US Average Chicken Price Adjusted for Inflation

This page shows historical chicken prices adjusted for inflation, offering a clearer view of how the real purchasing power needed to buy chicken has evolved over time.

The prices represent fresh, whole boiler/fryer chickens sold by the pound (453.6 grams) in urban areas across the United States. This includes both organic and non-organic options, as well as chickens with various marketing claims.

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

Key Takeaways
  • The latest average price for a pound of chicken was $2.064, in September 2026.
  • In January 1980, the nominal price was $0.699, which is equivalent to $3.027 in today's dollars.
  • Since January 1980, the inflation-adjusted price has fallen 31.82%, an average decline of -0.82% per year.
  • The peak inflation-adjusted price was $3.173, reached in September 1980.

Chicken is one of the most widely consumed proteins in the United States. Its price is tracked as part of the broader effort to monitor food costs and their economic impact.

This historical data reveals how chicken prices have fluctuated over time due to factors such as feed costs, production efficiencies, disease outbreaks and changing consumer preferences. Despite these fluctuations, the inflation-adjusted price declined significantly from the 1980s to the early 1990s, and has remained relatively stable since then.

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 chicken, separate from the general rise in the cost of living.

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

Month Nominal Inflation-Adjusted
Sep 2026 2.064 2.064
Aug 2026 2.012 2.024
Jul 2026 2.005 2.023
Jun 2026 2.044 2.062
May 2026 2.036 2.047
Apr 2026 2.026 2.05
Mar 2026 2.033 2.074
Feb 2026 2.049 2.113
Jan 2026 2.041 2.114
Dec 2025 2.02 2.1
Nov 2025 2.044 2.125
Sep 2025 2.061 2.138
Aug 2025 2.076 2.159
Jul 2025 2.078 2.167
Jun 2025 2.086 2.179
May 2025 2.061 2.16
Apr 2025 2.059 2.163
Mar 2025 2.064 2.175
Feb 2025 2.051 2.166
Jan 2025 2.061 2.186
Dec 2024 2.061 2.2
Nov 2024 2.076 2.217
Oct 2024 1.987 2.121
Sep 2024 1.979 2.115
Aug 2024 1.988 2.128
Jul 2024 1.988 2.13
Jun 2024 2.007 2.152
May 2024 2.013 2.16
Apr 2024 1.953 2.099
Mar 2024 1.991 2.148
Feb 2024 1.951 2.118
Jan 2024 1.987 2.171
Dec 2023 1.955 2.147
Nov 2023 1.976 2.168
Oct 2023 1.926 2.109
Sep 2023 1.901 2.081
Aug 2023 1.958 2.149
Jul 2023 1.891 2.084
Jun 2023 1.953 2.157
May 2023 1.92 2.127
Apr 2023 1.873 2.08
Mar 2023 1.868 2.085
Feb 2023 1.894 2.121
Jan 2023 1.855 2.089
Dec 2022 1.83 2.078
Nov 2022 1.843 2.086
Oct 2022 1.863 2.106
Sep 2022 1.891 2.147
Aug 2022 1.879 2.138
Jul 2022 1.88 2.138
Jun 2022 1.826 2.076
May 2022 1.824 2.103
Apr 2022 1.794 2.091
Mar 2022 1.724 2.02
Feb 2022 1.632 1.938
