How Much Bacon Cost the Year You Were Born
Bringing It Home
It's safe to say America is obsessed with bacon. We've long enjoyed delicious strips of bacon with our eggs and on our burgers, but now we're finding increasingly creative ways to eat more bacon — from desserts to cocktails. Of course, anyone who's been to the grocery store lately knows that, along with just about everything else, our favorite guilty pleasure has skyrocketed in price: A pound of bacon cost an average $6.63 in 2023. To find out how that compares to years past (spoiler alert — yes, it has cost even more) read on.
1940
Cost of Bacon: $0.23
Inflation-Adjusted Cost (in 2023 dollars): $5.02
Having made it through the Great Depression when goods such as bacon were a luxury for many, Americans enjoyed a period of relatively low prices for the good stuff. But in the midst of World War II, the country's resources — including meat — were redirected toward the war effort, and those prices began to rise.
1941
Cost of Bacon: $0.29
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.03
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1942
Cost of Bacon: $0.34
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.38
The U.S. entry into World War II may have helped employ millions of Americans following the Depression, but that also meant that more people were able to afford bacon — and more of it — than before. Combined with the demands for food reserves for servicemen heading to the front lines, the price of bacon spiked.
1943
Cost of Bacon: $0.35
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.18
To help counteract the rising prices of bacon and other goods during the war, the U.S. government instituted a complex rationing program. While it likely helped reduce bacon prices in the years to come, it meant shoppers often had to use stamps or points to buy things such as bacon and monitor changing prices constantly. It also meant that bacon was sometimes unavailable at the local market, and led to a black market of point trading and selling for some.
1944
Cost of Bacon: $0.33
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.73
While the price of bacon declined steadily during the war, those at home were encouraged to save their bacon grease for the war effort. The fat was converted into glycerin, which was used to make certain bombs. Only about half of Americans donated to the effort, however, as cooking fats and oils were in short supply, and Americans had long used bacon grease in the kitchen and were reluctant to give it up.
1945
Cost of Bacon: $0.34
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.77
1946
Cost of Bacon: $0.44
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.90
1947
Cost of Bacon: $0.64
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $8.77
The costs of goods and services often rise following a war, and bacon prices were no exception. When adjusted for inflation, bacon reached one of the highest prices in recent history, likely leading some bacon lovers to do without for a while.
1948
Cost of Bacon: $0.63
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.99
1949
Cost of Bacon: $0.55
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.06
1950
Cost of Bacon: $0.52
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.60
1951
Cost of Bacon: $0.55
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.47
1952
Cost of Bacon: $0.53
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.11
As Americans settled back into business as usual following the war years, the cost of bacon also steadily declined and reached lows not seen in years. Bacon and eggs once again made regular appearances on breakfast tables around the country.
1953
Cost of Bacon: $0.65
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.44
1954
Cost of Bacon: $0.67
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.61
1955
Cost of Bacon: $0.54
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.16
1956
Cost of Bacon: $0.48
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.39
Despite a few spikes in the early '50s, the young baby boomer generation enjoyed plenty of bacon bought at reasonable prices through the middle of the decade. It was also a time when bacon and cheese balls and items wrapped in bacon became increasingly popular at cocktail parties — more bacon for everyone.
1957
Cost of Bacon: $0.62
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.74
1958
Cost of Bacon: $0.66
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.98
1959
Cost of Bacon: $0.55
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.78
By the end of the 1950s, the economy was booming, and Americans enjoyed low prices on one of their favorite breakfast items. As more people started moving to the suburbs and fast-food companies began to spread across the country, Americans were eating more bacon on the go and at home.
1960
Cost of Bacon: $0.54
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.58
1961
Cost of Bacon: $0.59
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.03
1962
Cost of Bacon: $0.58
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.87
1963
Cost of Bacon: $0.57
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.69
The cost of bacon remained low during the early 1960s, which likely accounts for the rising trend of recipes calling for bacon and big brands suggested bacon-fueled recipes, such as Aunt Jemima's bacon strip pancakes. This was also the year Dale Mulder, president of A&W restaurants, is credited with inventing the bacon cheeseburger, paving the way for great things to come. Thanks, Dale.
Related: Old-School Appetizers That Are Classics for a Reason
1964
Cost of Bacon: $0.57
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.62
1965
Cost of Bacon: $0.69
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.70
1966
Cost of Bacon: $0.82
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.74
Bacon prices steadily rose to a peak in the late 1960s before declining again. With so many people tuning into Julia Child's "The French Chef" on TV at the time, perhaps demand and prices went up as everyone tried to imitate her recipes that used bacon and plenty of butter.
