According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less energy are 662.67% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $132.53 difference in value).
Between 1972 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 1972 would cost $152.53 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for all items less energy was lower.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 3.39%, which is below the average yearly change for all items less energy during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), 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 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $20.00 | 3.39% |
| 1973 | $21.21 | 6.03% |
| 1974 | $23.30 | 9.86% |
| 1975 | $25.40 | 9.03% |
| 1976 | $26.83 | 5.64% |
| 1977 | $28.51 | 6.25% |
| 1978 | $30.72 | 7.77% |
| 1979 | $33.79 | 9.97% |
| 1980 | $37.73 | 11.67% |
| 1981 | $41.49 | 9.96% |
| 1982 | $44.28 | 6.74% |
| 1983 | $45.86 | 3.57% |
| 1984 | $48.02 | 4.70% |
| 1985 | $49.91 | 3.93% |
| 1986 | $51.84 | 3.88% |
| 1987 | $53.98 | 4.12% |
| 1988 | $56.33 | 4.35% |
| 1989 | $59.00 | 4.75% |
| 1990 | $62.05 | 5.16% |
| 1991 | $64.89 | 4.57% |
| 1992 | $66.98 | 3.23% |
| 1993 | $69.06 | 3.11% |
| 1994 | $70.97 | 2.77% |
| 1995 | $73.08 | 2.97% |
| 1996 | $75.13 | 2.80% |
| 1997 | $76.94 | 2.42% |
| 1998 | $78.70 | 2.28% |
| 1999 | $80.34 | 2.08% |
| 2000 | $82.27 | 2.41% |
| 2001 | $84.53 | 2.74% |
| 2002 | $86.42 | 2.24% |
| 2003 | $87.77 | 1.55% |
| 2004 | $89.55 | 2.03% |
| 2005 | $91.53 | 2.21% |
| 2006 | $93.81 | 2.48% |
| 2007 | $96.22 | 2.58% |
| 2008 | $98.91 | 2.79% |
| 2009 | $100.60 | 1.71% |
| 2010 | $101.54 | 0.93% |
| 2011 | $103.54 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | $105.80 | 2.18% |
| 2013 | $107.60 | 1.70% |
| 2014 | $109.59 | 1.85% |
| 2015 | $111.60 | 1.83% |
| 2016 | $113.74 | 1.92% |
| 2017 | $115.67 | 1.70% |
| 2018 | $118.02 | 2.03% |
| 2019 | $120.56 | 2.15% |
| 2020 | $122.92 | 1.96% |
| 2021 | $127.38 | 3.63% |
| 2022 | $135.92 | 6.70% |
| 2023 | $142.62 | 4.93% |
| 2024 | $147.28 | 3.27% |
| 2025 | $151.45 | 2.83% |
| 2026 | $152.53 | 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 |