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Financial tools for understanding prices, value, and purchasing power.

BLS average price

How much did potato chips cost in May 1981?

Potato chips averaged $2.27 per 16 ounces in May 1981.

$2.27

per 16 ounces in May 1981

Adjusted with CPI-U, that is about $8.32 in 2026 dollars.

See calculation

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Price Data, APU0000718311. Imported from BLS bulk time-series files (raw published monthly values).

Related historical prices

Potato chips prices in 1981
Historical potato chip prices
Potato chips prices in April 1981
Potato chips prices in June 1981
Grocery inflation calculator

Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — CPI-U. Series CUUR0000SA0, base period 1982–84 = 100. Coverage: 1913–2026. April CPI is used for 2026 until the annual average is published.

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