Jan 2022 1.622 1.944
Dec 2021 1.606 1.941
Nov 2021 1.583 1.919
Oct 2021 1.523 1.855
Sep 2021 1.504 1.847
Aug 2021 1.472 1.813
Jul 2021 1.435 1.771
Jun 2021 1.474 1.828
May 2021 1.486 1.86
Apr 2021 1.515 1.911
Mar 2021 1.543 1.963
Feb 2021 1.583 2.028
Jan 2021 1.595 2.054
Dec 2020 1.621 2.097
Nov 2020 1.639 2.122
Oct 2020 1.58 2.045
Sep 2020 1.542 1.996
Aug 2020 1.609 2.086
Jul 2020 1.712 2.226
Jun 2020 1.747 2.283
Apr 2020 1.571 2.065
Mar 2020 1.4 1.828
Feb 2020 1.362 1.774
Jan 2020 1.409 1.84
Dec 2019 1.45 1.901
Nov 2019 1.43 1.873
Oct 2019 1.538 2.014
Sep 2019 1.487 1.951
Aug 2019 1.514 1.988
Jul 2019 1.562 2.051
Jun 2019 1.59 2.092
May 2019 1.479 1.946
Apr 2019 1.463 1.929
Mar 2019 1.468 1.946
Feb 2019 1.486 1.981
Jan 2019 1.473 1.972
Dec 2018 1.466 1.966
Nov 2018 1.501 2.007
Oct 2018 1.444 1.924
Sep 2018 1.487 1.985
Aug 2018 1.511 2.019
Jul 2018 1.519 2.031
Jun 2018 1.514 2.024
May 2018 1.523 2.04
Apr 2018 1.511 2.032
Mar 2018 1.502 2.028
Feb 2018 1.478 2
Jan 2018 1.509 2.051
Dec 2017 1.47 2.009
Nov 2017 1.451 1.982
Oct 2017 1.484 2.027
Sep 2017 1.48 2.02
Aug 2017 1.489 2.043
Jul 2017 1.496 2.059
Jun 2017 1.497 2.059
May 2017 1.499 2.064
Apr 2017 1.444 1.99
Mar 2017 1.462 2.021
Feb 2017 1.473 2.037
Jan 2017 1.418 1.967
Dec 2016 1.463 2.042
Nov 2016 1.478 2.063
Oct 2016 1.502 2.094
Sep 2016 1.487 2.075
Aug 2016 1.426 1.995
Jul 2016 1.445 2.023
Jun 2016 1.408 1.968
May 2016 1.489 2.088
Apr 2016 1.496 2.107
Mar 2016 1.463 2.07
Feb 2016 1.478 2.1
Jan 2016 1.429 2.032
Dec 2015 1.437 2.047
Nov 2015 1.484 2.107
Oct 2015 1.43 2.026
Sep 2015 1.415 2.004
Aug 2015 1.428 2.019
Jul 2015 1.487 2.099
Jun 2015 1.515 2.139
May 2015 1.483 2.101
Apr 2015 1.539 2.192
Mar 2015 1.545 2.205
Feb 2015 1.55 2.225
Jan 2015 1.546 2.229
Dec 2014 1.541 2.211
Nov 2014 1.533 2.187
Oct 2014 1.549 2.198
Sep 2014 1.543 2.184
Aug 2014 1.572 2.227
Jul 2014 1.495 2.114
Jun 2014 1.503 2.125
May 2014 1.556 2.204
Apr 2014 1.53 2.175
Mar 2014 1.544 2.202
Feb 2014 1.504 2.158
Jan 2014 1.529 2.202
Dec 2013 1.52 2.198
Nov 2013 1.518 2.195
Oct 2013 1.543 2.226
Sep 2013 1.528 2.199
Aug 2013 1.489 2.145
Jul 2013 1.484 2.141
Jun 2013 1.509 2.177
May 2013 1.466 2.12
Apr 2013 1.473 2.134
Mar 2013 1.471 2.129
Feb 2013 1.456 2.113
Jan 2013 1.497 2.19
Dec 2012 1.482 2.175
Nov 2012 1.512 2.213
Oct 2012 1.53 2.229
Sep 2012 1.455 2.119
Aug 2012 1.433 2.096
Jul 2012 1.454 2.138
Jun 2012 1.39 2.041
May 2012 1.347 1.975
Apr 2012 1.401 2.052
Mar 2012 1.372 2.015
Feb 2012 1.356 2.007
Jan 2012 1.334 1.983
Dec 2011 1.34 2.001
Nov 2011 1.304 1.942
Oct 2011 1.312 1.952
Sep 2011 1.294 1.922
Aug 2011 1.296 1.928
Jul 2011 1.306 1.948
Jun 2011 1.305 1.948
May 2011 1.302 1.941
Apr 2011 1.261 1.889
Mar 2011 1.269 1.913
Feb 2011 1.266 1.927
Jan 2011 1.241 1.899
Dec 2010 1.28 1.968
Nov 2010 1.277 1.966
