According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food and energy are 256.78% higher in 2024 versus 1981 (a $51.36 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2024: Core inflation experienced an average inflation rate of 3% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, core inflation costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $71.36 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% during this same period, inflation for core inflation was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 10.46%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for core inflation during the 1981-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for core inflation was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Core inflation, 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 | 10.46% |
| 1982 | $21.48 | 7.40% |
| 1983 | $22.33 | 3.93% |
| 1984 | $23.43 | 4.95% |
| 1985 | $24.45 | 4.37% |
| 1986 | $25.44 | 4.04% |
| 1987 | $26.49 | 4.12% |
| 1988 | $27.66 | 4.41% |
| 1989 | $28.91 | 4.51% |
| 1990 | $30.36 | 5.03% |
| 1991 | $31.85 | 4.91% |
| 1992 | $33.01 | 3.66% |
| 1993 | $34.11 | 3.31% |
| 1994 | $35.08 | 2.85% |
| 1995 | $36.13 | 2.99% |
| 1996 | $37.11 | 2.71% |
| 1997 | $37.99 | 2.38% |
| 1998 | $38.86 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $39.67 | 2.08% |
| 2000 | $40.63 | 2.43% |
| 2001 | $41.72 | 2.67% |
| 2002 | $42.68 | 2.32% |
| 2003 | $43.30 | 1.45% |
| 2004 | $44.07 | 1.76% |
| 2005 | $45.02 | 2.17% |
| 2006 | $46.15 | 2.50% |
| 2007 | $47.23 | 2.34% |
| 2008 | $48.31 | 2.30% |
| 2009 | $49.13 | 1.70% |
| 2010 | $49.61 | 0.96% |
| 2011 | $50.43 | 1.66% |
| 2012 | $51.49 | 2.11% |
| 2013 | $52.40 | 1.76% |
| 2014 | $53.32 | 1.75% |
| 2015 | $54.29 | 1.83% |
| 2016 | $55.49 | 2.21% |
| 2017 | $56.52 | 1.84% |
| 2018 | $57.73 | 2.14% |
| 2019 | $58.99 | 2.19% |
| 2020 | $59.99 | 1.70% |
| 2021 | $62.14 | 3.57% |
| 2022 | $65.96 | 6.15% |
| 2023 | $69.11 | 4.78% |
| 2024 | $71.36 | 3.24%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 28.931 | 29.592 | 30.185 | 30.638 | 30.985 | 31.408 | 31.800 | 32.277 | 32.738 | 33.538 | 34.708 | 36.315 | 38.423 | 40.823 | 42.738 | 44.046 | 45.585 | 49.346 | 53.892 | 57.431 | 61.023 | 65.485 | 71.862 | 80.785 | 89.238 | 95.846 | 99.615 | 104.546 | 109.115 | 113.523 | 118.200 | 123.415 | 128.977 | 135.462 | 142.108 | 147.308 | 152.177 | 156.515 | 161.200 | 165.562 | 169.508 | 173.385 | 176.985 | 181.292 | 186.131 | 190.454 | 193.223 | 196.623 | 200.892 | 205.915 | 210.729 | 215.572 | 219.235 | 221.337 | 225.008 | 229.755 | 233.806 | 237.897 | 242.247 | 247.602 | 252.169 | 257.565 | 263.211 | 267.693 | 277.255 | 294.307 | 308.381 | 318.384 |