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 September 2025 (our latest available CPI data baseline).

Key Takeaways
  • The latest average price for a pound of rice was $1.06, in September 2025.
  • In January 1980, the nominal price was $0.484, which is equivalent to $2.021 in today's dollars.
  • Since January 1980, the inflation-adjusted price has fallen 47.54%, an average decline of -1.4% per year.
  • The peak inflation-adjusted price was $2.085, 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
Sep 2025 1.06 1.06
Aug 2025 1.059 1.062
Jul 2025 1.068 1.074
Jun 2025 1.061 1.068
May 2025 1.067 1.078
Apr 2025 1.031 1.044
Mar 2025 1.038 1.054
Feb 2025 1.03 1.048
Jan 2025 1.008 1.031
Dec 2024 1.032 1.062
Nov 2024 1.061 1.092
Oct 2024 1.056 1.087
Sep 2024 1.078 1.11
Aug 2024 1.085 1.119
Jul 2024 1.039 1.073
Jun 2024 1.018 1.052
May 2024 1.002 1.036
Apr 2024 1.025 1.062
Mar 2024 1.014 1.054
Feb 2024 1.001 1.048
Jan 2024 1 1.053
Dec 2023 0.99 1.048
Nov 2023 0.992 1.049
Oct 2023 0.96 1.013
Sep 2023 0.981 1.035
Aug 2023 0.997 1.055
Jul 2023 1.006 1.069
Jun 2023 1.003 1.068
May 2023 0.997 1.065
Apr 2023 0.98 1.049
Mar 2023 0.982 1.057
Feb 2023 0.959 1.035
Jan 2023 0.97 1.053
Dec 2022 0.971 1.063
Nov 2022 0.963 1.051
Oct 2022 0.963 1.05
Sep 2022 0.939 1.028
Aug 2022 0.925 1.014
Jul 2022 0.929 1.018
Jun 2022 0.924 1.013
May 2022 0.909 1.01
Apr 2022 0.9 1.011
Mar 2022 0.871 0.984
Feb 2022 0.83 0.95
Jan 2022 0.832 0.961
Dec 2021 0.82 0.955
Nov 2021 0.844 0.986
Oct 2021 0.788 0.925
Sep 2021 0.798 0.945
Aug 2021 0.784 0.931
Jul 2021 0.782 0.93
Jun 2021 0.778 0.93
May 2021 0.801 0.966
Apr 2021 0.785 0.955
Mar 2021 0.772 0.947
Feb 2021 0.779 0.962
Jan 2021 0.794 0.986
Dec 2020 0.789 0.984
Nov 2020 0.791 0.987
Oct 2020 0.766 0.955
Sep 2020 0.777 0.97
Aug 2020 0.769 0.961
Jul 2020 0.772 0.968
Jun 2020 0.749 0.944
May 2020 0.748 0.948
Mar 2020 0.733 0.922
Feb 2020 0.734 0.922
Jan 2020 0.716 0.901
Dec 2019 0.714 0.902
Nov 2019 0.721 0.91
Oct 2019 0.773 0.976
Sep 2019 0.797 1.008
Aug 2019 0.793 1.004
Jul 2019 0.798 1.01
Jun 2019 0.801 1.016
May 2019 0.761 0.965
Apr 2019 0.767 0.975
Mar 2019 0.757 0.967
Feb 2019 0.762 0.979
Jan 2019 0.73 0.942
Dec 2018 0.712 0.92
Nov 2018 0.711 0.916
Oct 2018 0.685 0.88
Sep 2018 0.693 0.892
Aug 2018 0.705 0.908
Jul 2018 0.69 0.889
