According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks were 219.22% higher in 2020 versus 1979 (a $43.84 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2020: All items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.87% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $63.84 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.15% during this same period, inflation for all items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 6.87%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for all items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks during the 1979-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for all items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks was much lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for All items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 39.569 | 41.408 | 43.500 | 45.800 | 48.046 | 49.231 | 50.631 | 54.562 | 59.177 | 63.123 | 66.838 | 70.623 | 75.477 | 82.408 | 89.392 | 95.631 | 100.131 | 104.223 | 108.538 | 113.085 | 117.623 | 122.577 | 128.138 | 134.585 | 141.685 | 147.092 | 152.000 | 156.015 | 160.169 | 164.138 | 167.654 | 170.500 | 173.300 | 176.562 | 180.100 | 183.031 | 185.085 | 187.769 | 191.069 | 194.731 | 197.752 | 202.263 | 207.226 | 210.374 | 214.162 | 218.730 | 221.881 | 224.198 | 226.504 | 229.933 | 232.190 | 235.284 | 238.497 | 240.940 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items less food, shelter, energy, and used cars and trucks, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 6.87% |
| 1980 | $21.84 | 9.18% |
| 1981 | $23.69 | 8.48% |
| 1982 | $25.34 | 6.98% |
| 1983 | $26.53 | 4.71% |
| 1984 | $27.62 | 4.09% |
| 1985 | $28.76 | 4.14% |
| 1986 | $29.97 | 4.19% |
| 1987 | $31.17 | 4.01% |
| 1988 | $32.48 | 4.21% |
| 1989 | $33.95 | 4.54% |
| 1990 | $35.66 | 5.03% |
| 1991 | $37.54 | 5.28% |
| 1992 | $38.98 | 3.82% |
| 1993 | $40.28 | 3.34% |
| 1994 | $41.34 | 2.64% |
| 1995 | $42.44 | 2.66% |
| 1996 | $43.49 | 2.48% |
| 1997 | $44.43 | 2.14% |
| 1998 | $45.18 | 1.70% |
| 1999 | $45.92 | 1.64% |
| 2000 | $46.79 | 1.88% |
| 2001 | $47.72 | 2.00% |
| 2002 | $48.50 | 1.63% |
| 2003 | $49.04 | 1.12% |
| 2004 | $49.76 | 1.45% |
| 2005 | $50.63 | 1.76% |
| 2006 | $51.60 | 1.92% |
| 2007 | $52.40 | 1.55% |
| 2008 | $53.60 | 2.28% |
| 2009 | $54.91 | 2.45% |
| 2010 | $55.75 | 1.52% |
| 2011 | $56.75 | 1.80% |
| 2012 | $57.96 | 2.13% |
| 2013 | $58.79 | 1.44% |
| 2014 | $59.41 | 1.04% |
| 2015 | $60.02 | 1.03% |
| 2016 | $60.93 | 1.51% |
| 2017 | $61.53 | 0.98% |
| 2018 | $62.35 | 1.33% |
| 2019 | $63.20 | 1.37% |
| 2020 | $63.84 | 1.02%* |