US Average Rice Price Adjusted for Inflation

This page shows the historical price of rice adjusted for inflation, providing a view of the real changes in purchasing power needed to buy rice over time.

The prices represent all types of white, long-grain, uncooked rice sold by the pound (453.6 grams) in urban areas across the United States. This includes both organic and non-organic varieties, regardless of package type or size.

Adjusted prices are shown in "today’s dollars", meaning they are benchmarked to the purchasing power of December 2025 (our latest available CPI data baseline).

Key Takeaways
  • The latest average price for a pound of rice was $1.076, in December 2025.
  • In January 1980, the nominal price was $0.484, which is equivalent to $2.016 in today's dollars.
  • Since January 1980, the inflation-adjusted price has fallen 46.63%, an average decline of -1.36% per year.
  • The peak inflation-adjusted price was $2.08, reached in April 1981.

The inflation-adjusted price history reveals a striking long-term downward trend that began in the early 1980s, when prices were nearly twice what they are today. This decline illustrates the remarkable productivity improvements in global rice cultivation, including better irrigation techniques, improved seed varieties and mechanization of harvesting processes.

A notable exception to this downward trend appears in the 2007-2008 period, when rice prices spiked dramatically during the global food crisis. This crisis stemmed from a combination of factors including drought in rice-producing regions, export restrictions from major producers like India and Vietnam, and increased speculation in commodity markets. This event demonstrates how rice, despite its declining real cost over decades, remains vulnerable to sudden supply disruptions due to its importance in global food security.

The considerable gap between the gradually rising nominal price and the declining inflation-adjusted price highlights an important economic insight: despite what consumers experience at checkout, rice has actually become significantly more affordable relative to average incomes and other consumer goods, making this nutritional staple more economically accessible today than in previous generations.

