2016 1.329 1.818
Aug 2016 1.341 1.839
Jul 2016 1.349 1.851
Jun 2016 1.333 1.826
May 2016 1.382 1.9
Apr 2016 1.406 1.94
Mar 2016 1.416 1.964
Feb 2016 1.407 1.959
Jan 2016 1.425 1.986
Dec 2015 1.428 1.994
Nov 2015 1.409 1.96
Oct 2015 1.418 1.969
Sep 2015 1.432 1.987
Aug 2015 1.42 1.968
Jul 2015 1.447 2.002
Jun 2015 1.467 2.03
May 2015 1.463 2.032
Apr 2015 1.454 2.029
Mar 2015 1.44 2.014
Feb 2015 1.435 2.019
Jan 2015 1.479 2.09
Dec 2014 1.466 2.062
Nov 2014 1.42 1.986
Oct 2014 1.414 1.967
Sep 2014 1.405 1.949
Aug 2014 1.396 1.938
Jul 2014 1.413 1.958
Jun 2014 1.4 1.94
May 2014 1.401 1.945
Apr 2014 1.388 1.933
Mar 2014 1.359 1.899
Feb 2014 1.388 1.952
Jan 2014 1.365 1.927
Dec 2013 1.385 1.962
Nov 2013 1.382 1.958
Oct 2013 1.358 1.92
Sep 2013 1.419 2.001
Aug 2013 1.408 1.988
Jul 2013 1.434 2.027
Jun 2013 1.439 2.035
May 2013 1.401 1.986
Apr 2013 1.409 2.001
Mar 2013 1.412 2.003
Feb 2013 1.411 2.007
Jan 2013 1.422 2.039
Dec 2012 1.436 2.065
Nov 2012 1.418 2.034
Oct 2012 1.422 2.03
Sep 2012 1.401 1.999
Aug 2012 1.407 2.017
Jul 2012 1.427 2.057
Jun 2012 1.403 2.019
May 2012 1.412 2.029
Apr 2012 1.426 2.047
Mar 2012 1.395 2.008
Feb 2012 1.442 2.092
Jan 2012 1.423 2.073
Dec 2011 1.42 2.078
Nov 2011 1.399 2.042
Oct 2011 1.457 2.125
Sep 2011 1.477 2.15
Aug 2011 1.474 2.149
Jul 2011 1.513 2.211
Jun 2011 1.49 2.18
May 2011 1.472 2.151
Apr 2011 1.42 2.085
Mar 2011 1.415 2.091
Feb 2011 1.398 2.086
Jan 2011 1.401 2.101
Dec 2010 1.386 2.088
Nov 2010 1.375 2.075
Oct 2010 1.407 2.124
Sep 2010 1.386 2.095
Aug 2010 1.372 2.075
Jul 2010 1.36 2.06
Jun 2010 1.383 2.095
May 2010 1.359 2.057
Apr 2010 1.363 2.065
Mar 2010 1.368 2.076
Feb 2010 1.361 2.074
Jan 2010 1.36 2.073
Dec 2009 1.39 2.125
Nov 2009 1.373 2.096
Oct 2009 1.392 2.126
Sep 2009 1.34 2.049
Aug 2009 1.375 2.104
Jul 2009 1.391 2.133
Jun 2009 1.385 2.12
May 2009 1.413 2.182
Apr 2009 1.395 2.16
Mar 2009 1.41 2.189
Feb 2009 1.404 2.185
Jan 2009 1.381 2.16
Dec 2008 1.415 2.223
Nov 2008 1.377 2.141
Oct 2008 1.393 2.124
Sep 2008 1.379 2.081
Aug 2008 1.381 2.081
Jul 2008 1.384 2.078
Jun 2008 1.373 2.072
May 2008 1.37 2.088
Apr 2008 1.373 2.11
Mar 2008 1.35 2.088
Feb 2008 1.321 2.061
Jan 2008 1.281 2.004
Dec 2007 1.28 2.012
Nov 2007 1.235 1.94
Oct 2007 1.274 2.013
Sep 2007 1.212 1.92
Aug 2007 1.21 1.922
Jul 2007 1.209 1.917
Jun 2007 1.193 1.891
