Core inflation priced at $20 in 1979 $88.21 in 2024

Core Inflation Inflation Calculator

$

Prices for Core Inflation, 1979-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food and energy are 341.07% higher in 2024 versus 1979 (a $68.21 difference in value).

Between 1979 and 2024: Core inflation experienced an average inflation rate of 3.35% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, core inflation costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $88.21 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.29% during this same period, inflation for core inflation was higher.

In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 9.74%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for core inflation during the 1979-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for core inflation was lower.

Price Inflation for All items less food and energy since 1957

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (12.42%), 1981 (10.46%), and 1979 (9.74%).

View price changes for other categories
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Film and photographic supplies · Educational books and supplies · St Louis, Missouri · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1979

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Core inflation, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1979$20.009.74%
1980$22.4812.42%
1981$24.8410.46%
1982$26.687.40%
1983$27.723.93%
1984$29.104.95%
1985$30.374.37%
1986$31.594.04%
1987$32.904.12%
1988$34.354.41%
1989$35.904.51%
1990$37.705.03%
1991$39.554.91%
1992$41.003.66%
1993$42.353.31%
1994$43.562.85%
1995$44.862.99%
1996$46.082.71%
1997$47.182.38%
1998$48.262.29%
1999$49.262.08%
2000$50.462.43%
2001$51.802.67%
2002$53.012.32%
2003$53.781.45%
2004$54.721.76%
2005$55.912.17%
2006$57.312.50%
2007$58.652.34%
2008$60.002.30%
2009$61.021.70%
2010$61.600.96%
2011$62.621.66%
2012$63.942.11%
2013$65.071.76%
2014$66.211.75%
2015$67.421.83%
2016$68.912.21%
2017$70.181.84%
2018$71.682.14%
2019$73.252.19%
2020$74.501.70%
2021$77.163.57%
2022$81.916.15%
2023$85.834.78%
2024$88.212.78%*

* 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:

Year19571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI28.93129.59230.18530.63830.98531.40831.80032.27732.73833.53834.70836.31538.42340.82342.73844.04645.58549.34653.89257.43161.02365.48571.86280.78589.23895.84699.615104.546109.115113.523118.200123.415128.977135.462142.108147.308152.177156.515161.200165.562169.508173.385176.985181.292186.131190.454193.223196.623200.892205.915210.729215.572219.235221.337225.008229.755233.806237.897242.247247.602252.169257.565263.211267.693277.255294.307308.381316.957

Adjust core inflation prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1979 * 1979 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for All items less food and energy was 71.862 in the year 1979 and 316.957 in 2024:

316.957 / 71.862 * $20 = $88.21

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1979 has the same "purchasing power" as $88.21 in 2024 (in the CPI category of All items less food and energy).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for All items less food and energy in 1957. In addition to core inflation, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

» Read more about inflation and investment.