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 March 2026 (our latest available CPI data baseline).

Key Takeaways
  • The latest average price for a pound of rice was $1.06, in March 2026.
  • In January 1980, the nominal price was $0.484, which is equivalent to $2.054 in today's dollars.
  • Since January 1980, the inflation-adjusted price has fallen 48.4%, an average decline of -1.42% per year.
  • The peak inflation-adjusted price was $2.12, 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
Mar 2026 1.06 1.06
Feb 2026 1.074 1.085
Jan 2026 1.059 1.075
Dec 2025 1.076 1.096
Nov 2025 1.065 1.085
Sep 2025 1.06 1.078
Aug 2025 1.059 1.079
Jul 2025 1.068 1.092
Jun 2025 1.061 1.086
May 2025 1.067 1.096
Apr 2025 1.031 1.061
Mar 2025 1.038 1.072
Feb 2025 1.03 1.066
Jan 2025 1.008 1.048
Dec 2024 1.032 1.08
Nov 2024 1.061 1.111
Oct 2024 1.056 1.105
Sep 2024 1.078 1.129
Aug 2024 1.085 1.138
Jul 2024 1.039 1.091
Jun 2024 1.018 1.07
May 2024 1.002 1.054
Apr 2024 1.025 1.079
Mar 2024 1.014 1.072
Feb 2024 1.001 1.065
Jan 2024 1 1.071
Dec 2023 0.99 1.066
Nov 2023 0.992 1.067
Oct 2023 0.96 1.03
Sep 2023 0.981 1.052
Aug 2023 0.997 1.072
Jul 2023 1.006 1.087
Jun 2023 1.003 1.086
May 2023 0.997 1.083
Apr 2023 0.98 1.067
Mar 2023 0.982 1.074
Feb 2023 0.959 1.053
Jan 2023 0.97 1.071
Dec 2022 0.971 1.08
Nov 2022 0.963 1.068
Oct 2022 0.963 1.067
Sep 2022 0.939 1.045
Aug 2022 0.925 1.031
Jul 2022 0.929 1.035
Jun 2022 0.924 1.03
May 2022 0.909 1.027
Apr 2022 0.9 1.028
Mar 2022 0.871 1
Feb 2022 0.83 0.966
Jan 2022 0.832 0.977
Dec 2021 0.82 0.971
Nov 2021 0.844 1.003
Oct 2021 0.788 0.941
Sep 2021 0.798 0.961
Aug 2021 0.784 0.946
Jul 2021 0.782 0.946
Jun 2021 0.778 0.946
May 2021 0.801 0.983
Apr 2021 0.785 0.971
Mar 2021 0.772 0.962
Feb 2021 0.779 0.978
Jan 2021 0.794 1.002
Dec 2020 0.789 1
Nov 2020 0.791 1.004
Oct 2020 0.766 0.971
Sep 2020 0.777 0.986
Aug 2020 0.769 0.977
Jul 2020 0.772 0.984
Jun 2020 0.749 0.959
May 2020 0.748 0.963
Mar 2020 0.733 0.938
Feb 2020 0.734 0.937
Jan 2020 0.716 0.917
Dec 2019 0.714 0.917
Nov 2019 0.721 0.926
Oct 2019 0.773 0.992
Sep 2019 0.797 1.025
Aug 2019 0.793 1.021
Jul 2019 0.798 1.027
Jun 2019 0.801 1.033
May 2019 0.761 0.981
Apr 2019 0.767 0.991
Mar 2019 0.757 0.983
Feb 2019 0.762 0.995
Jan 2019 0.73 0.958
Dec 2018 0.712 0.936
Nov 2018 0.711 0.932
Oct 2018 0.685 0.894
