The Cost of a Beer: Then and Now
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Cracking open a cold one has always been a common symbol of friendship and relaxation. Some believe beer has certain health benefits, and it is the favorite alcoholic drink of our current president. In many ways it is a staple of American diet and culture.
Originally created in ancient Mesopotamia, beer has since matured from unrefined jugs of fermented barley to a popular commercial product with thousands of different brands. Now, it is consumed daily by people all over the world.
MooseRoots, a genealogy research site powered by Graphiq, set out to discover how the price of beer has changed over time. Using data aggregate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and PintPrice.com, MooseRoots found the average cost of a pint dating back to 1952. The team calculated the historical price of a pint of beer, as well as the inflation-adjusted price to find out just how much people were paying for their brews back then.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAs illustrated in the above visualization, although the historical cost of a pint increases over time, the real, inflation-adjusted price has decreased.
In 1952, people were paying $0.65 for a pint, but adjusted for inflation that is the equivalent of paying $5.93 today. Compared to 2016's average price of $3.99 this is fairly expensive.
Now, in 2015 the cost of a pint of beer is $3.99. So, for those still preoccupied with 1985, rejoice because the value of a beer is exactly the same as it was back then.
Check out the complete list of historical and inflation-adjusted beer prices from 1952-2016 below.
Research More CPI Data on MooseRoots
Related Slideshow: 21 Things You Must Eat and Drink in RI This Summer
Related Articles
- NEW: Narragansett Beer Announces the Return of Oktoberfest Brew
- NEW: Rhode Island’s Narragansett Brewery Launches New Beer
- Beervana Fest Returns To Rhode Island
- Newport Storm Adds Coffee To Brew For First ‘After Dinner’ Beer
- College Guide 2013: Best Places to Grab a Beer
- Best Beer Getaways in New England
- NEW: Which States Drink the Most Beer?
- 5 Weekend Musts: Spring Beer Festival + More
- 5 Weekend Musts: Dandies in Providence, Beer in Newport + More
- Pawtucket’s Bucket Brewery Joins RI’s Beer Scene
- Best RI Spots For Beer And A Bite With Dad
- Holiday Shopping Guide 2013: Great Gifts for Beer Lovers
- Narragansett Beer Debuts New Del’s Shandy
- Newport Storm Brewery Releases New Sourpuss Beer
- Smoke House Brings Back Newport Storm Beer Dinner Series
- Ask a Bartender: Why are The Seasonal Beers Changing so Soon?
- Rhode Island’s Best Beer
- Narragansett Beer Names New Pale Ale After USS Massachusetts
- Nguyen: Pay to Play Investigation of Craft Beer Industry Comes to a Head
- Massive Kinsley Ave Fire is “Setback” for Narragansett Beer’s RI Relocation
- Narragansett Beer Debuts New Town Beach Imperial IPA
- Raimondo 1000+ Jobs Claim - Narragansett Beer Has 13
- Narragansett Beer Re-Releases Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout
- Narragansett Beer Honors H.P. Lovecraft with New Release
- Narragansett Beer Announces Return of Town Beach IPA