According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food and energy are 404.59% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $80.92 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Core inflation experienced an average inflation rate of 3.43% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, core inflation costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $100.92 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for core inflation was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 7.31%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for core inflation during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for core inflation was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Core inflation, 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 | 7.31% |
| 1979 | $21.95 | 9.74% |
| 1980 | $24.67 | 12.42% |
| 1981 | $27.26 | 10.47% |
| 1982 | $29.27 | 7.40% |
| 1983 | $30.43 | 3.93% |
| 1984 | $31.93 | 4.94% |
| 1985 | $33.33 | 4.38% |
| 1986 | $34.67 | 4.04% |
| 1987 | $36.10 | 4.12% |
| 1988 | $37.69 | 4.41% |
| 1989 | $39.39 | 4.50% |
| 1990 | $41.37 | 5.03% |
| 1991 | $43.40 | 4.91% |
| 1992 | $44.99 | 3.66% |
| 1993 | $46.48 | 3.30% |
| 1994 | $47.80 | 2.85% |
| 1995 | $49.23 | 2.99% |
| 1996 | $50.57 | 2.70% |
| 1997 | $51.77 | 2.39% |
| 1998 | $52.95 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $54.05 | 2.08% |
| 2000 | $55.37 | 2.43% |
| 2001 | $56.85 | 2.67% |
| 2002 | $58.17 | 2.32% |
| 2003 | $59.02 | 1.46% |
| 2004 | $60.05 | 1.76% |
| 2005 | $61.36 | 2.17% |
| 2006 | $62.89 | 2.50% |
| 2007 | $64.36 | 2.34% |
| 2008 | $65.84 | 2.30% |
| 2009 | $66.96 | 1.70% |
| 2010 | $67.60 | 0.96% |
| 2011 | $68.72 | 1.66% |
| 2012 | $70.17 | 2.11% |
| 2013 | $71.41 | 1.76% |
| 2014 | $72.66 | 1.75% |
| 2015 | $73.99 | 1.83% |
| 2016 | $75.62 | 2.21% |
| 2017 | $77.02 | 1.84% |
| 2018 | $78.67 | 2.14% |
| 2019 | $80.39 | 2.19% |
| 2020 | $81.76 | 1.70% |
| 2021 | $84.68 | 3.57% |
| 2022 | $89.89 | 6.15% |
| 2023 | $94.19 | 4.78% |
| 2024 | $97.42 | 3.44% |
| 2025 | $100.20 | 2.85% |
| 2026 | $100.92 | 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 food and 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 | 28.933 | 29.592 | 30.183 | 30.642 | 30.983 | 31.408 | 31.800 | 32.275 | 32.742 | 33.542 | 34.708 | 36.317 | 38.425 | 40.825 | 42.742 | 44.050 | 45.583 | 49.342 | 53.892 | 57.433 | 61.025 | 65.483 | 71.858 | 80.783 | 89.242 | 95.850 | 99.617 | 104.542 | 109.117 | 113.525 | 118.200 | 123.417 | 128.975 | 135.458 | 142.108 | 147.308 | 152.175 | 156.517 | 161.200 | 165.558 | 169.508 | 173.383 | 176.983 | 181.292 | 186.133 | 190.450 | 193.225 | 196.625 | 200.892 | 205.917 | 210.729 | 215.572 | 219.235 | 221.337 | 225.008 | 229.755 | 233.806 | 237.897 | 242.246 | 247.602 | 252.169 | 257.565 | 263.211 | 267.693 | 277.255 | 294.307 | 308.381 | 318.983 | 328.063 | 330.425 |