According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for carbonated drinks are 227.34% higher in 2025 versus 1978 (a $45.47 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2025: Carbonated drinks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.56% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, carbonated drinks costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $65.47 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.43% during this same period, inflation for carbonated drinks was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Carbonated drinks, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | - |
| 1979 | $21.83 | 9.15% |
| 1980 | $24.45 | 12.00% |
| 1981 | $26.90 | 10.02% |
| 1982 | $27.63 | 2.70% |
| 1983 | $28.31 | 2.46% |
| 1984 | $28.75 | 1.57% |
| 1985 | $29.03 | 0.97% |
| 1986 | $29.25 | 0.76% |
| 1987 | $29.84 | 2.03% |
| 1988 | $29.84 | -0.01% |
| 1989 | $30.61 | 2.57% |
| 1990 | $31.65 | 3.40% |
| 1991 | $31.90 | 0.81% |
| 1992 | $32.44 | 1.67% |
| 1993 | $32.71 | 0.84% |
| 1994 | $32.67 | -0.13% |
| 1995 | $33.74 | 3.28% |
| 1996 | $33.85 | 0.32% |
| 1997 | $33.39 | -1.37% |
| 1998 | $33.16 | -0.68% |
| 1999 | $33.53 | 1.13% |
| 2000 | $34.83 | 3.87% |
| 2001 | $35.40 | 1.63% |
| 2002 | $35.45 | 0.15% |
| 2003 | $35.45 | 0.00% ** |
| 2004 | $36.10 | 1.83% |
| 2005 | $37.24 | 3.14% |
| 2006 | $37.88 | 1.74% |
| 2007 | $39.56 | 4.42% |
| 2008 | $41.49 | 4.87% |
| 2009 | $43.50 | 4.84% |
| 2010 | $43.67 | 0.39% |
| 2011 | $44.82 | 2.64% |
| 2012 | $45.44 | 1.39% |
| 2013 | $45.04 | -0.89% |
| 2014 | $44.84 | -0.44% |
| 2015 | $45.07 | 0.51% |
| 2016 | $45.47 | 0.90% |
| 2017 | $45.63 | 0.34% |
| 2018 | $46.20 | 1.26% |
| 2019 | $47.85 | 3.57% |
| 2020 | $50.51 | 5.56% |
| 2021 | $52.47 | 3.89% |
| 2022 | $58.04 | 10.61% |
| 2023 | $62.55 | 7.76% |
| 2024 | $64.49 | 3.10% |
| 2025 | $65.47 | 1.52%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Carbonated drinks:
| Year | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 70.846 | 77.331 | 86.608 | 95.285 | 97.862 | 100.269 | 101.846 | 102.838 | 103.615 | 105.715 | 105.708 | 108.423 | 112.108 | 113.015 | 114.908 | 115.869 | 115.723 | 119.523 | 119.900 | 118.262 | 117.462 | 118.785 | 123.385 | 125.400 | 125.585 | 125.585 | 127.885 | 131.900 | 134.200 | 140.138 | 146.970 | 154.082 | 154.676 | 158.760 | 160.959 | 159.528 | 158.832 | 159.645 | 161.075 | 161.619 | 163.661 | 169.500 | 178.916 | 185.875 | 205.595 | 221.557 | 228.429 | 231.911 |