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Price Inflation

in the United States

Originally posted 12/20/2011 - Last Update & Edit 1/23/2020

What is Inflation?

"The increase in the quantity of money" which results in a devaluation of the currency and the eventual rise in the price of goods.

How is Inflation Calculated? 

As inflation rises, every dollar decreases in value.

If the inflation rate is 2% a year, then a pack of gum that sells for $1.00 at the beginning of the year, will cost $1.02 by the end of that year.

Inflation often goes unnoticed at doing what it does best; Destroying the Value a Currency.

The Charts below, are a Visualization of how over the years "Price Inflation" has affected everyone who lives the United States, in one way or another.

*Important Note: The prices displayed on all of these Charts are calculated with the average price paid in the United States and are not specific to any brand or region of the United States.

Income

Median Income

The first inflation chart is the average increase in the Median Income over the last 87 years.

To some, the chart above may look like progress, but before that thought crosses your mind, take a look at the chart below.

The chart below shows the 'Decline in the Purchasing Power of the Dollar.'

Furthermore, the Price Inflation charts below will show you how the purchasing power of our money has diminished over the decades.

Sources:

www.census.gov
www.thepeoplehistory.com

Advisor Perspectives - dshort.com

Food

Food Price Inflation

Milk Price Chart

The Milk price below is based on the price of One Gallon of Fortified Whole Milk.

Source:
www.economagic.com

Food Price Inflation

Bread Price Chart

The Bread Price Chart below is the example of the average purchasing price of a 1lb. Loaf of Plain White Bread, in the United States.

Source: econmagic - U.S. city average; White bread

Food Price Inflation

Thanksgiving Dinner Chart

The American Farm Bureau Federation's "Cost of Thanksgiving" survey was first conducted in 1986.

The Survey is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation.

However, to allow for consistent price comparisons, the Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged.

Source:  American Farm Bureau Federation Survey

Food Price Inflation

Hershey Bar Price Chart

Source:

Foodtimeline

Candy Wrapper Archive

Shelter

Home Price Inflation

New Home Price Chart

The Prices in this chart are based on the average cost of a New Home built in the United States.

Source:
www.thepeoplehistory.com
www.census.gov

Transportation

Transportation Price Inflation

New Car Price Chart

The averages in the New Car prices shown in the Chart below where taken from New Sports cars, Luxury Car prices, New Mid-sized and New Compact Cars sold in the US.

Sources:
www.thepeoplehistory.com

Road-Reality 2009-2010 graphic

Edmund's - Report Sheds Light on Vehicle-Shopping Trends - 2013

mlive - Average Price of New Car in 2018

Postage

Postage Price Inflation

First Class Stamp Price Chart

The Prices for the Chart below, are based on the average price of one First Class U.S. Stamp.

Source:

www.johnstonsarchive - Cost of US First Class Stamp

College Tuition

Higher Education has witnessed some of the highest rates of inflation over the years in comparison to other services and commodities.  

Below are two charts concerning the rising prices of College Tuition.

Education Price Inflation

Public College Chart

Source: National Center for Education Statistics: Table 330 - column 15

Education Price Inflation

Private College Chart

Source: National Center for Education Statistics: Table 330 - column 15

Entertainment

As with everything else around us, Entertainment Costs have increased in America, too.  

Sports Entertainment Price Inflation

NFL - Super Bowl Ticket Price Chart

For the first three years the Superbowl was called 'The World Championship Game.'  In 1970 it was changed to 'SuperBowl.'

The chart below is based on the average price of a single SuperBowl Ticket.

Source: 

Star Tribune - Price of a Superbowl Ticket 1967 - 2018

Sports Entertainment Price Inflation

Baseball Ticket Price Chart

Source: 

EH.net

Entertainment Price Inflation

Movie Price Chart

Source:
www.boxofficemojo.com

Gold Price Chart

The Gold Price Chart below is a real-time chart that spans the last 45 years.

The difference between the 'Price Inflation' charts above and the Gold Price Chart below is:

Gold (1970 - Present)

The U.S. Dollar  (1913 - 2019)

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