Jun 2018 0.689 0.888
May 2018 0.698 0.901
Apr 2018 0.685 0.888
Mar 2018 0.682 0.888
Feb 2018 0.691 0.901
Jan 2018 0.682 0.894
Dec 2017 0.711 0.937
Nov 2017 0.712 0.938
Oct 2017 0.723 0.952
Sep 2017 0.741 0.975
Aug 2017 0.753 0.996
Jul 2017 0.764 1.014
Jun 2017 0.752 0.997
May 2017 0.726 0.964
Apr 2017 0.686 0.911
Mar 2017 0.692 0.922
Feb 2017 0.695 0.927
Jan 2017 0.7 0.936
Dec 2016 0.693 0.932
Nov 2016 0.703 0.946
Oct 2016 0.697 0.937
Sep 2016 0.721 0.97
Aug 2016 0.729 0.983
Jul 2016 0.74 0.999
Jun 2016 0.734 0.989
May 2016 0.747 1.01
Apr 2016 0.703 0.954
Mar 2016 0.711 0.97
Feb 2016 0.707 0.968
Jan 2016 0.709 0.972
Dec 2015 0.711 0.976
Nov 2015 0.732 1.002
Oct 2015 0.69 0.942
Sep 2015 0.662 0.904
Aug 2015 0.669 0.912
Jul 2015 0.673 0.916
Jun 2015 0.691 0.94
May 2015 0.676 0.923
Apr 2015 0.67 0.92
Mar 2015 0.67 0.922
Feb 2015 0.689 0.953
Jan 2015 0.692 0.962
Dec 2014 0.7 0.968
Nov 2014 0.717 0.986
Oct 2014 0.723 0.989
Sep 2014 0.746 1.018
Aug 2014 0.737 1.006
Jul 2014 0.758 1.033
Jun 2014 0.742 1.011
May 2014 0.739 1.009
Apr 2014 0.75 1.028
Mar 2014 0.733 1.008
Feb 2014 0.732 1.013
Jan 2014 0.731 1.015
Dec 2013 0.735 1.024
Nov 2013 0.729 1.016
Oct 2013 0.734 1.021
Sep 2013 0.741 1.028
Aug 2013 0.737 1.024
Jul 2013 0.721 1.003
Jun 2013 0.723 1.006
May 2013 0.702 0.979
Apr 2013 0.724 1.011
Mar 2013 0.714 0.996
Feb 2013 0.708 0.99
Jan 2013 0.715 1.008
Dec 2012 0.714 1.01
Nov 2012 0.704 0.993
Oct 2012 0.685 0.962
Sep 2012 0.684 0.96
Aug 2012 0.683 0.963
Jul 2012 0.681 0.965
Jun 2012 0.681 0.964
May 2012 0.677 0.957
Apr 2012 0.696 0.983
Mar 2012 0.7 0.991
Feb 2012 0.718 1.024
Jan 2012 0.739 1.059
Dec 2011 0.729 1.049
Nov 2011 0.752 1.08
Oct 2011 0.767 1.1
Sep 2011 0.719 1.029
Aug 2011 0.715 1.025
Jul 2011 0.716 1.029
Jun 2011 0.755 1.086
May 2011 0.767 1.102
Apr 2011 0.734 1.06
Mar 2011 0.745 1.083
Feb 2011 0.747 1.096
Jan 2011 0.742 1.094
Dec 2010 0.728 1.079
Nov 2010 0.71 1.054
Oct 2010 0.714 1.06
Sep 2010 0.723 1.075
Aug 2010 0.743 1.105
Jul 2010 0.749 1.116
Jun 2010 0.739 1.101
May 2010 0.746 1.111
Apr 2010 0.759 1.131
Mar 2010 0.764 1.14
Feb 2010 0.759 1.137
Jan 2010 0.754 1.13
Dec 2009 0.751 1.13
Nov 2009 0.768 1.153
Oct 2009 0.751 1.128
Sep 2009 0.76 1.143
Aug 2009 0.752 1.132
Jul 2009 0.756 1.14
Jun 2009 0.766 1.153
May 2009 0.773 1.174