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

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

Month Nominal Inflation-Adjusted
Dec 2025 1.076 1.076
Nov 2025 1.065 1.065
Sep 2025 1.06 1.058
Aug 2025 1.059 1.059
Jul 2025 1.068 1.071
Jun 2025 1.061 1.066
May 2025 1.067 1.076
Apr 2025 1.031 1.041
Mar 2025 1.038 1.052
Feb 2025 1.03 1.046
Jan 2025 1.008 1.028
Dec 2024 1.032 1.06
Nov 2024 1.061 1.09
Oct 2024 1.056 1.084
Sep 2024 1.078 1.108
Aug 2024 1.085 1.117
Jul 2024 1.039 1.07
Jun 2024 1.018 1.05
May 2024 1.002 1.034
Apr 2024 1.025 1.059
Mar 2024 1.014 1.052
Feb 2024 1.001 1.045
Jan 2024 1 1.051
Dec 2023 0.99 1.046
Nov 2023 0.992 1.047
Oct 2023 0.96 1.011
Sep 2023 0.981 1.033
Aug 2023 0.997 1.052
Jul 2023 1.006 1.066
Jun 2023 1.003 1.065
May 2023 0.997 1.062
Apr 2023 0.98 1.047
Mar 2023 0.982 1.054
Feb 2023 0.959 1.033
Jan 2023 0.97 1.051
Dec 2022 0.971 1.06
Nov 2022 0.963 1.048
Oct 2022 0.963 1.047
Sep 2022 0.939 1.025
Aug 2022 0.925 1.012
Jul 2022 0.929 1.016
Jun 2022 0.924 1.011
May 2022 0.909 1.008
Apr 2022 0.9 1.009
Mar 2022 0.871 0.982
Feb 2022 0.83 0.948
Jan 2022 0.832 0.959
Dec 2021 0.82 0.953
Nov 2021 0.844 0.984
Oct 2021 0.788 0.923
Sep 2021 0.798 0.943
Aug 2021 0.784 0.929
Jul 2021 0.782 0.928
Jun 2021 0.778 0.928
May 2021 0.801 0.964
Apr 2021 0.785 0.953
Mar 2021 0.772 0.944
Feb 2021 0.779 0.96
Jan 2021 0.794 0.984
Dec 2020 0.789 0.982
Nov 2020 0.791 0.985
Oct 2020 0.766 0.953
Sep 2020 0.777 0.967
Aug 2020 0.769 0.959
Jul 2020 0.772 0.966
Jun 2020 0.749 0.942
May 2020 0.748 0.945
Mar 2020 0.733 0.92
Feb 2020 0.734 0.92
Jan 2020 0.716 0.899
Dec 2019 0.714 0.9
Nov 2019 0.721 0.908
Oct 2019 0.773 0.973
Sep 2019 0.797 1.006
Aug 2019 0.793 1.002
Jul 2019 0.798 1.008
Jun 2019 0.801 1.013
May 2019 0.761 0.963
Apr 2019 0.767 0.973
Mar 2019 0.757 0.965
Feb 2019 0.762 0.977
Jan 2019 0.73 0.94
Dec 2018 0.712 0.918
Nov 2018 0.711 0.914
Oct 2018 0.685 0.878
Sep 2018 0.693 0.89
Aug 2018 0.705 0.906
Jul 2018 0.69 0.887
Jun 2018 0.689 0.886
May 2018 0.698 0.899
Apr 2018 0.685 0.886
Mar 2018 0.682 0.886
Feb 2018 0.691 0.899
Jan 2018 0.682 0.892
Dec 2017 0.711 0.935
Nov 2017 0.712 0.935
Oct 2017 0.723 0.95
Sep 2017 0.741 0.973
Aug 2017 0.753 0.994
Jul 2017 0.764 1.011
Jun 2017 0.752 0.995
May 2017 0.726 0.961
Apr 2017 0.686 0.909
Mar 2017 0.692 0.92
Feb 2017 0.695 0.925
Jan 2017 0.7 0.934
Dec 2016 0.693 0.93
Nov 2016 0.703 0.944
Oct 2016 0.697 0.934
Sep 2016 0.721 0.968
Aug 2016 0.729 0.981
Jul 2016 0.74 0.997
Jun 2016 0.734 0.987
May 2016 0.747 1.008
Apr 2016 0.703 0.952
Mar 2016 0.711 0.968
Feb 2016 0.707 0.966
Jan 2016 0.709 0.97
Dec 2015 0.711 0.974
Nov 2015 0.732 0.999
Oct 2015 0.69 0.94
Sep 2015 0.662 0.902
Aug 2015 0.669 0.91
Jul 2015 0.673 0.914
Jun 2015 0.691 0.938
May 2015 0.676 0.921
Apr 2015 0.67 0.918
Mar 2015 0.67 0.92
Feb 2015 0.689 0.951
Jan 2015 0.692 0.96
Dec 2014 0.7 0.966
Nov 2014 0.717 0.984
Oct 2014 0.723 0.987
