According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less medical care are 663.82% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $132.76 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2026:All items less medical care experienced an average inflation rate of 3.77% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less medical care costing $20 in the year 1971 would cost $152.76 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.85% during this same period, inflation for all items less medical care was lower.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 4.11%, which is above the average yearly change for all items less medical care during the 1971-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.29%), inflation for all items less medical care was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items less medical care, over time, for $20 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $20.00 | 4.11% |
| 1972 | $20.66 | 3.29% |
| 1973 | $21.97 | 6.37% |
| 1974 | $24.42 | 11.14% |
| 1975 | $26.62 | 8.99% |
| 1976 | $28.08 | 5.48% |
| 1977 | $29.82 | 6.23% |
| 1978 | $32.09 | 7.60% |
| 1979 | $35.74 | 11.37% |
| 1980 | $40.61 | 13.63% |
| 1981 | $44.81 | 10.33% |
| 1982 | $47.45 | 5.89% |
| 1983 | $48.83 | 2.90% |
| 1984 | $50.84 | 4.13% |
| 1985 | $52.55 | 3.37% |
| 1986 | $53.38 | 1.56% |
| 1987 | $55.21 | 3.44% |
| 1988 | $57.39 | 3.95% |
| 1989 | $60.04 | 4.61% |
| 1990 | $63.14 | 5.17% |
| 1991 | $65.62 | 3.93% |
| 1992 | $67.41 | 2.73% |
| 1993 | $69.25 | 2.73% |
| 1994 | $70.96 | 2.46% |
| 1995 | $72.85 | 2.67% |
| 1996 | $74.94 | 2.87% |
| 1997 | $76.67 | 2.31% |
| 1998 | $77.77 | 1.43% |
| 1999 | $79.43 | 2.13% |
| 2000 | $82.06 | 3.32% |
| 2001 | $84.30 | 2.72% |
| 2002 | $85.47 | 1.39% |
| 2003 | $87.33 | 2.18% |
| 2004 | $89.57 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $92.55 | 3.32% |
| 2006 | $95.50 | 3.19% |
| 2007 | $98.12 | 2.75% |
| 2008 | $101.89 | 3.85% |
| 2009 | $101.29 | -0.59% |
| 2010 | $102.83 | 1.52% |
| 2011 | $106.09 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | $108.16 | 1.95% |
| 2013 | $109.66 | 1.39% |
| 2014 | $111.37 | 1.56% |
| 2015 | $111.28 | -0.09% |
| 2016 | $112.43 | 1.04% |
| 2017 | $114.79 | 2.09% |
| 2018 | $117.64 | 2.49% |
| 2019 | $119.66 | 1.72% |
| 2020 | $120.81 | 0.96% |
| 2021 | $126.90 | 5.04% |
| 2022 | $137.53 | 8.38% |
| 2023 | $143.64 | 4.44% |
| 2024 | $147.90 | 2.97% |
| 2025 | $151.80 | 2.64% |
| 2026 | $152.76 | 0.63%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for All items less medical care:
| Year | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 28.750 | 29.533 | 29.767 | 30.158 | 30.442 | 30.767 | 31.133 | 31.525 | 32.000 | 32.933 | 33.767 | 35.133 | 36.992 | 39.175 | 40.783 | 42.125 | 44.808 | 49.800 | 54.275 | 57.250 | 60.817 | 65.442 | 72.883 | 82.817 | 91.375 | 96.758 | 99.567 | 103.675 | 107.167 | 108.842 | 112.583 | 117.025 | 122.425 | 128.758 | 133.817 | 137.467 | 141.217 | 144.692 | 148.558 | 152.817 | 156.342 | 158.583 | 161.967 | 167.342 | 171.892 | 174.283 | 178.075 | 182.658 | 188.717 | 194.733 | 200.080 | 207.777 | 206.555 | 209.689 | 216.325 | 220.553 | 223.616 | 227.107 | 226.909 | 229.270 | 234.073 | 239.894 | 244.011 | 246.354 | 258.763 | 280.439 | 292.896 | 301.603 | 309.555 | 311.511 |