Apr 2009 0.757 1.153
Mar 2009 0.774 1.182
Feb 2009 0.783 1.199
Jan 2009 0.797 1.226
Dec 2008 0.813 1.256
Nov 2008 0.82 1.254
Oct 2008 0.856 1.284
Sep 2008 0.853 1.266
Aug 2008 0.854 1.266
Jul 2008 0.795 1.174
Jun 2008 0.753 1.118
May 2008 0.704 1.056
Apr 2008 0.608 0.919
Mar 2008 0.584 0.888
Feb 2008 0.583 0.894
Jan 2008 0.568 0.874
Dec 2007 0.551 0.852
Nov 2007 0.544 0.841
Oct 2007 0.555 0.863
Sep 2007 0.546 0.851
Aug 2007 0.551 0.861
Jul 2007 0.547 0.853
Jun 2007 0.529 0.825
May 2007 0.544 0.85
Apr 2007 0.556 0.874
Mar 2007 0.548 0.867
Feb 2007 0.554 0.884
Jan 2007 0.563 0.903
Dec 2006 0.555 0.893
Nov 2006 0.555 0.895
Oct 2006 0.568 0.914
Sep 2006 0.55 0.88
Aug 2006 0.565 0.9
Jul 2006 0.561 0.895
Jun 2006 0.549 0.879
May 2006 0.549 0.881
Apr 2006 0.538 0.867
Mar 2006 0.534 0.868
Feb 2006 0.534 0.873
Jan 2006 0.532 0.871
Dec 2005 0.524 0.865
Nov 2005 0.53 0.871
Oct 2005 0.541 0.882
Sep 2005 0.544 0.889
Aug 2005 0.532 0.88
Jul 2005 0.553 0.919
Jun 2005 0.547 0.913
May 2005 0.552 0.922
Apr 2005 0.584 0.975
Mar 2005 0.57 0.958
Feb 2005 0.575 0.974
Jan 2005 0.597 1.017
Dec 2004 0.572 0.976
Nov 2004 0.572 0.973
Oct 2004 0.569 0.968
Sep 2004 0.565 0.966
Aug 2004 0.556 0.953
Jul 2004 0.56 0.96
Jun 2004 0.538 0.921
May 2004 0.528 0.907
Apr 2004 0.503 0.869
Mar 2004 0.504 0.874
Feb 2004 0.487 0.85
Jan 2004 0.482 0.845
Dec 2003 0.482 0.849
Nov 2003 0.49 0.863
Oct 2003 0.463 0.813
Sep 2003 0.461 0.808
Aug 2003 0.454 0.799
Jul 2003 0.451 0.797
Jun 2003 0.428 0.757
May 2003 0.429 0.759
Apr 2003 0.44 0.778
Mar 2003 0.44 0.776
Feb 2003 0.447 0.793
Jan 2003 0.441 0.788
Dec 2002 0.458 0.822
Nov 2002 0.461 0.826
Oct 2002 0.466 0.835
Sep 2002 0.471 0.845
Aug 2002 0.482 0.866
Jul 2002 0.475 0.857
Jun 2002 0.47 0.849
May 2002 0.472 0.853
Apr 2000 0.49 0.929
Mar 2000 0.481 0.913
Feb 2000 0.492 0.941
Jan 2000 0.499 0.96
Dec 1999 0.502 0.969
Nov 1999 0.488 0.942
Oct 1999 0.511 0.987
Sep 1999 0.547 1.058
Aug 1999 0.557 1.083
Jul 1999 0.55 1.072
Jun 1999 0.553 1.081
May 1999 0.551 1.077
Apr 1999 0.548 1.071
Mar 1999 0.544 1.071
Feb 1999 0.54 1.066
Jan 1999 0.551 1.089
Dec 1998 0.543 1.076
Nov 1998 0.539 1.067
Oct 1998 0.542 1.073
Sep 1998 0.544 1.08
Aug 1998 0.536 1.065
Jul 1998 0.54 1.075
Jun 1998 0.536 1.068
May 1998 0.541 1.079
Apr 1998 0.544 1.087
Mar 1998 0.545 1.091
Feb 1998 0.547 1.097