Sep 2018 0.693 0.907
Aug 2018 0.705 0.923
Jul 2018 0.69 0.904
Jun 2018 0.689 0.903
May 2018 0.698 0.916
Apr 2018 0.685 0.903
Mar 2018 0.682 0.902
Feb 2018 0.691 0.916
Jan 2018 0.682 0.909
Dec 2017 0.711 0.952
Nov 2017 0.712 0.953
Oct 2017 0.723 0.968
Sep 2017 0.741 0.991
Aug 2017 0.753 1.013
Jul 2017 0.764 1.031
Jun 2017 0.752 1.014
May 2017 0.726 0.98
Apr 2017 0.686 0.926
Mar 2017 0.692 0.937
Feb 2017 0.695 0.942
Jan 2017 0.7 0.952
Dec 2016 0.693 0.948
Nov 2016 0.703 0.962
Oct 2016 0.697 0.952
Sep 2016 0.721 0.986
Aug 2016 0.729 0.999
Jul 2016 0.74 1.015
Jun 2016 0.734 1.006
May 2016 0.747 1.027
Apr 2016 0.703 0.97
Mar 2016 0.711 0.986
Feb 2016 0.707 0.985
Jan 2016 0.709 0.988
Dec 2015 0.711 0.993
Nov 2015 0.732 1.018
Oct 2015 0.69 0.958
Sep 2015 0.662 0.919
Aug 2015 0.669 0.927
Jul 2015 0.673 0.931
Jun 2015 0.691 0.956
May 2015 0.676 0.939
Apr 2015 0.67 0.935
Mar 2015 0.67 0.937
Feb 2015 0.689 0.969
Jan 2015 0.692 0.978
Dec 2014 0.7 0.984
Nov 2014 0.717 1.003
Oct 2014 0.723 1.006
Sep 2014 0.746 1.035
Aug 2014 0.737 1.023
Jul 2014 0.758 1.051
Jun 2014 0.742 1.028
May 2014 0.739 1.026
Apr 2014 0.75 1.045
Mar 2014 0.733 1.024
Feb 2014 0.732 1.03
Jan 2014 0.731 1.032
Dec 2013 0.735 1.041
Nov 2013 0.729 1.033
Oct 2013 0.734 1.038
Sep 2013 0.741 1.045
Aug 2013 0.737 1.041
Jul 2013 0.721 1.019
Jun 2013 0.723 1.022
May 2013 0.702 0.995
Apr 2013 0.724 1.028
Mar 2013 0.714 1.013
Feb 2013 0.708 1.007
Jan 2013 0.715 1.025
Dec 2012 0.714 1.027
Nov 2012 0.704 1.01
Oct 2012 0.685 0.978
Sep 2012 0.684 0.976
Aug 2012 0.683 0.979
Jul 2012 0.681 0.982
Jun 2012 0.681 0.98
May 2012 0.677 0.973
Apr 2012 0.696 0.999
Mar 2012 0.7 1.008
Feb 2012 0.718 1.041
Jan 2012 0.739 1.077
Dec 2011 0.729 1.067
Nov 2011 0.752 1.098
Oct 2011 0.767 1.119
Sep 2011 0.719 1.046
Aug 2011 0.715 1.042
Jul 2011 0.716 1.047
Jun 2011 0.755 1.105
May 2011 0.767 1.121
Apr 2011 0.734 1.078
Mar 2011 0.745 1.101
Feb 2011 0.747 1.115
Jan 2011 0.742 1.113
Dec 2010 0.728 1.097
Nov 2010 0.71 1.072
Oct 2010 0.714 1.078
Sep 2010 0.723 1.093
Aug 2010 0.743 1.124
Jul 2010 0.749 1.134
Jun 2010 0.739 1.12
May 2010 0.746 1.129
Apr 2010 0.759 1.15
Mar 2010 0.764 1.159
Feb 2010 0.759 1.156
Jan 2010 0.754 1.149
Dec 2009 0.751 1.148
Nov 2009 0.768 1.172
Oct 2009 0.751 1.147
Sep 2009 0.76 1.162
Aug 2009 0.752 1.151
Jul 2009 0.756 1.159
Jun 2009 0.766 1.173