1967
Cost of Bacon: $0.72
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.59
1968
Cost of Bacon: $0.70
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.15
1969
Cost of Bacon: $0.76
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.33
1970
Cost of Bacon: $0.82
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.46
1971
Cost of Bacon: $0.69
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.21
1972
Cost of Bacon: $0.84
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.14
This was the last year that a pound of sliced bacon was less than a dollar — not adjusting for inflation. It's also the year that the McDonald's unveiled the Egg McMuffin, which has a bacon variation. It likely led to an increase in bacon popularity, demand, and price in the years to come.
1973
Cost of Bacon: $1.16
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.99
1974
Cost of Bacon: $1.15
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.13
1975
Cost of Bacon: $1.55
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $8.81
Bacon prices hit a record high in 1975. Inflation during the mid-1970s is likely to blame for the price spike, which also happened for oil and other goods. The price was high even by today's standards. These were tough times for bacon lovers.
1976
Cost of Bacon: $1.51
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $8.11
1977
Cost of Bacon: $1.38
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.96
1978
Cost of Bacon: $1.59
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $7.45
Health concerns over the effects of sodium nitrite — the salt used to preserve, flavor, and color meats such as bacon — rose after studies suggested it could be carcinogenic. The news surely had an impact on bacon sales, but prices wouldn't dip for another couple years.
1979
Cost of Bacon: $1.48
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.23
1980
Cost of Bacon: $1.43
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.31
As we entered the 1980s, slimming down with health-conscious diet fads, Tab, and Thighmasters was all the rage, which meant that indulgent treats such as bacon were often shunned or substituted with lower fat options (remember Sizzlean?). As demand declined, so did the price of bacon. Good news for those who skipped the diets and stuck with bacon, though.
1981
Cost of Bacon: $1.62
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.45
1982
Cost of Bacon: $1.99
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.30
1983
Cost of Bacon: $1.95
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.98
1984
Cost of Bacon: $1.91
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.62
1985
Cost of Bacon: $1.98
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.63
1986
Cost of Bacon: $2.12
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.91
The mid-1980s saw bacon prices finally crest above the $2 mark, which likely accounted for some sticker shock at the supermarket for bacon fans. But did that stop us from buying it? No way.
1987
Cost of Bacon: $2.23
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.00
The healthy, low-fat trends of the '80s were especially hard on the pork industry, so the Pork Marketing Board launched "The Other White Meat" ad campaign to encourage people to eat leaner cuts of meat. The campaign worked, but bacon — still considered too fatty — suffered. Prices dropped dramatically. Meatpackers were even encouraged to sell stockpiled frozen pork bellies as food aid to impoverished countries.
1988
Cost of Bacon: $1.97
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.09
1989
Cost of Bacon: $1.87
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $4.61
The price of bacon hit a record low in 1989 — good news for eaters, bad news for the industry. Pork producers urged the Pork Board marketers to lend a hand, encouraging restaurants to incorporate more bacon into their menus.
1990
Cost of Bacon: $2.21
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.17
1991
Cost of Bacon: $2.34
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.25
1992
Cost of Bacon: $2.04
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $4.44
Just as bacon prices dipped low again, fast food giant Hardee's unveiled the Frisco Burger — a line of San Francisco-inspired sandwiches that all featured bacon. It's considered the first time a fast food company put bacon on everything. Not surprisingly, it was a hit. Other fast food companies followed Hardee's lead with more bacon options, but only for limited-time offers, as cooking bacon on-site required costly cleaning and ventilation.
1993
Cost of Bacon: $2.16
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $4.57
1994
Cost of Bacon: $2.30
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $4.74
1995
Cost of Bacon: $2.34
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $4.69
Great strides in precooked-bacon technology during the early '90s made it much easier for fast food companies to add bacon to their sandwiches. As a result, McDonald's launched the Bacon Double Cheeseburger and Quarter Pounder BLT, followed by Burger King's Whopper with bacon and Wendy's Baconator. The trend set in motion bacon's rise in popularity and prices increased with demand.
1996
Cost of Bacon: $2.90
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.65
1997
Cost of Bacon: $3.20
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.09
1998
Cost of Bacon: $2.96
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.55
1999
Cost of Bacon: $2.95
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $5.41
2000
Cost of Bacon: $3.46
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.14
After a few years of lower prices, bacon returned to its status as America's favorite topping. At the same time, kale and healthy smoothies became increasingly popular, which prompted a counter-trend of bacon-lovers looking to indulge with even more bacon.
2001
Cost of Bacon: $3.60
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.22
2002
Cost of Bacon: $3.63
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.17
Cookbook author Sara Perry releases "Everything Tastes Better With Bacon," in May, and America agrees in a big way, seeming to take the title as a call to action. Despite the continued rising cost of bacon, we begin to see bacon everywhere — from bacon ice cream to bacon-topped doughnuts.
2003
Cost of Bacon: $3.83
Inflation-Adjusted Cost: $6.36
This article was originally published on Cheapism
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