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

BLS average price

How much did potato chips cost in August 1981?

Potato chips averaged $2.29 per 16 ounces in August 1981.

$2.29

per 16 ounces in August 1981

Adjusted with CPI-U, that is about $8.40 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 July 1981
Potato chips prices in September 1981
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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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