May 2007 1.192 1.893
Apr 2007 1.201 1.919
Mar 2007 1.161 1.867
Feb 2007 1.168 1.895
Jan 2007 1.153 1.881
Dec 2006 1.137 1.861
Nov 2006 1.143 1.873
Oct 2006 1.097 1.795
Sep 2006 1.083 1.763
Aug 2006 1.088 1.762
Jul 2006 1.071 1.738
Jun 2006 1.074 1.748
May 2006 1.086 1.771
Apr 2006 1.072 1.757
Mar 2006 1.04 1.719
Feb 2006 1.029 1.71
Jan 2006 1.046 1.742
Dec 2005 1.046 1.755
Nov 2005 1.055 1.763
Oct 2005 1.043 1.729
Sep 2005 1.052 1.747
Aug 2005 1.06 1.782
Jul 2005 1.067 1.803
Jun 2005 1.09 1.851
May 2005 1.086 1.845
Apr 2005 1.004 1.704
Mar 2005 1.002 1.712
Feb 2005 0.982 1.691
Jan 2005 0.997 1.726
Dec 2004 0.97 1.683
Nov 2004 0.976 1.687
Oct 2004 0.972 1.681
Sep 2004 0.985 1.713
Aug 2004 0.996 1.736
Jul 2004 0.985 1.717
Jun 2004 0.979 1.704
May 2004 0.96 1.676
Apr 2004 0.974 1.711
Mar 2004 0.947 1.669
Feb 2004 0.943 1.672
Jan 2004 0.946 1.687
Dec 2003 0.954 1.709
Nov 2003 0.953 1.706
Oct 2003 0.969 1.73
Sep 2003 0.994 1.772
Aug 2003 0.996 1.782
Jul 2003 1.002 1.799
Jun 2003 0.961 1.727
May 2003 1.001 1.801
Apr 2003 1.047 1.881
Mar 2003 1.042 1.868
Feb 2003 1.048 1.89
Jan 2003 1.042 1.894
Dec 2002 1.026 1.873
Nov 2002 1.054 1.92
Oct 2002 1.015 1.849
Sep 2002 1.016 1.854
Aug 2002 1.012 1.849
Jul 2002 1.015 1.861
Jun 2002 1.011 1.856
May 2002 1.012 1.859
Apr 2002 1.005 1.846
Mar 2002 1.012 1.869
Feb 2002 1.008 1.872
Jan 2002 1.001 1.866
Dec 2001 1.005 1.878
Nov 2001 1.012 1.884
Oct 2001 1.01 1.877
Sep 2001 0.996 1.845
Aug 2001 0.991 1.844
Jul 2001 0.987 1.836
Jun 2001 0.989 1.835
May 2001 0.995 1.849
Apr 2001 1.008 1.882
Mar 2001 1.02 1.912
Feb 2001 0.994 1.867
Jan 2001 0.982 1.852
Dec 2000 0.987 1.873
Nov 2000 0.953 1.808
Oct 2000 0.934 1.773
Sep 2000 0.918 1.745
Aug 2000 0.923 1.764
Jul 2000 0.935 1.787
Jun 2000 0.915 1.753
May 2000 0.915 1.762
Apr 2000 0.927 1.787
Mar 2000 0.924 1.782
Feb 2000 0.924 1.797
Jan 2000 0.907 1.774
Dec 1999 0.899 1.764
Nov 1999 0.899 1.764
Oct 1999 0.889 1.745
Sep 1999 0.878 1.727
Aug 1999 0.884 1.747
Jul 1999 0.893 1.769
Jun 1999 0.885 1.758
May 1999 0.886 1.76
Apr 1999 0.897 1.782
Mar 1999 0.883 1.767
Feb 1999 0.88 1.766
Jan 1999 0.872 1.753
Dec 1998 0.866 1.745
Nov 1998 0.855 1.722
Oct 1998 0.849 1.709
Sep 1998 0.86 1.736
Aug 1998 0.869 1.756
Jul 1998 0.867 1.754
Jun 1998 0.859 1.74
May 1998 0.866 1.757
Apr 1998 0.863 1.754