May 2009 0.773 1.194
Apr 2009 0.757 1.172
Mar 2009 0.774 1.202
Feb 2009 0.783 1.218
Jan 2009 0.797 1.246
Dec 2008 0.813 1.277
Nov 2008 0.82 1.275
Oct 2008 0.856 1.305
Sep 2008 0.853 1.287
Aug 2008 0.854 1.287
Jul 2008 0.795 1.193
Jun 2008 0.753 1.136
May 2008 0.704 1.073
Apr 2008 0.608 0.935
Mar 2008 0.584 0.903
Feb 2008 0.583 0.909
Jan 2008 0.568 0.889
Dec 2007 0.551 0.866
Nov 2007 0.544 0.855
Oct 2007 0.555 0.877
Sep 2007 0.546 0.865
Aug 2007 0.551 0.875
Jul 2007 0.547 0.867
Jun 2007 0.529 0.838
May 2007 0.544 0.864
Apr 2007 0.556 0.888
Mar 2007 0.548 0.881
Feb 2007 0.554 0.899
Jan 2007 0.563 0.918
Dec 2006 0.555 0.908
Nov 2006 0.555 0.91
Oct 2006 0.568 0.929
Sep 2006 0.55 0.895
Aug 2006 0.565 0.915
Jul 2006 0.561 0.91
Jun 2006 0.549 0.893
May 2006 0.549 0.895
Apr 2006 0.538 0.882
Mar 2006 0.534 0.883
Feb 2006 0.534 0.887
Jan 2006 0.532 0.886
Dec 2005 0.524 0.879
Nov 2005 0.53 0.886
Oct 2005 0.541 0.897
Sep 2005 0.544 0.904
Aug 2005 0.532 0.894
Jul 2005 0.553 0.935
Jun 2005 0.547 0.929
May 2005 0.552 0.938
Apr 2005 0.584 0.991
Mar 2005 0.57 0.974
Feb 2005 0.575 0.99
Jan 2005 0.597 1.034
Dec 2004 0.572 0.993
Nov 2004 0.572 0.989
Oct 2004 0.569 0.984
Sep 2004 0.565 0.982
Aug 2004 0.556 0.969
Jul 2004 0.56 0.976
Jun 2004 0.538 0.937
May 2004 0.528 0.922
Apr 2004 0.503 0.883
Mar 2004 0.504 0.888
Feb 2004 0.487 0.864
Jan 2004 0.482 0.859
Dec 2003 0.482 0.864
Nov 2003 0.49 0.877
Oct 2003 0.463 0.826
Sep 2003 0.461 0.822
Aug 2003 0.454 0.812
Jul 2003 0.451 0.81
Jun 2003 0.428 0.769
May 2003 0.429 0.772
Apr 2003 0.44 0.79
Mar 2003 0.44 0.789
Feb 2003 0.447 0.806
Jan 2003 0.441 0.801
Dec 2002 0.458 0.836
Nov 2002 0.461 0.84
Oct 2002 0.466 0.849
Sep 2002 0.471 0.859
Aug 2002 0.482 0.881
Jul 2002 0.475 0.871
Jun 2002 0.47 0.863
May 2002 0.472 0.867
Apr 2000 0.49 0.945
Mar 2000 0.481 0.928
Feb 2000 0.492 0.957
Jan 2000 0.499 0.976
Dec 1999 0.502 0.985
Nov 1999 0.488 0.957
Oct 1999 0.511 1.003
Sep 1999 0.547 1.076
Aug 1999 0.557 1.101
Jul 1999 0.55 1.089
Jun 1999 0.553 1.099
May 1999 0.551 1.095
Apr 1999 0.548 1.089
Mar 1999 0.544 1.089
Feb 1999 0.54 1.084
Jan 1999 0.551 1.107
Dec 1998 0.543 1.094
Nov 1998 0.539 1.085
Oct 1998 0.542 1.091
Sep 1998 0.544 1.098
Aug 1998 0.536 1.083
Jul 1998 0.54 1.093
Jun 1998 0.536 1.086
May 1998 0.541 1.097
Apr 1998 0.544 1.105
Mar 1998 0.545 1.11
