According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less energy are 722.32% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $144.46 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:All items less energy experienced an average inflation rate of 3.83% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less energy costing $20 in the year 1970 would cost $164.46 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.86% during this same period, inflation for all items less energy was lower.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 6.08%, which is above the average yearly change for all items less energy during the 1970-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.84%), inflation for all items less energy was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items less energy, over time, for $20 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $20.00 | 6.08% |
| 1971 | $20.86 | 4.28% |
| 1972 | $21.56 | 3.39% |
| 1973 | $22.86 | 6.03% |
| 1974 | $25.12 | 9.86% |
| 1975 | $27.39 | 9.03% |
| 1976 | $28.93 | 5.64% |
| 1977 | $30.74 | 6.25% |
| 1978 | $33.13 | 7.77% |
| 1979 | $36.43 | 9.97% |
| 1980 | $40.68 | 11.67% |
| 1981 | $44.73 | 9.96% |
| 1982 | $47.75 | 6.74% |
| 1983 | $49.45 | 3.57% |
| 1984 | $51.78 | 4.70% |
| 1985 | $53.81 | 3.93% |
| 1986 | $55.90 | 3.88% |
| 1987 | $58.20 | 4.12% |
| 1988 | $60.73 | 4.35% |
| 1989 | $63.62 | 4.75% |
| 1990 | $66.90 | 5.16% |
| 1991 | $69.96 | 4.57% |
| 1992 | $72.22 | 3.23% |
| 1993 | $74.46 | 3.11% |
| 1994 | $76.52 | 2.77% |
| 1995 | $78.80 | 2.97% |
| 1996 | $81.01 | 2.80% |
| 1997 | $82.96 | 2.42% |
| 1998 | $84.85 | 2.28% |
| 1999 | $86.62 | 2.08% |
| 2000 | $88.71 | 2.41% |
| 2001 | $91.14 | 2.74% |
| 2002 | $93.18 | 2.24% |
| 2003 | $94.63 | 1.55% |
| 2004 | $96.56 | 2.03% |
| 2005 | $98.69 | 2.21% |
| 2006 | $101.14 | 2.48% |
| 2007 | $103.75 | 2.58% |
| 2008 | $106.64 | 2.79% |
| 2009 | $108.47 | 1.71% |
| 2010 | $109.48 | 0.93% |
| 2011 | $111.64 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | $114.07 | 2.18% |
| 2013 | $116.02 | 1.70% |
| 2014 | $118.16 | 1.85% |
| 2015 | $120.33 | 1.83% |
| 2016 | $122.64 | 1.92% |
| 2017 | $124.72 | 1.70% |
| 2018 | $127.26 | 2.03% |
| 2019 | $129.99 | 2.15% |
| 2020 | $132.54 | 1.96% |
| 2021 | $137.34 | 3.63% |
| 2022 | $146.55 | 6.70% |
| 2023 | $153.77 | 4.93% |
| 2024 | $158.79 | 3.27% |
| 2025 | $163.30 | 2.83% |
| 2026 | $164.46 | 0.72%* |
* 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 energy:
| 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 | 28.867 | 29.692 | 29.967 | 30.392 | 30.725 | 31.125 | 31.525 | 31.967 | 32.475 | 33.475 | 34.417 | 35.933 | 37.967 | 40.275 | 42.000 | 43.425 | 46.042 | 50.583 | 55.150 | 58.258 | 61.900 | 66.708 | 73.358 | 81.917 | 90.075 | 96.150 | 99.583 | 104.267 | 108.367 | 112.567 | 117.200 | 122.300 | 128.108 | 134.725 | 140.883 | 145.433 | 149.950 | 154.100 | 158.675 | 163.125 | 167.067 | 170.875 | 174.433 | 178.633 | 183.533 | 187.650 | 190.567 | 194.442 | 198.742 | 203.675 | 208.925 | 214.751 | 218.433 | 220.458 | 224.806 | 229.717 | 233.633 | 237.952 | 242.313 | 246.963 | 251.157 | 256.261 | 261.762 | 266.894 | 276.576 | 295.109 | 309.656 | 319.772 | 328.836 | 331.188 |