Mar 1998 0.853 1.737
Feb 1998 0.86 1.754
Jan 1998 0.855 1.747
Dec 1997 0.884 1.81
Nov 1997 0.897 1.834
Oct 1997 0.899 1.837
Sep 1997 0.885 1.813
Aug 1997 0.872 1.791
Jul 1997 0.872 1.794
Jun 1997 0.874 1.8
May 1997 0.854 1.761
Apr 1997 0.855 1.762
Mar 1997 0.855 1.765
Feb 1997 0.858 1.775
Jan 1997 0.862 1.789
Dec 1996 0.875 1.822
Nov 1996 0.88 1.832
Oct 1996 0.873 1.821
Sep 1996 0.886 1.854
Aug 1996 0.915 1.921
Jul 1996 0.889 1.87
Jun 1996 0.886 1.867
May 1996 0.869 1.832
Apr 1996 0.865 1.827
Mar 1996 0.852 1.807
Feb 1996 0.858 1.829
Jan 1996 0.86 1.839
Dec 1995 0.837 1.801
Nov 1995 0.821 1.765
Oct 1995 0.809 1.738
Sep 1995 0.808 1.742
Aug 1995 0.797 1.721
Jul 1995 0.789 1.708
Jun 1995 0.781 1.691
May 1995 0.768 1.666
Apr 1995 0.776 1.687
Mar 1995 0.775 1.69
Feb 1995 0.767 1.678
Jan 1995 0.767 1.685
Dec 1994 0.748 1.65
Nov 1994 0.766 1.69
Oct 1994 0.756 1.67
Sep 1994 0.776 1.715
Aug 1994 0.753 1.669
Jul 1994 0.759 1.689
Jun 1994 0.761 1.698
May 1994 0.765 1.713
Apr 1994 0.765 1.714
Mar 1994 0.755 1.694
Feb 1994 0.756 1.702
Jan 1994 0.768 1.735
Dec 1993 0.76 1.721
Nov 1993 0.771 1.746
Oct 1993 0.75 1.7
Sep 1993 0.748 1.702
Aug 1993 0.745 1.699
Jul 1993 0.762 1.743
Jun 1993 0.752 1.72
May 1993 0.752 1.722
Apr 1993 0.744 1.706
Mar 1993 0.742 1.706
Feb 1993 0.751 1.733
Jan 1993 0.748 1.732
Dec 1992 0.738 1.717
Nov 1992 0.747 1.737
Oct 1992 0.752 1.751
Sep 1992 0.756 1.767
Aug 1992 0.776 1.819
Jul 1992 0.771 1.812
Jun 1992 0.757 1.783
May 1992 0.752 1.778
Apr 1992 0.746 1.766
Mar 1992 0.747 1.771
Feb 1992 0.73 1.739
Jan 1992 0.726 1.736
Dec 1991 0.717 1.717
Nov 1991 0.731 1.752
Oct 1991 0.72 1.73
Sep 1991 0.717 1.726
Aug 1991 0.714 1.726
Jul 1991 0.7 1.697
Jun 1991 0.705 1.712
May 1991 0.705 1.717
Apr 1991 0.701 1.712
Mar 1991 0.702 1.717
Feb 1991 0.701 1.717
Jan 1991 0.705 1.73
Dec 1990 0.7 1.728
Nov 1990 0.71 1.752
Oct 1990 0.706 1.746
Sep 1990 0.7 1.742
Aug 1990 0.713 1.789
Jul 1990 0.685 1.735
Jun 1990 0.687 1.746
May 1990 0.678 1.733
Apr 1990 0.686 1.757
Mar 1990 0.68 1.745
Feb 1990 0.701 1.808
Jan 1990 0.689 1.786
Dec 1989 0.688 1.802
Nov 1989 0.676 1.773
Oct 1989 0.674 1.772
Sep 1989 0.671 1.773
Aug 1989 0.674 1.786
Jul 1989 0.671 1.781
Jun 1989 0.664 1.767
May 1989 0.655 1.747
Apr 1989 0.655 1.757
Mar 1989 0.654 1.766
Feb 1989 0.652 1.771
Jan 1989 0.653 1.781