Feb 1998 0.547 1.116
Jan 1998 0.546 1.116
Dec 1997 0.575 1.177
Nov 1997 0.572 1.17
Oct 1997 0.568 1.161
Sep 1997 0.564 1.155
Aug 1997 0.569 1.168
Jul 1997 0.564 1.16
Jun 1997 0.558 1.149
May 1997 0.563 1.161
Apr 1997 0.558 1.15
Mar 1997 0.564 1.164
Feb 1997 0.565 1.169
Jan 1997 0.56 1.162
Dec 1996 0.546 1.137
Nov 1996 0.552 1.149
Oct 1996 0.555 1.158
Sep 1996 0.54 1.13
Aug 1996 0.541 1.136
Jul 1996 0.537 1.129
Jun 1996 0.537 1.132
May 1996 0.548 1.156
Apr 1996 0.538 1.137
Mar 1996 0.556 1.179
Feb 1996 0.552 1.177
Jan 1996 0.552 1.181
Dec 1995 0.553 1.19
Nov 1995 0.535 1.15
Oct 1995 0.535 1.149
Sep 1995 0.523 1.127
Aug 1995 0.526 1.136
Jul 1995 0.519 1.124
Jun 1995 0.518 1.122
May 1995 0.518 1.124
Apr 1995 0.515 1.12
Mar 1995 0.511 1.115
Feb 1995 0.518 1.134
Jan 1995 0.523 1.149
Dec 1994 0.534 1.178
Nov 1994 0.541 1.193
Oct 1994 0.534 1.179
Sep 1994 0.534 1.18
Aug 1994 0.546 1.21
Jul 1994 0.566 1.259
Jun 1994 0.555 1.238
May 1994 0.562 1.258
Apr 1994 0.575 1.288
Mar 1994 0.556 1.247
Feb 1994 0.543 1.222
Jan 1994 0.515 1.163
Dec 1993 0.495 1.121
Nov 1993 0.49 1.11
Oct 1993 0.495 1.122
Sep 1993 0.494 1.124
Aug 1993 0.507 1.156
Jul 1993 0.527 1.205
Jun 1993 0.518 1.185
May 1993 0.518 1.186
Apr 1993 0.522 1.197
Mar 1993 0.525 1.207
Feb 1993 0.53 1.223
Jan 1993 0.526 1.218
Dec 1992 0.525 1.222
Nov 1992 0.536 1.246
Oct 1992 0.543 1.264
Sep 1992 0.542 1.267
Aug 1992 0.537 1.259
Jul 1992 0.54 1.269
Jun 1992 0.52 1.225
May 1992 0.524 1.239
Apr 1992 0.522 1.236
Mar 1992 0.515 1.221
Feb 1992 0.515 1.227
Jan 1992 0.516 1.234
Dec 1991 0.51 1.221
Nov 1991 0.517 1.239
Oct 1991 0.508 1.221
Sep 1991 0.506 1.218
Aug 1991 0.494 1.194
Jul 1991 0.503 1.22
Jun 1991 0.506 1.229
May 1991 0.502 1.222
Apr 1991 0.502 1.226
Mar 1991 0.498 1.218
Feb 1991 0.492 1.205
Jan 1991 0.494 1.212
Dec 1990 0.491 1.212
Nov 1990 0.507 1.251
Oct 1990 0.497 1.229
Sep 1990 0.505 1.257
Aug 1990 0.497 1.247
Jul 1990 0.494 1.251
Jun 1990 0.494 1.256
May 1990 0.496 1.268
Apr 1990 0.497 1.273
Mar 1990 0.502 1.288
Feb 1990 0.476 1.228
Jan 1990 0.501 1.299
Dec 1989 0.504 1.32
Nov 1989 0.497 1.304
Oct 1989 0.513 1.349
Sep 1989 0.52 1.374
Aug 1989 0.509 1.349
Jul 1989 0.514 1.364
Jun 1989 0.486 1.293
May 1989 0.485 1.294
Apr 1989 0.482 1.293
Mar 1989 0.488 1.318
Feb 1989 0.495 1.344
Jan 1989 0.489 1.333
Dec 1988 0.484 1.326
Nov 1988 0.485 1.331