Sep 2014 0.746 1.016
Aug 2014 0.737 1.004
Jul 2014 0.758 1.031
Jun 2014 0.742 1.009
May 2014 0.739 1.007
Apr 2014 0.75 1.025
Mar 2014 0.733 1.005
Feb 2014 0.732 1.01
Jan 2014 0.731 1.013
Dec 2013 0.735 1.022
Nov 2013 0.729 1.014
Oct 2013 0.734 1.018
Sep 2013 0.741 1.026
Aug 2013 0.737 1.021
Jul 2013 0.721 1
Jun 2013 0.723 1.003
May 2013 0.702 0.977
Apr 2013 0.724 1.009
Mar 2013 0.714 0.994
Feb 2013 0.708 0.988
Jan 2013 0.715 1.006
Dec 2012 0.714 1.008
Nov 2012 0.704 0.991
Oct 2012 0.685 0.96
Sep 2012 0.684 0.958
Aug 2012 0.683 0.961
Jul 2012 0.681 0.963
Jun 2012 0.681 0.962
May 2012 0.677 0.955
Apr 2012 0.696 0.98
Mar 2012 0.7 0.989
Feb 2012 0.718 1.022
Jan 2012 0.739 1.057
Dec 2011 0.729 1.047
Nov 2011 0.752 1.077
Oct 2011 0.767 1.098
Sep 2011 0.719 1.027
Aug 2011 0.715 1.023
Jul 2011 0.716 1.027
Jun 2011 0.755 1.084
May 2011 0.767 1.1
Apr 2011 0.734 1.058
Mar 2011 0.745 1.08
Feb 2011 0.747 1.094
Jan 2011 0.742 1.092
Dec 2010 0.728 1.076
Nov 2010 0.71 1.052
Oct 2010 0.714 1.058
Sep 2010 0.723 1.073
Aug 2010 0.743 1.103
Jul 2010 0.749 1.113
Jun 2010 0.739 1.099
May 2010 0.746 1.108
Apr 2010 0.759 1.128
Mar 2010 0.764 1.138
Feb 2010 0.759 1.135
Jan 2010 0.754 1.128
Dec 2009 0.751 1.127
Nov 2009 0.768 1.15
Oct 2009 0.751 1.126
Sep 2009 0.76 1.14
Aug 2009 0.752 1.129
Jul 2009 0.756 1.138
Jun 2009 0.766 1.151
May 2009 0.773 1.171
Apr 2009 0.757 1.15
Mar 2009 0.774 1.179
Feb 2009 0.783 1.196
Jan 2009 0.797 1.223
Dec 2008 0.813 1.253
Nov 2008 0.82 1.251
Oct 2008 0.856 1.281
Sep 2008 0.853 1.263
Aug 2008 0.854 1.263
Jul 2008 0.795 1.171
Jun 2008 0.753 1.115
May 2008 0.704 1.053
Apr 2008 0.608 0.917
Mar 2008 0.584 0.886
Feb 2008 0.583 0.892
Jan 2008 0.568 0.872
Dec 2007 0.551 0.85
Nov 2007 0.544 0.839
Oct 2007 0.555 0.861
Sep 2007 0.546 0.849
Aug 2007 0.551 0.859
Jul 2007 0.547 0.851
Jun 2007 0.529 0.823
May 2007 0.544 0.848
Apr 2007 0.556 0.872
Mar 2007 0.548 0.865
Feb 2007 0.554 0.882
Jan 2007 0.563 0.901
Dec 2006 0.555 0.891
Nov 2006 0.555 0.893
Oct 2006 0.568 0.912
Sep 2006 0.55 0.878
Aug 2006 0.565 0.898
Jul 2006 0.561 0.893
Jun 2006 0.549 0.877
May 2006 0.549 0.879
Apr 2006 0.538 0.865
Mar 2006 0.534 0.866
Feb 2006 0.534 0.871
Jan 2006 0.532 0.869
Dec 2005 0.524 0.863
Nov 2005 0.53 0.869
Oct 2005 0.541 0.88
Sep 2005 0.544 0.887
Aug 2005 0.532 0.878
Jul 2005 0.553 0.917
Jun 2005 0.547 0.911
May 2005 0.552 0.92
Apr 2005 0.584 0.972
Mar 2005 0.57 0.956
Feb 2005 0.575 0.971
Jan 2005 0.597 1.014
Dec 2004 0.572 0.974
Nov 2004 0.572 0.97
Oct 2004 0.569 0.966
Sep 2004 0.565 0.964
Aug 2004 0.556 0.951
Jul 2004 0.56 0.958
Jun 2004 0.538 0.919
May 2004 0.528 0.905
Apr 2004 0.503 0.867
Mar 2004 0.504 0.872
Feb 2004 0.487 0.848
Jan 2004 0.482 0.843
Dec 2003 0.482 0.847
Nov 2003 0.49 0.861
Oct 2003 0.463 0.811
Sep 2003 0.461 0.807
Aug 2003 0.454 0.797
Jul 2003 0.451 0.795
Jun 2003 0.428 0.755
May 2003 0.429 0.758
Apr 2003 0.44 0.776
Mar 2003 0.44 0.774