Oct 2010 1.302 2.006
Sep 2010 1.276 1.968
Aug 2010 1.254 1.935
Jul 2010 1.28 1.978
Jun 2010 1.239 1.915
May 2010 1.259 1.944
Apr 2010 1.23 1.901
Mar 2010 1.231 1.906
Feb 2010 1.265 1.967
Jan 2010 1.265 1.967
Dec 2009 1.267 1.977
Nov 2009 1.256 1.956
Oct 2009 1.244 1.939
Sep 2009 1.258 1.963
Aug 2009 1.287 2.009
Jul 2009 1.261 1.973
Jun 2009 1.282 2.003
May 2009 1.304 2.055
Apr 2009 1.296 2.048
Mar 2009 1.301 2.061
Feb 2009 1.29 2.048
Jan 2009 1.292 2.062
Dec 2008 1.305 2.092
Nov 2008 1.304 2.068
Oct 2008 1.205 1.875
Sep 2008 1.214 1.87
Aug 2008 1.223 1.881
Jul 2008 1.191 1.824
Jun 2008 1.181 1.819
May 2008 1.194 1.857
Apr 2008 1.176 1.845
Mar 2008 1.168 1.843
Feb 2008 1.159 1.845
Jan 2008 1.163 1.856
Dec 2007 1.166 1.87
Nov 2007 1.161 1.861
Oct 2007 1.135 1.83
Sep 2007 1.142 1.846
Aug 2007 1.145 1.856
Jul 2007 1.13 1.828
Jun 2007 1.134 1.834
May 2007 1.118 1.811
Apr 2007 1.115 1.818
Mar 2007 1.064 1.746
Feb 2007 1.039 1.72
Jan 2007 1.033 1.72
Dec 2006 1.057 1.765
Nov 2006 1.049 1.754
Oct 2006 1.038 1.733
Sep 2006 1.063 1.765
Aug 2006 1.048 1.732
Jul 2006 1.04 1.722
Jun 2006 1.055 1.752
May 2006 1.034 1.72
Apr 2006 1.054 1.762
Mar 2006 1.047 1.766
Feb 2006 1.045 1.772
Jan 2006 1.062 1.804
Dec 2005 1.061 1.817
Nov 2005 1.059 1.806
Oct 2005 1.062 1.796
Sep 2005 1.056 1.79
Aug 2005 1.042 1.788
Jul 2005 1.067 1.84
Jun 2005 1.075 1.862
May 2005 1.052 1.823
Apr 2005 1.07 1.853
Mar 2005 1.061 1.849
Feb 2005 1.038 1.823
Jan 2005 1.026 1.813
Dec 2004 1.03 1.824
Nov 2004 1.039 1.833
Oct 2004 1.078 1.903
Sep 2004 1.078 1.913
Aug 2004 1.092 1.942
Jul 2004 1.077 1.916
Jun 2004 1.06 1.883
May 2004 1.039 1.851
Apr 2004 1.12 2.007
Mar 2004 1.1 1.978
Feb 2004 1.06 1.918
Jan 2004 1.062 1.932
Dec 2003 1.05 1.92
Nov 2003 1.068 1.95
Oct 2003 1.022 1.861
Sep 2003 1.022 1.859
Aug 2003 1.023 1.867
Jul 2003 1.027 1.882
Jun 2003 1.033 1.895
May 2003 1.031 1.893
Apr 2003 1.053 1.93
Mar 2003 1.049 1.919
Feb 2003 1.031 1.897
Jan 2003 1.004 1.862
Dec 2002 1.048 1.952
Nov 2002 1.044 1.94
Oct 2002 1.027 1.909
Sep 2002 1.074 1.999
Aug 2002 1.035 1.93
Jul 2002 1.077 2.015
Jun 2002 1.066 1.997
May 2002 1.094 2.05
Apr 2002 1.11 2.08
Mar 2002 1.11 2.092
Feb 2002 1.111 2.105
Jan 2002 1.091 2.076
Dec 2001 1.109 2.115
Nov 2001 1.133 2.152
Oct 2001 1.115 2.114
Sep 2001 1.107 2.092
Aug 2001 1.11 2.107
Jul 2001 1.102 2.092
Jun 2001 1.106 2.094
May 2001 1.095 2.076
Apr 2001 1.101 2.097
Mar 2001 1.103 2.109
Feb 2001 1.09 2.089
Jan 2001 1.091 2.099
Dec 2000 1.078 2.087
Nov 2000 1.065 2.061
Oct 2000 1.09 2.111
Sep 2000 1.087 2.109
Aug 2000 1.086 2.118
Jul 2000 1.089 2.123
Jun 2000 1.069 2.089
May 2000 1.052 2.067
Apr 2000 1.069 2.103
Mar 2000 1.064 2.094
Feb 2000 1.046 2.076
Jan 2000 1.059 2.114
Dec 1999 1.053 2.108
Nov 1999 1.078 2.158
Oct 1999 1.055 2.113
Sep 1999 1.08 2.167
