THE GROCERY PRICE INDEX

How much did chicken cost in 1986?

Chicken averaged $0.84 per lb in 1986 — about $2.57 in 2026 dollars.

Chicken price in 1986 Monthly average price (USD per lb) · 1986
$0.75$0.80$0.85$0.90$0.95$1.00JanMarMayJulAugOctDecJan 1986$0.77Aug 1986$0.96Dec 1986$0.87basketreport.com

12 monthly observations · Source: BLS series APU0000706111.

In 1986, chicken averaged $0.84 per lb at the U.S. city average, across all twelve months, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data. The monthly price ranged from $0.75 in April to $0.96 in August. Over the year it rose from $0.77 in January to $0.87 in December, a 12.9% increase.

Adjusted for inflation, $0.84 in 1986 is worth about $2.57 in 2026 dollars. Today chicken averages $2.04 per lb, so in real terms it is 21% cheaper than it was in 1986. In plain (unadjusted) dollars the price is up 142% versus the 1986 average.

1986 monthly prices

MonthPriceMoM
January $0.77 ▼ 1.3%
February $0.77 ▲ 0.7%
March $0.77 ▼ 0.5%
April $0.75 ▼ 2.0%
May $0.77 ▲ 2.3%
June $0.80 ▲ 3.4%
July $0.89 ▲ 11.8%
August $0.96 ▲ 7.8%
September $0.91 ▼ 5.0%
October $0.90 ▼ 1.1%
November $0.88 ▼ 2.4%
December $0.87 ▼ 1.5%
1986 average$0.84

FAQ

What was the average price of chicken in 1986?

Chicken averaged $0.84 per lb in 1986, based on 12 months of BLS average price data.

How much is $0.84 of 1986 chicken worth today?

Adjusted for inflation with the CPI-U, $0.84 in 1986 is about $2.57 in 2026 dollars.

How does the 1986 price of chicken compare to now?

Chicken now averages $2.04 per lb, up 142% from the 1986 average of $0.84.

Cite this

Plain text
Basket Report. "Chicken price in 1986 (U.S. average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved June 26, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/chicken/1986/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000706111.
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<a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/chicken/1986/">Chicken price in 1986 (U.S. average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000706111; retrieved June 26, 2026)
APA
Basket Report. (2026). Chicken price in 1986 (U.S. average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/chicken/1986/