According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food are 1,860.63% higher in 2024 versus 1938 (a $372.13 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2024: All items less food experienced an average inflation rate of 3.52% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less food costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $392.13 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.67% during this same period, inflation for all items less food was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by 0.63%, which is below the average yearly change for all items less food during the 1938-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for all items less food was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items less food, over time, for $20 beginning in 1938. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | $20.00 | 0.63% |
| 1939 | $19.90 | -0.50% |
| 1940 | $19.98 | 0.40% |
| 1941 | $20.53 | 2.74% |
| 1942 | $21.98 | 7.09% |
| 1943 | $22.54 | 2.56% |
| 1944 | $23.44 | 3.96% |
| 1945 | $24.00 | 2.40% |
| 1946 | $25.00 | 4.16% |
| 1947 | $27.34 | 9.35% |
| 1948 | $29.31 | 7.24% |
| 1949 | $29.64 | 1.13% |
| 1950 | $29.99 | 1.18% |
| 1951 | $31.89 | 6.34% |
| 1952 | $32.68 | 2.46% |
| 1953 | $33.29 | 1.87% |
| 1954 | $33.49 | 0.58% |
| 1955 | $33.59 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | $34.17 | 1.73% |
| 1957 | $35.31 | 3.32% |
| 1958 | $36.08 | 2.20% |
| 1959 | $36.77 | 1.91% |
| 1960 | $37.40 | 1.71% |
| 1961 | $37.81 | 1.09% |
| 1962 | $38.26 | 1.18% |
| 1963 | $38.73 | 1.24% |
| 1964 | $39.26 | 1.35% |
| 1965 | $39.79 | 1.36% |
| 1966 | $40.75 | 2.41% |
| 1967 | $42.11 | 3.33% |
| 1968 | $43.98 | 4.45% |
| 1969 | $46.39 | 5.47% |
| 1970 | $49.20 | 6.06% |
| 1971 | $51.44 | 4.55% |
| 1972 | $52.99 | 3.02% |
| 1973 | $55.04 | 3.86% |
| 1974 | $60.50 | 9.92% |
| 1975 | $66.18 | 9.40% |
| 1976 | $70.56 | 6.61% |
| 1977 | $75.17 | 6.53% |
| 1978 | $80.56 | 7.18% |
| 1979 | $89.73 | 11.38% |
| 1980 | $102.78 | 14.55% |
| 1981 | $113.98 | 10.89% |
| 1982 | $121.47 | 6.57% |
| 1983 | $125.69 | 3.47% |
| 1984 | $131.15 | 4.35% |
| 1985 | $136.21 | 3.86% |
| 1986 | $138.41 | 1.62% |
| 1987 | $143.30 | 3.53% |
| 1988 | $149.13 | 4.07% |
| 1989 | $156.00 | 4.61% |
| 1990 | $164.29 | 5.32% |
| 1991 | $171.68 | 4.49% |
| 1992 | $177.50 | 3.39% |
| 1993 | $183.01 | 3.11% |
| 1994 | $187.84 | 2.63% |
| 1995 | $193.06 | 2.78% |
| 1996 | $198.60 | 2.87% |
| 1997 | $203.15 | 2.29% |
| 1998 | $206.08 | 1.44% |
| 1999 | $210.62 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $218.14 | 3.57% |
| 2001 | $224.19 | 2.77% |
| 2002 | $227.64 | 1.54% |
| 2003 | $232.85 | 2.29% |
| 2004 | $238.79 | 2.55% |
| 2005 | $247.21 | 3.53% |
| 2006 | $255.59 | 3.39% |
| 2007 | $262.42 | 2.67% |
| 2008 | $271.79 | 3.57% |
| 2009 | $269.87 | -0.71% |
| 2010 | $274.69 | 1.79% |
| 2011 | $283.11 | 3.06% |
| 2012 | $288.73 | 1.99% |
| 2013 | $292.99 | 1.48% |
| 2014 | $297.37 | 1.50% |
| 2015 | $296.89 | -0.16% |
| 2016 | $301.10 | 1.42% |
| 2017 | $308.13 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | $316.15 | 2.60% |
| 2019 | $321.85 | 1.80% |
| 2020 | $324.69 | 0.88% |
| 2021 | $340.34 | 4.82% |
| 2022 | $366.55 | 7.70% |
| 2023 | $380.68 | 3.86% |
| 2024 | $392.13 | 3.01%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 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 | 15.000 | 15.183 | 15.760 | 15.860 | 15.780 | 15.843 | 16.277 | 17.431 | 17.877 | 18.585 | 19.031 | 19.823 | 21.677 | 23.246 | 23.508 | 23.785 | 25.292 | 25.915 | 26.400 | 26.554 | 26.638 | 27.100 | 28.000 | 28.615 | 29.162 | 29.662 | 29.985 | 30.338 | 30.715 | 31.131 | 31.554 | 32.315 | 33.392 | 34.877 | 36.785 | 39.015 | 40.792 | 42.023 | 43.646 | 47.977 | 52.485 | 55.954 | 59.608 | 63.885 | 71.154 | 81.508 | 90.385 | 96.323 | 99.669 | 104.000 | 108.015 | 109.762 | 113.638 | 118.262 | 123.708 | 130.285 | 136.138 | 140.754 | 145.131 | 148.954 | 153.100 | 157.492 | 161.100 | 163.423 | 167.023 | 172.985 | 177.785 | 180.515 | 184.654 | 189.362 | 196.038 | 202.685 | 208.098 | 215.528 | 214.008 | 217.828 | 224.503 | 228.962 | 232.343 | 235.818 | 235.433 | 238.773 | 244.345 | 250.710 | 255.228 | 257.477 | 269.891 | 290.672 | 301.881 | 310.955 |