Ham priced at $2.86 in 1999→$5.01 in 2026

Ham Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Ham, 1999-2026 ($2.86)

Ham prices are 75.01% higher in 2026 versus 1999 (a $2.15 difference in value).

The latest available average price is $5.38 in August 2026 for Ham, boneless, excluding canned, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.

Between 1999 and 2026, Ham experienced an average inflation rate of 2.09% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, ham costing $2.86 in the year 1999 would cost $5.01 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.58% during this same period, inflation for ham was lower.

In the year 1999: Pricing changed by -1.98%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for ham during the 1999-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1999 (2.19%), inflation for ham was much lower.

Price Inflation for Ham since 1978

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1990 (12.85%), 1982 (10.89%), and 2022 (9.15%).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of ham rose 88%, from $2.86 per pound in 1999 to $5.38 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 101% over the same period, so ham rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted

Ham prices by year

The average price for ham is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of ham, boneless, excluding canned, per lb. (453.6 gm) each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

YearPrice (per pound)Price, inflation-adjusted
2026 (partial)$5.48$5.48
2025$5.48$5.70
2024$5.61$6.00
2023$5.71$6.28
2022$5.29$6.06
2021$4.83$5.97
2020$4.49$5.81
2019$4.24$5.55
2018$4.02$5.36
2017$3.87$5.29
2016$4.03$5.63
2015$4.19$5.92
2014$4.33$6.13
2013$3.98$5.73
2012$3.73$5.44
2011$3.59$5.34
2010$3.39$5.21
2009$3.38$5.27
2008$3.21$5.00
2007$3.13$5.05
2006$3.13$5.20
2005$3.16$5.42
2004$3.05$5.42
2003$2.89$5.26
2002$2.82$5.25
2001$2.74$5.18
2000$2.79$5.43
1999$2.86$5.76
1998$2.81$5.78
1997$2.79$5.82
1996$2.70$5.77
1995$2.54$5.59
1994$2.61$5.90
1993$2.73$6.32
1992$2.75$6.56
1991$2.91$7.15

Yearly averages; 2026 is through August. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.


View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $2.86 since 1999

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Ham, over time, for $2.86 beginning in 1999. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1999$2.86-1.98%
2000$2.973.89%
2001$3.063.01%
2002$3.111.70%
2003$3.151.20%
2004$3.232.50%
2005$3.426.00%
2006$3.42-0.09%
2007$3.451.02%
2008$3.552.90%
2009$3.54-0.38%
2010$3.673.53%
2011$3.906.47%
2012$3.940.98%
2013$3.981.03%
2014$4.297.64%
2015$4.19-2.13%
2016$3.93-6.20%
2017$3.92-0.25%
2018$3.88-1.09%
2019$3.982.63%
2020$4.195.22%
2021$4.343.60%
2022$4.749.15%
2023$4.944.23%
2024$4.82-2.49%
2025$4.881.36%
2026$5.012.50%*

* 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 Ham:

Year1978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI87.02588.16785.48390.758100.642100.96798.38399.792107.408115.783116.467117.308132.383139.908135.575137.867139.342139.608149.167156.342149.992147.017152.733157.325159.992161.908165.958175.917175.767177.557182.700182.013188.430200.627202.600204.695220.332215.633202.258201.745199.538204.777215.466223.219243.643253.952247.638251.017257.296

Adjust ham prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1999* 1999 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Ham was 147.017 in the year 1999 and 257.296 in 2026:

257.296 / 147.017* $2.86 = $5.01

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $2.86 in 1999 has the same "purchasing power" as $5.01 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Ham).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Ham in 1978. In addition to ham, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.