Jan 1998 0.546 1.097
Dec 1997 0.575 1.158
Nov 1997 0.572 1.15
Oct 1997 0.568 1.142
Sep 1997 0.564 1.136
Aug 1997 0.569 1.149
Jul 1997 0.564 1.141
Jun 1997 0.558 1.131
May 1997 0.563 1.142
Apr 1997 0.558 1.131
Mar 1997 0.564 1.145
Feb 1997 0.565 1.15
Jan 1997 0.56 1.143
Dec 1996 0.546 1.118
Nov 1996 0.552 1.13
Oct 1996 0.555 1.139
Sep 1996 0.54 1.111
Aug 1996 0.541 1.117
Jul 1996 0.537 1.111
Jun 1996 0.537 1.113
May 1996 0.548 1.137
Apr 1996 0.538 1.118
Mar 1996 0.556 1.16
Feb 1996 0.552 1.157
Jan 1996 0.552 1.161
Dec 1995 0.553 1.17
Nov 1995 0.535 1.131
Oct 1995 0.535 1.131
Sep 1995 0.523 1.109
Aug 1995 0.526 1.117
Jul 1995 0.519 1.105
Jun 1995 0.518 1.103
May 1995 0.518 1.105
Apr 1995 0.515 1.101
Mar 1995 0.511 1.096
Feb 1995 0.518 1.115
Jan 1995 0.523 1.13
Dec 1994 0.534 1.159
Nov 1994 0.541 1.174
Oct 1994 0.534 1.16
Sep 1994 0.534 1.161
Aug 1994 0.546 1.19
Jul 1994 0.566 1.239
Jun 1994 0.555 1.218
May 1994 0.562 1.238
Apr 1994 0.575 1.267
Mar 1994 0.556 1.227
Feb 1994 0.543 1.202
Jan 1994 0.515 1.144
Dec 1993 0.495 1.103
Nov 1993 0.49 1.092
Oct 1993 0.495 1.103
Sep 1993 0.494 1.106
Aug 1993 0.507 1.137
Jul 1993 0.527 1.185
Jun 1993 0.518 1.165
May 1993 0.518 1.167
Apr 1993 0.522 1.177
Mar 1993 0.525 1.187
Feb 1993 0.53 1.203
Jan 1993 0.526 1.198
Dec 1992 0.525 1.202
Nov 1992 0.536 1.226
Oct 1992 0.543 1.244
Sep 1992 0.542 1.246
Aug 1992 0.537 1.238
Jul 1992 0.54 1.248
Jun 1992 0.52 1.205
May 1992 0.524 1.218
Apr 1992 0.522 1.215
Mar 1992 0.515 1.201
Feb 1992 0.515 1.207
Jan 1992 0.516 1.214
Dec 1991 0.51 1.201
Nov 1991 0.517 1.219
Oct 1991 0.508 1.201
Sep 1991 0.506 1.198
Aug 1991 0.494 1.175
Jul 1991 0.503 1.2
Jun 1991 0.506 1.208
May 1991 0.502 1.202
Apr 1991 0.502 1.206
Mar 1991 0.498 1.198
Feb 1991 0.492 1.185
Jan 1991 0.494 1.192
Dec 1990 0.491 1.192
Nov 1990 0.507 1.231
Oct 1990 0.497 1.209
Sep 1990 0.505 1.236
Aug 1990 0.497 1.227
Jul 1990 0.494 1.23
Jun 1990 0.494 1.235
May 1990 0.496 1.247
Apr 1990 0.497 1.252
Mar 1990 0.502 1.267
Feb 1990 0.476 1.208
Jan 1990 0.501 1.277
Dec 1989 0.504 1.298
Nov 1989 0.497 1.282
Oct 1989 0.513 1.327
Sep 1989 0.52 1.351
Aug 1989 0.509 1.327
Jul 1989 0.514 1.342
Jun 1989 0.486 1.272
May 1989 0.485 1.272
Apr 1989 0.482 1.272
Mar 1989 0.488 1.296
Feb 1989 0.495 1.322
Jan 1989 0.489 1.312
Dec 1988 0.484 1.305
