According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less medical care are 360.65% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $72.13 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: All items less medical care experienced an average inflation rate of 3.38% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less medical care costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $92.13 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for all items less medical care was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 7.60%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for all items less medical care during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), 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 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 7.60% |
| 1979 | $22.28 | 11.38% |
| 1980 | $25.31 | 13.63% |
| 1981 | $27.93 | 10.34% |
| 1982 | $29.57 | 5.89% |
| 1983 | $30.43 | 2.90% |
| 1984 | $31.69 | 4.13% |
| 1985 | $32.75 | 3.37% |
| 1986 | $33.26 | 1.56% |
| 1987 | $34.41 | 3.44% |
| 1988 | $35.77 | 3.94% |
| 1989 | $37.42 | 4.61% |
| 1990 | $39.35 | 5.18% |
| 1991 | $40.90 | 3.92% |
| 1992 | $42.01 | 2.73% |
| 1993 | $43.16 | 2.73% |
| 1994 | $44.22 | 2.46% |
| 1995 | $45.40 | 2.67% |
| 1996 | $46.71 | 2.86% |
| 1997 | $47.78 | 2.31% |
| 1998 | $48.47 | 1.44% |
| 1999 | $49.50 | 2.13% |
| 2000 | $51.14 | 3.31% |
| 2001 | $52.54 | 2.72% |
| 2002 | $53.27 | 1.39% |
| 2003 | $54.43 | 2.18% |
| 2004 | $55.83 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $57.68 | 3.31% |
| 2006 | $59.52 | 3.19% |
| 2007 | $61.15 | 2.75% |
| 2008 | $63.50 | 3.85% |
| 2009 | $63.13 | -0.59% |
| 2010 | $64.09 | 1.52% |
| 2011 | $66.12 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | $67.41 | 1.95% |
| 2013 | $68.34 | 1.39% |
| 2014 | $69.41 | 1.56% |
| 2015 | $69.35 | -0.09% |
| 2016 | $70.07 | 1.04% |
| 2017 | $71.54 | 2.09% |
| 2018 | $73.32 | 2.49% |
| 2019 | $74.58 | 1.72% |
| 2020 | $75.29 | 0.96% |
| 2021 | $79.09 | 5.04% |
| 2022 | $85.71 | 8.38% |
| 2023 | $89.52 | 4.44% |
| 2024 | $92.13 | 2.92%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 28.746 | 29.531 | 29.769 | 30.162 | 30.446 | 30.769 | 31.131 | 31.523 | 32.000 | 32.938 | 33.762 | 35.131 | 36.992 | 39.177 | 40.785 | 42.123 | 44.808 | 49.800 | 54.277 | 57.246 | 60.815 | 65.438 | 72.885 | 82.815 | 91.377 | 96.762 | 99.569 | 103.677 | 107.169 | 108.838 | 112.585 | 117.023 | 122.423 | 128.762 | 133.815 | 137.469 | 141.215 | 144.692 | 148.562 | 152.815 | 156.338 | 158.585 | 161.969 | 167.338 | 171.892 | 174.285 | 178.077 | 182.662 | 188.715 | 194.731 | 200.080 | 207.777 | 206.555 | 209.689 | 216.325 | 220.553 | 223.616 | 227.107 | 226.909 | 229.271 | 234.073 | 239.895 | 244.012 | 246.354 | 258.763 | 280.439 | 292.896 | 301.443 |