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The Cost of a Beer: Then and Now

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 Graphic, 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.

Although the data shows how much Americans paid for a pint of beer from 1952 onward, the images throughout the list depict people around the world enjoying the beverage.

Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton enjoys a pint of Guinness while campaigning in the Midwest.

Historical Price of Beer: $0.65
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.93

1950

Historical Price of Beer: $0.65
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.80

1951

Historical Price of Beer: $0.67
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.93

1952

Historical Price of Beer: $0.67
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.91

1953

Historical Price of Beer: $0.68
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $6.01

1954

Historical Price of Beer: $0.69
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $6.01

1955

Historical Price of Beer: $0.69
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.82

1956

Historical Price of Beer: $0.69
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.82

1957

Historical Price of Beer: $0.70
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.74

1958

Historical Price of Beer: $0.71
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.68

1959

Historical Price of Beer: $0.71
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.62

1960

Historical Price of Beer: $0.72
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.64

1961

Historical Price of Beer: $0.72
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.64

1962

Historical Price of Beer: $0.74
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.65

1963

Historical Price of Beer: $0.75
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.63

1964

Historical Price of Beer: $0.75
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.63

1965

Historical Price of Beer: $0.79
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.61

1966

Historical Price of Beer: $0.82
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.58

1967

Historical Price of Beer: $0.82
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.58

1968

Historical Price of Beer: $0.86
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.55

1969

Historical Price of Beer: $0.89
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.43

1970

Historical Price of Beer: $0.91
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.32

1972

Historical Price of Beer: $1.01
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.38

1973

Historical Price of Beer: $1.09
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.23

1974

Historical Price of Beer: $1.09
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $5.23

1975

Historical Price of Beer: $1.15
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.78

1976

Historical Price of Beer: $1.15
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.78

1977

Historical Price of Beer: $1.32
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.79

1978

Historical Price of Beer: $1.42
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.63

1979

Historical Price of Beer: $1.52
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.37

1980

Historical Price of Beer: $1.59
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.14

1981

Historical Price of Beer: $1.65
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.05

1982

Historical Price of Beer: $1.70
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.04

1983

Historical Price of Beer: $1.75
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $3.99

1984

Historical Price of Beer: $1.75
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $3.99

1985

1986

Historical Price of Beer: $1.83
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.03

1987

Historical Price of Beer: $1.88
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.06

1988

Historical Price of Beer: $1.95
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.06

1989

Historical Price of Beer: $2.13
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.07

1990

Historical Price of Beer: $2.13
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.07

1991

Historical Price of Beer: $2.43
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.22

1992

Historical Cost of Beer: $2.47
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.17

1993

 Historical Cost of Beer: $2.50
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.10
1994

Historical Price of Beer: $2.54
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.06

1995

Historical Price of Beer: $2.54
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.06

1996

Historical Cost of Beer: $2.68
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.04

1997

Historical Price of Beer: $2.73
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.03

1998

Historical Cost of Beer: $2.80
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.07

1999

Historical Cost of Beer: $2.88
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.09

2000

Historical Cost of Beer: $2.88
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.09

2001

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.02
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.04

2002

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.08
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.05

2003

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.17
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.08

2004

 Historical Cost of Beer: $3.23
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.05
2005

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.31
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.01

2006

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.41
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.00

2007

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.41
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.00

2008

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.64
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.00

2009

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.68
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.06

2010

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.73
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.05

2011

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.80
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $4.00

2012

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.87
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $3.99

2013

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.91
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $3.97

2014

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.91
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $3.97

2015

Historical Cost of Beer: $3.99
Inflation-Adjusted Price of Beer: $3.99

2016

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Karen Walker:
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