According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food are 1,923.45% higher in 2026 versus 1938 (a $384.69 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2026:All items less food experienced an average inflation rate of 3.48% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less food costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $404.69 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% during this same period, inflation for all items less food was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by 1.44%, which is below the average yearly change for all items less food during the 1938-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for all items less food was much 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 | 1.44% |
| 1939 | $19.86 | -0.68% |
| 1940 | $19.93 | 0.32% |
| 1941 | $20.49 | 2.84% |
| 1942 | $21.95 | 7.12% |
| 1943 | $22.51 | 2.53% |
| 1944 | $23.40 | 3.96% |
| 1945 | $23.97 | 2.42% |
| 1946 | $24.96 | 4.16% |
| 1947 | $27.29 | 9.33% |
| 1948 | $29.27 | 7.23% |
| 1949 | $29.60 | 1.15% |
| 1950 | $29.95 | 1.17% |
| 1951 | $31.85 | 6.34% |
| 1952 | $32.63 | 2.47% |
| 1953 | $33.24 | 1.86% |
| 1954 | $33.43 | 0.57% |
| 1955 | $33.55 | 0.35% |
| 1956 | $34.12 | 1.72% |
| 1957 | $35.26 | 3.32% |
| 1958 | $36.03 | 2.20% |
| 1959 | $36.72 | 1.89% |
| 1960 | $37.35 | 1.71% |
| 1961 | $37.75 | 1.10% |
| 1962 | $38.21 | 1.20% |
| 1963 | $38.68 | 1.24% |
| 1964 | $39.20 | 1.36% |
| 1965 | $39.73 | 1.34% |
| 1966 | $40.69 | 2.43% |
| 1967 | $42.05 | 3.33% |
| 1968 | $43.91 | 4.44% |
| 1969 | $46.32 | 5.47% |
| 1970 | $49.13 | 6.07% |
| 1971 | $51.36 | 4.55% |
| 1972 | $52.92 | 3.02% |
| 1973 | $54.95 | 3.85% |
| 1974 | $60.41 | 9.93% |
| 1975 | $66.09 | 9.40% |
| 1976 | $70.45 | 6.61% |
| 1977 | $75.06 | 6.54% |
| 1978 | $80.44 | 7.17% |
| 1979 | $89.59 | 11.37% |
| 1980 | $102.63 | 14.56% |
| 1981 | $113.81 | 10.89% |
| 1982 | $121.29 | 6.57% |
| 1983 | $125.50 | 3.47% |
| 1984 | $130.95 | 4.35% |
| 1985 | $136.01 | 3.86% |
| 1986 | $138.21 | 1.61% |
| 1987 | $143.10 | 3.54% |
| 1988 | $148.91 | 4.06% |
| 1989 | $155.77 | 4.61% |
| 1990 | $164.05 | 5.31% |
| 1991 | $171.43 | 4.50% |
| 1992 | $177.23 | 3.38% |
| 1993 | $182.75 | 3.11% |
| 1994 | $187.56 | 2.63% |
| 1995 | $192.78 | 2.79% |
| 1996 | $198.31 | 2.87% |
| 1997 | $202.85 | 2.29% |
| 1998 | $205.78 | 1.44% |
| 1999 | $210.31 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $217.82 | 3.57% |
| 2001 | $223.86 | 2.77% |
| 2002 | $227.30 | 1.54% |
| 2003 | $232.51 | 2.29% |
| 2004 | $238.44 | 2.55% |
| 2005 | $246.85 | 3.53% |
| 2006 | $255.22 | 3.39% |
| 2007 | $262.03 | 2.67% |
| 2008 | $271.39 | 3.57% |
| 2009 | $269.47 | -0.71% |
| 2010 | $274.29 | 1.79% |
| 2011 | $282.69 | 3.06% |
| 2012 | $288.31 | 1.99% |
| 2013 | $292.56 | 1.48% |
| 2014 | $296.94 | 1.50% |
| 2015 | $296.45 | -0.16% |
| 2016 | $300.66 | 1.42% |
| 2017 | $307.67 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | $315.69 | 2.60% |
| 2019 | $321.38 | 1.80% |
| 2020 | $324.21 | 0.88% |
| 2021 | $339.84 | 4.82% |
| 2022 | $366.01 | 7.70% |
| 2023 | $380.12 | 3.86% |
| 2024 | $391.75 | 3.06% |
| 2025 | $402.07 | 2.64% |
| 2026 | $404.69 | 0.65%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 15.000 | 15.158 | 15.658 | 15.883 | 15.775 | 15.825 | 16.275 | 17.433 | 17.875 | 18.583 | 19.033 | 19.825 | 21.675 | 23.242 | 23.508 | 23.783 | 25.292 | 25.917 | 26.400 | 26.550 | 26.642 | 27.100 | 28.000 | 28.617 | 29.158 | 29.658 | 29.983 | 30.342 | 30.717 | 31.133 | 31.550 | 32.317 | 33.392 | 34.875 | 36.783 | 39.017 | 40.792 | 42.025 | 43.642 | 47.975 | 52.483 | 55.950 | 59.608 | 63.883 | 71.150 | 81.508 | 90.383 | 96.325 | 99.667 | 104.000 | 108.017 | 109.758 | 113.642 | 118.258 | 123.708 | 130.283 | 136.142 | 140.750 | 145.133 | 148.950 | 153.100 | 157.492 | 161.100 | 163.425 | 167.025 | 172.983 | 177.783 | 180.517 | 184.650 | 189.358 | 196.042 | 202.683 | 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 | 301.880 | 311.111 | 319.314 | 321.391 |