Aug 1999 1.043 2.103
Jul 1999 1.045 2.112
Jun 1999 1.041 2.11
May 1999 1.026 2.08
Apr 1999 1.057 2.143
Mar 1999 1.057 2.158
Feb 1999 1.064 2.179
Jan 1999 1.072 2.198
Dec 1998 1.06 2.179
Nov 1998 1.084 2.227
Oct 1998 1.076 2.211
Sep 1998 1.074 2.212
Aug 1998 1.059 2.184
Jul 1998 1.033 2.133
Jun 1998 1.016 2.1
May 1998 1.032 2.136
Apr 1998 1.029 2.134
Mar 1998 1.032 2.144
Feb 1998 1.007 2.096
Jan 1998 1.022 2.131
Dec 1997 1.001 2.091
Nov 1997 1.018 2.124
Oct 1997 0.984 2.052
Sep 1997 0.992 2.073
Aug 1997 0.988 2.07
Jul 1997 1.005 2.11
Jun 1997 0.993 2.087
May 1997 1.007 2.119
Apr 1997 1.002 2.107
Mar 1997 1.009 2.125
Feb 1997 1.008 2.128
Jan 1997 1.016 2.152
Dec 1996 1.002 2.129
Nov 1996 1.003 2.131
Oct 1996 1.021 2.173
Sep 1996 1.006 2.148
Aug 1996 0.99 2.121
Jul 1996 0.972 2.086
Jun 1996 0.968 2.081
May 1996 0.949 2.042
Apr 1996 0.947 2.041
Mar 1996 0.933 2.019
Feb 1996 0.94 2.045
Jan 1996 0.941 2.054
Dec 1995 0.939 2.061
Nov 1995 0.948 2.08
Oct 1995 0.93 2.039
Sep 1995 0.939 2.065
Aug 1995 0.908 2.001
Jul 1995 0.919 2.03
Jun 1995 0.908 2.006
May 1995 0.891 1.972
Apr 1995 0.911 2.021
Mar 1995 0.917 2.041
Feb 1995 0.893 1.994
Jan 1995 0.897 2.011
Dec 1994 0.895 2.014
Nov 1994 0.904 2.035
Oct 1994 0.889 2.004
Sep 1994 0.901 2.032
Aug 1994 0.905 2.047
Jul 1994 0.92 2.089
Jun 1994 0.918 2.09
May 1994 0.902 2.06
Apr 1994 0.899 2.055
Mar 1994 0.891 2.039
Feb 1994 0.888 2.04
Jan 1994 0.899 2.072
Dec 1993 0.91 2.103
Nov 1993 0.918 2.121
Oct 1993 0.893 2.065
Sep 1993 0.897 2.083
Aug 1993 0.896 2.085
Jul 1993 0.89 2.077
Jun 1993 0.891 2.079
May 1993 0.888 2.075
Apr 1993 0.874 2.045
Mar 1993 0.879 2.062
Feb 1993 0.871 2.051
Jan 1993 0.875 2.067
Dec 1992 0.879 2.087
Nov 1992 0.885 2.1
Oct 1992 0.865 2.055
Sep 1992 0.881 2.101
Aug 1992 0.882 2.109
Jul 1992 0.878 2.106
Jun 1992 0.861 2.069
May 1992 0.854 2.06
Apr 1992 0.861 2.08
Mar 1992 0.859 2.078
Feb 1992 0.849 2.064
Jan 1992 0.878 2.142
Dec 1991 0.864 2.111
Nov 1991 0.857 2.095
Oct 1991 0.878 2.153
Sep 1991 0.874 2.146
Aug 1991 0.869 2.143
Jul 1991 0.888 2.197
Jun 1991 0.878 2.175
May 1991 0.883 2.194
Apr 1991 0.885 2.206
Mar 1991 0.899 2.244
Feb 1991 0.903 2.257
Jan 1991 0.886 2.218
Dec 1990 0.858 2.161
Nov 1990 0.88 2.216
Oct 1990 0.883 2.229
Sep 1990 0.907 2.303
Aug 1990 0.912 2.335
Jul 1990 0.917 2.369
Jun 1990 0.928 2.407
May 1990 0.902 2.352
Apr 1990 0.897 2.345
Mar 1990 0.928 2.43
Feb 1990 0.896 2.359
Jan 1990 0.882 2.333
Dec 1989 0.883 2.359
Nov 1989 0.879 2.352
Oct 1989 0.91 2.441
Sep 1989 0.942 2.539
Aug 1989 0.954 2.58
Jul 1989 0.964 2.611
Jun 1989 0.982 2.666
May 1989 0.961 2.616
Apr 1989 0.932 2.551
Mar 1989 0.913 2.515
Feb 1989 0.899 2.491
Jan 1989 0.905 2.518
Dec 1988 0.885 2.475
Nov 1988 0.892 2.498
Oct 1988 0.932 2.613
Sep 1988 0.975 2.742
Aug 1988 0.961 2.721
