How much did coffee cost in 1998?
Coffee averaged $3.77 per lb in 1998 — about $7.75 in 2026 dollars.
Monthly average price (USD per lb) · 1998
In 1998, coffee averaged $3.77 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 $3.45 in December to $4.03 in March. Over the year it fell from $4.03 in January to $3.45 in December, a 14.4% decline.
Adjusted for inflation, $3.77 in 1998 is worth about $7.75 in 2026 dollars. Today coffee averages $9.51 per lb, so in real terms it is 23% more expensive than it was in 1998. In plain (unadjusted) dollars the price is up 152% versus the 1998 average.
1998 monthly prices
| Month | Price | MoM |
|---|---|---|
| January | $4.03 | ▼ 3.3% |
| February | $3.97 | ▼ 1.3% |
| March | $4.03 | ▲ 1.5% |
| April | $3.96 | ▼ 1.8% |
| May | $3.88 | ▼ 2.0% |
| June | $3.79 | ▼ 2.4% |
| July | $3.77 | ▼ 0.4% |
| August | $3.70 | ▼ 1.8% |
| September | $3.62 | ▼ 2.3% |
| October | $3.50 | ▼ 3.2% |
| November | $3.48 | ▼ 0.6% |
| December | $3.45 | ▼ 1.0% |
| 1998 average | $3.77 |
FAQ
What was the average price of coffee in 1998?
Coffee averaged $3.77 per lb in 1998, based on 12 months of BLS average price data.
How much is $3.77 of 1998 coffee worth today?
Adjusted for inflation with the CPI-U, $3.77 in 1998 is about $7.75 in 2026 dollars.
How does the 1998 price of coffee compare to now?
Coffee now averages $9.51 per lb, up 152% from the 1998 average of $3.77.