Feb 2003 0.447 0.791
Jan 2003 0.441 0.787
Dec 2002 0.458 0.82
Nov 2002 0.461 0.824
Oct 2002 0.466 0.833
Sep 2002 0.471 0.843
Aug 2002 0.482 0.864
Jul 2002 0.475 0.855
Jun 2002 0.47 0.847
May 2002 0.472 0.851
Apr 2000 0.49 0.927
Mar 2000 0.481 0.91
Feb 2000 0.492 0.939
Jan 2000 0.499 0.958
Dec 1999 0.502 0.967
Nov 1999 0.488 0.94
Oct 1999 0.511 0.984
Sep 1999 0.547 1.056
Aug 1999 0.557 1.08
Jul 1999 0.55 1.069
Jun 1999 0.553 1.078
May 1999 0.551 1.074
Apr 1999 0.548 1.068
Mar 1999 0.544 1.068
Feb 1999 0.54 1.064
Jan 1999 0.551 1.087
Dec 1998 0.543 1.074
Nov 1998 0.539 1.065
Oct 1998 0.542 1.071
Sep 1998 0.544 1.078
Aug 1998 0.536 1.063
Jul 1998 0.54 1.072
Jun 1998 0.536 1.066
May 1998 0.541 1.077
Apr 1998 0.544 1.085
Mar 1998 0.545 1.089
Feb 1998 0.547 1.095
Jan 1998 0.546 1.095
Dec 1997 0.575 1.155
Nov 1997 0.572 1.148
Oct 1997 0.568 1.139
Sep 1997 0.564 1.134
Aug 1997 0.569 1.147
Jul 1997 0.564 1.139
Jun 1997 0.558 1.128
May 1997 0.563 1.14
Apr 1997 0.558 1.129
Mar 1997 0.564 1.142
Feb 1997 0.565 1.147
Jan 1997 0.56 1.141
Dec 1996 0.546 1.116
Nov 1996 0.552 1.128
Oct 1996 0.555 1.136
Sep 1996 0.54 1.109
Aug 1996 0.541 1.115
Jul 1996 0.537 1.108
Jun 1996 0.537 1.111
May 1996 0.548 1.134
Apr 1996 0.538 1.115
Mar 1996 0.556 1.157
Feb 1996 0.552 1.155
Jan 1996 0.552 1.159
Dec 1995 0.553 1.167
Nov 1995 0.535 1.129
Oct 1995 0.535 1.128
Sep 1995 0.523 1.106
Aug 1995 0.526 1.115
Jul 1995 0.519 1.103
Jun 1995 0.518 1.101
May 1995 0.518 1.103
Apr 1995 0.515 1.099
Mar 1995 0.511 1.094
Feb 1995 0.518 1.112
Jan 1995 0.523 1.128
Dec 1994 0.534 1.156
Nov 1994 0.541 1.171
Oct 1994 0.534 1.157
Sep 1994 0.534 1.158
Aug 1994 0.546 1.187
Jul 1994 0.566 1.236
Jun 1994 0.555 1.215
May 1994 0.562 1.235
Apr 1994 0.575 1.264
Mar 1994 0.556 1.224
Feb 1994 0.543 1.199
Jan 1994 0.515 1.142
Dec 1993 0.495 1.1
Nov 1993 0.49 1.089
Oct 1993 0.495 1.101
Sep 1993 0.494 1.103
Aug 1993 0.507 1.135
Jul 1993 0.527 1.183
Jun 1993 0.518 1.162
May 1993 0.518 1.164
Apr 1993 0.522 1.175
Mar 1993 0.525 1.185
Feb 1993 0.53 1.2
Jan 1993 0.526 1.195
Dec 1992 0.525 1.199
Nov 1992 0.536 1.223
Oct 1992 0.543 1.241
Sep 1992 0.542 1.243
Aug 1992 0.537 1.235
Jul 1992 0.54 1.245
Jun 1992 0.52 1.202
May 1992 0.524 1.215
Apr 1992 0.522 1.213
Mar 1992 0.515 1.198
Feb 1992 0.515 1.204
Jan 1992 0.516 1.211
Dec 1991 0.51 1.198
Nov 1991 0.517 1.216
Oct 1991 0.508 1.198
Sep 1991 0.506 1.195
Aug 1991 0.494 1.172
Jul 1991 0.503 1.197
Jun 1991 0.506 1.206
May 1991 0.502 1.2
Apr 1991 0.502 1.203
Mar 1991 0.498 1.195
Feb 1991 0.492 1.183
Jan 1991 0.494 1.189
Dec 1990 0.491 1.189
Nov 1990 0.507 1.228
Oct 1990 0.497 1.206
Sep 1990 0.505 1.233
Aug 1990 0.497 1.224
Jul 1990 0.494 1.228
Jun 1990 0.494 1.232
May 1990 0.496 1.244
Apr 1990 0.497 1.249
Mar 1990 0.502 1.264
Feb 1990 0.476 1.205
Jan 1990 0.501 1.274
Dec 1989 0.504 1.295
Nov 1989 0.497 1.279
Oct 1989 0.513 1.324
Sep 1989 0.52 1.348
Aug 1989 0.509 1.324