Nov 1988 0.485 1.309
Oct 1988 0.475 1.284
Sep 1988 0.503 1.364
Aug 1988 0.506 1.381
Jul 1988 0.507 1.39
Jun 1988 0.492 1.354
May 1988 0.497 1.374
Apr 1988 0.488 1.354
Mar 1988 0.468 1.305
Feb 1988 0.462 1.294
Jan 1988 0.446 1.252
Dec 1987 0.422 1.188
Nov 1987 0.405 1.14
Oct 1987 0.395 1.113
Sep 1987 0.395 1.116
Aug 1987 0.403 1.144
Jul 1987 0.391 1.116
Jun 1987 0.393 1.125
May 1987 0.395 1.134
Apr 1987 0.398 1.147
Mar 1987 0.394 1.142
Feb 1987 0.411 1.196
Jan 1987 0.416 1.215
Dec 1986 0.434 1.276
Nov 1986 0.432 1.271
Oct 1986 0.436 1.284
Sep 1986 0.434 1.279
Aug 1986 0.443 1.312
Jul 1986 0.453 1.344
Jun 1986 0.446 1.323
May 1986 0.451 1.345
Apr 1986 0.453 1.355
Mar 1986 0.453 1.352
Feb 1986 0.455 1.352
Jan 1986 0.456 1.351
Dec 1985 0.45 1.337
Nov 1985 0.466 1.389
Oct 1985 0.468 1.398
Sep 1985 0.473 1.419
Aug 1985 0.473 1.423
Jul 1985 0.471 1.419
Jun 1985 0.467 1.41
May 1985 0.472 1.429
Apr 1985 0.475 1.443
Mar 1985 0.476 1.453
Feb 1985 0.472 1.446
Jan 1985 0.475 1.462
Dec 1984 0.472 1.456
Nov 1984 0.479 1.477
Oct 1984 0.48 1.481
Sep 1984 0.478 1.479
Aug 1984 0.479 1.489
Jul 1984 0.484 1.51
Jun 1984 0.477 1.494
May 1984 0.471 1.48
Apr 1984 0.471 1.484
Mar 1984 0.476 1.507
Feb 1984 0.485 1.538
Jan 1984 0.484 1.543
Dec 1983 0.479 1.536
Nov 1983 0.474 1.521
Oct 1983 0.473 1.521
Sep 1983 0.475 1.532
Aug 1983 0.468 1.517
Jul 1983 0.475 1.544
Jun 1983 0.469 1.531
May 1983 0.468 1.532
Apr 1983 0.47 1.548
Mar 1983 0.468 1.553
Feb 1983 0.473 1.569
Jan 1983 0.486 1.614
Dec 1982 0.482 1.604
Nov 1982 0.487 1.614
Oct 1982 0.488 1.614
Sep 1982 0.491 1.629
Aug 1982 0.494 1.642
Jul 1982 0.496 1.652
Jun 1982 0.499 1.671
May 1982 0.508 1.722
Apr 1982 0.504 1.725
Mar 1982 0.516 1.774
Feb 1982 0.547 1.878
Jan 1982 0.545 1.877
Dec 1981 0.545 1.883
Nov 1981 0.55 1.907
Oct 1981 0.556 1.933
Sep 1981 0.567 1.976
Aug 1981 0.577 2.03
Jul 1981 0.574 2.035
Jun 1981 0.572 2.051
May 1981 0.575 2.08
Apr 1981 0.572 2.085
Mar 1981 0.563 2.066
Feb 1981 0.554 2.047
Jan 1981 0.551 2.057
Dec 1980 0.539 2.029
Nov 1980 0.52 1.975
Oct 1980 0.519 1.988
Sep 1980 0.517 1.999
Aug 1980 0.518 2.02
Jul 1980 0.523 2.054
Jun 1980 0.521 2.046
May 1980 0.51 2.025
Apr 1980 0.511 2.049
Mar 1980 0.489 1.983
Feb 1980 0.488 2.009
Jan 1980 0.484 2.021

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