According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less energy are 254.69% higher in 2024 versus 1981 (a $50.94 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2024: All items less energy experienced an average inflation rate of 2.99% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less energy costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $70.94 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% during this same period, inflation for all items less energy was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 9.96%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for all items less energy during the 1981-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for all items less energy was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items less energy, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 9.96% |
| 1982 | $21.35 | 6.74% |
| 1983 | $22.11 | 3.58% |
| 1984 | $23.15 | 4.70% |
| 1985 | $24.06 | 3.93% |
| 1986 | $24.99 | 3.88% |
| 1987 | $26.02 | 4.11% |
| 1988 | $27.15 | 4.35% |
| 1989 | $28.44 | 4.75% |
| 1990 | $29.91 | 5.16% |
| 1991 | $31.28 | 4.57% |
| 1992 | $32.29 | 3.23% |
| 1993 | $33.29 | 3.11% |
| 1994 | $34.22 | 2.76% |
| 1995 | $35.23 | 2.97% |
| 1996 | $36.22 | 2.80% |
| 1997 | $37.09 | 2.42% |
| 1998 | $37.94 | 2.28% |
| 1999 | $38.73 | 2.08% |
| 2000 | $39.66 | 2.41% |
| 2001 | $40.75 | 2.74% |
| 2002 | $41.67 | 2.25% |
| 2003 | $42.31 | 1.55% |
| 2004 | $43.17 | 2.03% |
| 2005 | $44.13 | 2.21% |
| 2006 | $45.22 | 2.48% |
| 2007 | $46.39 | 2.58% |
| 2008 | $47.68 | 2.79% |
| 2009 | $48.50 | 1.71% |
| 2010 | $48.95 | 0.93% |
| 2011 | $49.91 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | $51.00 | 2.18% |
| 2013 | $51.87 | 1.70% |
| 2014 | $52.83 | 1.85% |
| 2015 | $53.80 | 1.83% |
| 2016 | $54.83 | 1.92% |
| 2017 | $55.77 | 1.70% |
| 2018 | $56.90 | 2.03% |
| 2019 | $58.12 | 2.15% |
| 2020 | $59.26 | 1.96% |
| 2021 | $61.41 | 3.63% |
| 2022 | $65.52 | 6.70% |
| 2023 | $68.75 | 4.93% |
| 2024 | $70.94 | 3.18%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 28.869 | 29.692 | 29.962 | 30.392 | 30.723 | 31.123 | 31.523 | 31.969 | 32.477 | 33.477 | 34.415 | 35.931 | 37.969 | 40.277 | 42.000 | 43.423 | 46.046 | 50.585 | 55.146 | 58.254 | 61.900 | 66.708 | 73.362 | 81.915 | 90.077 | 96.146 | 99.585 | 104.269 | 108.369 | 112.569 | 117.200 | 122.300 | 128.108 | 134.723 | 140.885 | 145.431 | 149.954 | 154.100 | 158.677 | 163.123 | 167.069 | 170.877 | 174.431 | 178.631 | 183.531 | 187.654 | 190.569 | 194.438 | 198.738 | 203.677 | 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 | 319.494 |