Oct 1988 0.475 1.305
Sep 1988 0.503 1.386
Aug 1988 0.506 1.404
Jul 1988 0.507 1.413
Jun 1988 0.492 1.377
May 1988 0.497 1.397
Apr 1988 0.488 1.376
Mar 1988 0.468 1.327
Feb 1988 0.462 1.315
Jan 1988 0.446 1.273
Dec 1987 0.422 1.208
Nov 1987 0.405 1.159
Oct 1987 0.395 1.131
Sep 1987 0.395 1.134
Aug 1987 0.403 1.163
Jul 1987 0.391 1.135
Jun 1987 0.393 1.143
May 1987 0.395 1.153
Apr 1987 0.398 1.166
Mar 1987 0.394 1.161
Feb 1987 0.411 1.216
Jan 1987 0.416 1.235
Dec 1986 0.434 1.297
Nov 1986 0.432 1.292
Oct 1986 0.436 1.305
Sep 1986 0.434 1.3
Aug 1986 0.443 1.333
Jul 1986 0.453 1.366
Jun 1986 0.446 1.345
May 1986 0.451 1.368
Apr 1986 0.453 1.377
Mar 1986 0.453 1.375
Feb 1986 0.455 1.375
Jan 1986 0.456 1.374
Dec 1985 0.45 1.36
Nov 1985 0.466 1.412
Oct 1985 0.468 1.422
Sep 1985 0.473 1.442
Aug 1985 0.473 1.446
Jul 1985 0.471 1.443
Jun 1985 0.467 1.433
May 1985 0.472 1.453
Apr 1985 0.475 1.467
Mar 1985 0.476 1.477
Feb 1985 0.472 1.47
Jan 1985 0.475 1.487
Dec 1984 0.472 1.48
Nov 1984 0.479 1.502
Oct 1984 0.48 1.505
Sep 1984 0.478 1.503
Aug 1984 0.479 1.514
Jul 1984 0.484 1.535
Jun 1984 0.477 1.519
May 1984 0.471 1.504
Apr 1984 0.471 1.509
Mar 1984 0.476 1.532
Feb 1984 0.485 1.564
Jan 1984 0.484 1.568
Dec 1983 0.479 1.561
Nov 1983 0.474 1.547
Oct 1983 0.473 1.546
Sep 1983 0.475 1.558
Aug 1983 0.468 1.542
Jul 1983 0.475 1.57
Jun 1983 0.469 1.556
May 1983 0.468 1.558
Apr 1983 0.47 1.574
Mar 1983 0.468 1.579
Feb 1983 0.473 1.595
Jan 1983 0.486 1.641
Dec 1982 0.482 1.631
Nov 1982 0.487 1.641
Oct 1982 0.488 1.641
Sep 1982 0.491 1.656
Aug 1982 0.494 1.67
Jul 1982 0.496 1.68
Jun 1982 0.499 1.699
May 1982 0.508 1.751
Apr 1982 0.504 1.754
Mar 1982 0.516 1.803
Feb 1982 0.547 1.909
Jan 1982 0.545 1.908
Dec 1981 0.545 1.915
Nov 1981 0.55 1.938
Oct 1981 0.556 1.966
Sep 1981 0.567 2.009
Aug 1981 0.577 2.064
Jul 1981 0.574 2.069
Jun 1981 0.572 2.085
May 1981 0.575 2.114
Apr 1981 0.572 2.12
Mar 1981 0.563 2.101
Feb 1981 0.554 2.081
Jan 1981 0.551 2.091
Dec 1980 0.539 2.062
Nov 1980 0.52 2.008
Oct 1980 0.519 2.021
Sep 1980 0.517 2.032
Aug 1980 0.518 2.053
Jul 1980 0.523 2.088
Jun 1980 0.521 2.08
May 1980 0.51 2.059
Apr 1980 0.511 2.083
Mar 1980 0.489 2.016
Feb 1980 0.488 2.042
Jan 1980 0.484 2.054

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.

More in Consumer Prices

Other Inflation-Adjusted Data