Dec 1988 0.657 1.8
Nov 1988 0.645 1.77
Oct 1988 0.642 1.764
Sep 1988 0.636 1.753
Aug 1988 0.619 1.718
Jul 1988 0.602 1.678
Jun 1988 0.601 1.682
May 1988 0.598 1.681
Apr 1988 0.595 1.678
Mar 1988 0.587 1.664
Feb 1988 0.586 1.668
Jan 1988 0.586 1.672
Dec 1987 0.571 1.634
Nov 1987 0.559 1.6
Oct 1987 0.559 1.601
Sep 1987 0.551 1.582
Aug 1987 0.546 1.576
Jul 1987 0.544 1.579
Jun 1987 0.533 1.551
May 1987 0.54 1.577
Apr 1987 0.542 1.588
Mar 1987 0.541 1.594
Feb 1987 0.539 1.595
Jan 1987 0.544 1.615
Dec 1986 0.566 1.691
Nov 1986 0.564 1.687
Oct 1986 0.565 1.691
Sep 1986 0.566 1.696
Aug 1986 0.57 1.716
Jul 1986 0.564 1.701
Jun 1986 0.569 1.716
May 1986 0.562 1.704
Apr 1986 0.561 1.706
Mar 1986 0.56 1.7
Feb 1986 0.563 1.701
Jan 1986 0.566 1.705
Dec 1985 0.568 1.716
Nov 1985 0.564 1.709
Oct 1985 0.566 1.719
Sep 1985 0.561 1.711
Aug 1985 0.553 1.691
Jul 1985 0.556 1.703
Jun 1985 0.546 1.676
May 1985 0.542 1.668
Apr 1985 0.544 1.68
Mar 1985 0.544 1.688
Feb 1985 0.544 1.695
Jan 1985 0.551 1.725
Dec 1984 0.544 1.706
Nov 1984 0.543 1.703
Oct 1984 0.54 1.693
Sep 1984 0.539 1.695
Aug 1984 0.543 1.716
Jul 1984 0.541 1.716
Jun 1984 0.542 1.726
May 1984 0.541 1.728
Apr 1984 0.536 1.717
Mar 1984 0.542 1.744
Feb 1984 0.541 1.745
Jan 1984 0.543 1.76
Dec 1983 0.547 1.783
Nov 1983 0.547 1.785
Oct 1983 0.535 1.749
Sep 1983 0.536 1.758
Aug 1983 0.539 1.776
Jul 1983 0.544 1.798
Jun 1983 0.542 1.799
May 1983 0.542 1.804
Apr 1983 0.538 1.802
Mar 1983 0.544 1.835
Feb 1983 0.544 1.835
Jan 1983 0.541 1.827
Dec 1982 0.537 1.817
Nov 1982 0.534 1.799
Oct 1982 0.534 1.796
Sep 1982 0.536 1.808
Aug 1982 0.534 1.805
Jul 1982 0.534 1.809
Jun 1982 0.525 1.787
May 1982 0.529 1.823
Apr 1982 0.526 1.83
Mar 1982 0.526 1.838
Feb 1982 0.534 1.864
Jan 1982 0.537 1.88
Dec 1981 0.521 1.83
Nov 1981 0.527 1.857
Oct 1981 0.521 1.842
Sep 1981 0.524 1.857
Aug 1981 0.519 1.857
Jul 1981 0.521 1.878
Jun 1981 0.523 1.906
May 1981 0.525 1.931
Apr 1981 0.519 1.923
Mar 1981 0.538 2.007
Feb 1981 0.533 2.002
Jan 1981 0.531 2.015
Dec 1980 0.519 1.986
Nov 1980 0.519 2.004
Oct 1980 0.514 2.002
Sep 1980 0.511 2.009
Aug 1980 0.507 2.01
Jul 1980 0.511 2.04
Jun 1980 0.503 2.008
May 1980 0.504 2.035
Apr 1980 0.507 2.067
Mar 1980 0.502 2.069
Feb 1980 0.507 2.122
Jan 1980 0.501 2.126

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.