Jul 1989 0.514 1.339
Jun 1989 0.486 1.269
May 1989 0.485 1.27
Apr 1989 0.482 1.269
Mar 1989 0.488 1.293
Feb 1989 0.495 1.319
Jan 1989 0.489 1.309
Dec 1988 0.484 1.302
Nov 1988 0.485 1.306
Oct 1988 0.475 1.281
Sep 1988 0.503 1.361
Aug 1988 0.506 1.378
Jul 1988 0.507 1.386
Jun 1988 0.492 1.351
May 1988 0.497 1.371
Apr 1988 0.488 1.35
Mar 1988 0.468 1.302
Feb 1988 0.462 1.291
Jan 1988 0.446 1.249
Dec 1987 0.422 1.185
Nov 1987 0.405 1.137
Oct 1987 0.395 1.11
Sep 1987 0.395 1.113
Aug 1987 0.403 1.142
Jul 1987 0.391 1.113
Jun 1987 0.393 1.122
May 1987 0.395 1.132
Apr 1987 0.398 1.144
Mar 1987 0.394 1.139
Feb 1987 0.411 1.193
Jan 1987 0.416 1.212
Dec 1986 0.434 1.273
Nov 1986 0.432 1.268
Oct 1986 0.436 1.281
Sep 1986 0.434 1.276
Aug 1986 0.443 1.309
Jul 1986 0.453 1.341
Jun 1986 0.446 1.32
May 1986 0.451 1.342
Apr 1986 0.453 1.352
Mar 1986 0.453 1.349
Feb 1986 0.455 1.349
Jan 1986 0.456 1.348
Dec 1985 0.45 1.334
Nov 1985 0.466 1.385
Oct 1985 0.468 1.395
Sep 1985 0.473 1.415
Aug 1985 0.473 1.419
Jul 1985 0.471 1.416
Jun 1985 0.467 1.406
May 1985 0.472 1.425
Apr 1985 0.475 1.44
Mar 1985 0.476 1.45
Feb 1985 0.472 1.443
Jan 1985 0.475 1.459
Dec 1984 0.472 1.453
Nov 1984 0.479 1.474
Oct 1984 0.48 1.477
Sep 1984 0.478 1.475
Aug 1984 0.479 1.485
Jul 1984 0.484 1.507
Jun 1984 0.477 1.491
May 1984 0.471 1.476
Apr 1984 0.471 1.48
Mar 1984 0.476 1.503
Feb 1984 0.485 1.535
Jan 1984 0.484 1.539
Dec 1983 0.479 1.532
Nov 1983 0.474 1.518
Oct 1983 0.473 1.518
Sep 1983 0.475 1.529
Aug 1983 0.468 1.514
Jul 1983 0.475 1.541
Jun 1983 0.469 1.527
May 1983 0.468 1.529
Apr 1983 0.47 1.545
Mar 1983 0.468 1.549
Feb 1983 0.473 1.566
Jan 1983 0.486 1.61
Dec 1982 0.482 1.6
Nov 1982 0.487 1.61
Oct 1982 0.488 1.61
Sep 1982 0.491 1.625
Aug 1982 0.494 1.639
Jul 1982 0.496 1.649
Jun 1982 0.499 1.667
May 1982 0.508 1.718
Apr 1982 0.504 1.721
Mar 1982 0.516 1.769
Feb 1982 0.547 1.874
Jan 1982 0.545 1.873
Dec 1981 0.545 1.879
Nov 1981 0.55 1.902
Oct 1981 0.556 1.929
Sep 1981 0.567 1.971
Aug 1981 0.577 2.026
Jul 1981 0.574 2.031
Jun 1981 0.572 2.046
May 1981 0.575 2.075
Apr 1981 0.572 2.08
Mar 1981 0.563 2.061
Feb 1981 0.554 2.042
Jan 1981 0.551 2.052
Dec 1980 0.539 2.024
Nov 1980 0.52 1.971
Oct 1980 0.519 1.983
Sep 1980 0.517 1.994
Aug 1980 0.518 2.015
Jul 1980 0.523 2.049
Jun 1980 0.521 2.042
May 1980 0.51 2.02
Apr 1980 0.511 2.044
Mar 1980 0.489 1.978
Feb 1980 0.488 2.004
Jan 1980 0.484 2.016

About the Data

The US Average Rice Price represents the average cost of a pound of white, long grain, uncooked rice 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 rice prices against the overall cost of goods and services typically purchased by households, revealing whether rice 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 rice over time, helping users make informed decisions and analyses.

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Other Inflation-Adjusted Data