Saving & Spending Budgeting & Expenses

Are Beer Prices Going Up? Not as Much as You Might Think [Study]

FinanceBuzz "poured" over government and retail data to determine whether beer prices are as inflation-resistant as experts and history suggest.

By Josh Koebert

Edited by Melinda Sineriz, ABFP™

Updated Sept. 12, 2025

From eggs to beef products, grocery inflation has been a persistent subject for the last few years. All told, the national inflation rate since 2015 stands at 35%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but grocery and food prices have increased by 37%.

While inflation drives up the cost of most items at the grocery store, not everything rises in price equally. In particular, beer and alcohol products have been relatively inflation resistant. But in the tariff era, does this hold?

To find out how costs have changed over the past decade, our research team analyzed government data on beer and alcohol prices and collected current and historical costs for some of the most popular beer brands in the country.

Key findings

The cost for alcohol purchased for at-home consumption has risen by just 16% since 2015, less than half the overall national rate of inflation (35%).
Beer prices have also risen more slowly than inflation, as the cost for beer consumed at home has gone up 29% in the last decade.
The cost of a 12-pack has increased by 41% on average.

Beer prices compared to inflation

With prices for so many products increasing in unexpected ways in recent years, it is harder than ever to manage your money and budget effectively. Thankfully for consumers looking to unwind with a drink now and then, alcohol appears to be an area where price hikes aren't breaking the bank.

From 2015 to 2025, the national inflation rate was 35%, with some products and industries raising prices even higher than that. Others were able to keep prices relatively stable. Alcohol falls into the latter category, regardless of where it is purchased and consumed.

According to the government's Consumer Price Index, the cost of all alcohol purchased in a liquor store for consumption at home has increased by just 16% since 2015, which is a rate of 1.6% per year. That means that not only have alcohol costs risen more slowly than the actual inflation rate, but they have also risen more slowly than the Federal Reserve's target rate of inflation of 2% annually.

When limiting the data to beer and similar malt alcohol beverages consumed at home, cost increases are a little higher but still below the overall rate of inflation, at just 29% from 2015 to 2025. It is worth noting, however, that from 2015 to 2020, the cost of at-home beer actually rose faster than inflation; however, the national inflation rate has consistently outpaced annual beer price increases since that time.

How prices have changed for different beer brands

To get a more relatable look at how beer prices have changed, our team collected prices from a major nationwide alcohol retailer for 12-packs of bottles and cans for 15 of the most popular beers in the country in both 2015 and 2025 to see how those costs have changed.

Changes in Average Cost for a 12-Pack of Beer, 2015–2025
Beer Type	Average Price 2015	Average Price 2025	Change
Bottles	$11.69	$16.52	41%
Cans	$11.56	$16.26	41%
Overall	$11.62	$16.39	41%
Based on the average price for a 12-pack of 12-ounce bottles or cans across 15 of the most popular beer brands in the United States.

Prices for these popular and bestselling beer brands have outpaced overall prices for beer purchased for home consumption, as well as general grocery costs. Since 2015, the average cost for a 12-pack of bottles or cans has risen by 41%. That is 12 points higher than the 29% cost increase for at-home beer purchases, and four points higher than the 37% hike for all food and beverages in that time, according to the CPI.

Examining the specifics of how prices have changed for various popular beer brands, we found that all but two of the 15 beers we analyzed increased prices at a rate equal to or faster than inflation since 2015. Of note, this is a limited sample of one retailer only; pricing may vary regionally, at different stores, and even month-to-month depending on sales, so increases may be a reflection of the retailer rather than the beers.

While the majority of the brands outpaced the national inflation rate, price hikes for many were within 10 points of inflation. That includes four beer brands (Bud Light, Budweiser, Coors Light, and Miller Lite) that were marked up 36%, a single point higher than the national inflation rate, and two (Corona Extra and Modelo Especial) that matched it exactly.

Budget for your favorite brews

While beer has avoided the sweeping effects of inflation for the most part, there are still plenty of ways to save money while enjoying responsibly.

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Deliver a six-pack for someone and get paid. Uber Eats now offers delivery services from participating liquor stores. Signing up to deliver with Uber Eats can be a fruitful side hustle for extra money in your budget.

Methodology

Government data found via the Consumer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Beer prices sourced from the Total Wine and More website. Historical pricing found via the same source using the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. The store location for both current and historic was set to the same major American city. Prices are only a reflection of one retailer, and prices (current or past) may vary across retailers, regions, or stores. Because of this, price increases for specific brands and products may be a reflection of the retailer, not necessarily beer manufacturers.

Beer brands included in the study were chosen based on a YouGov survey of popular beers.

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