Jul 1988 0.937 2.664
Jun 1988 0.868 2.479
May 1988 0.796 2.283
Apr 1988 0.76 2.187
Mar 1988 0.753 2.178
Feb 1988 0.745 2.164
Jan 1988 0.74 2.155
Dec 1987 0.736 2.149
Nov 1987 0.756 2.207
Oct 1987 0.791 2.312
Sep 1987 0.793 2.323
Aug 1987 0.785 2.312
Jul 1987 0.755 2.235
Jun 1987 0.771 2.289
May 1987 0.782 2.33
Apr 1987 0.792 2.368
Mar 1987 0.804 2.417
Feb 1987 0.832 2.512
Jan 1987 0.821 2.488
Dec 1986 0.865 2.638
Nov 1986 0.878 2.68
Oct 1986 0.9 2.749
Sep 1986 0.91 2.782
Aug 1986 0.958 2.942
Jul 1986 0.889 2.736
Jun 1986 0.795 2.446
May 1986 0.769 2.379
Apr 1986 0.752 2.333
Mar 1986 0.767 2.375
Feb 1986 0.771 2.377
Jan 1986 0.766 2.355
Dec 1985 0.776 2.392
Nov 1985 0.778 2.405
Oct 1985 0.749 2.322
Sep 1985 0.762 2.371
Aug 1985 0.757 2.362
Jul 1985 0.753 2.354
Jun 1985 0.761 2.383
May 1985 0.745 2.339
Apr 1985 0.764 2.408
Mar 1985 0.769 2.435
Feb 1985 0.772 2.454
Jan 1985 0.773 2.469
Dec 1984 0.753 2.409
Nov 1984 0.771 2.467
Oct 1984 0.764 2.445
Sep 1984 0.79 2.535
Aug 1984 0.788 2.541
Jul 1984 0.829 2.683
Jun 1984 0.817 2.655
May 1984 0.811 2.643
Apr 1984 0.844 2.758
Mar 1984 0.848 2.785
Feb 1984 0.867 2.853
Jan 1984 0.839 2.774
Dec 1983 0.812 2.701
Nov 1983 0.766 2.55
Oct 1983 0.737 2.459
Sep 1983 0.769 2.573
Aug 1983 0.74 2.488
Jul 1983 0.724 2.442
Jun 1983 0.699 2.367
May 1983 0.687 2.333
Apr 1983 0.676 2.31
Mar 1983 0.698 2.402
Feb 1983 0.699 2.406
Jan 1983 0.689 2.374
Dec 1982 0.682 2.354
Nov 1982 0.694 2.386
Oct 1982 0.7 2.402
Sep 1982 0.713 2.454
Aug 1982 0.717 2.473
Jul 1982 0.74 2.557
Jun 1982 0.732 2.543
May 1982 0.72 2.532
Apr 1982 0.712 2.528
Mar 1982 0.715 2.549
Feb 1982 0.726 2.586
Jan 1982 0.712 2.544
Dec 1981 0.7 2.509
Nov 1981 0.702 2.524
Oct 1981 0.712 2.569
Sep 1981 0.728 2.632
Aug 1981 0.752 2.745
Jul 1981 0.767 2.821
Jun 1981 0.717 2.667
May 1981 0.706 2.649
Apr 1981 0.734 2.776
Mar 1981 0.755 2.874
Feb 1981 0.759 2.909
Jan 1981 0.749 2.901
Dec 1980 0.76 2.967
Nov 1980 0.766 3.019
Oct 1980 0.792 3.147
Sep 1980 0.791 3.173
Aug 1980 0.751 3.038
Jul 1980 0.71 2.893
Jun 1980 0.64 2.608
May 1980 0.628 2.587
Apr 1980 0.638 2.654
Mar 1980 0.655 2.755
Feb 1980 0.673 2.874
Jan 1980 0.699 3.027

About the Data

The US Average Chicken Price represents the average cost of a pound of fresh, whole chicken in urban areas across the United States, collected and published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

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 chicken prices against the overall cost of goods and services typically purchased by households, revealing whether chicken has become relatively more or less expensive compared to general inflation over time.

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

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Other Inflation-Adjusted Data