According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food are 1,870.57% higher in 2024 versus 1939 (a $374.11 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2024: All items less food experienced an average inflation rate of 3.57% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less food costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $394.11 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.73% during this same period, inflation for all items less food was lower.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -0.50%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for all items less food during the 1939-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.31%), 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 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -0.50% |
| 1940 | $20.08 | 0.40% |
| 1941 | $20.63 | 2.74% |
| 1942 | $22.09 | 7.09% |
| 1943 | $22.66 | 2.56% |
| 1944 | $23.55 | 3.96% |
| 1945 | $24.12 | 2.40% |
| 1946 | $25.12 | 4.16% |
| 1947 | $27.47 | 9.35% |
| 1948 | $29.46 | 7.24% |
| 1949 | $29.79 | 1.13% |
| 1950 | $30.15 | 1.18% |
| 1951 | $32.06 | 6.34% |
| 1952 | $32.85 | 2.46% |
| 1953 | $33.46 | 1.87% |
| 1954 | $33.66 | 0.58% |
| 1955 | $33.76 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | $34.35 | 1.73% |
| 1957 | $35.49 | 3.32% |
| 1958 | $36.27 | 2.20% |
| 1959 | $36.96 | 1.91% |
| 1960 | $37.59 | 1.71% |
| 1961 | $38.00 | 1.09% |
| 1962 | $38.45 | 1.18% |
| 1963 | $38.93 | 1.24% |
| 1964 | $39.46 | 1.35% |
| 1965 | $39.99 | 1.36% |
| 1966 | $40.96 | 2.41% |
| 1967 | $42.32 | 3.33% |
| 1968 | $44.20 | 4.45% |
| 1969 | $46.62 | 5.47% |
| 1970 | $49.45 | 6.06% |
| 1971 | $51.70 | 4.55% |
| 1972 | $53.26 | 3.02% |
| 1973 | $55.32 | 3.86% |
| 1974 | $60.81 | 9.92% |
| 1975 | $66.52 | 9.40% |
| 1976 | $70.92 | 6.61% |
| 1977 | $75.55 | 6.53% |
| 1978 | $80.97 | 7.18% |
| 1979 | $90.18 | 11.38% |
| 1980 | $103.31 | 14.55% |
| 1981 | $114.56 | 10.89% |
| 1982 | $122.08 | 6.57% |
| 1983 | $126.32 | 3.47% |
| 1984 | $131.81 | 4.35% |
| 1985 | $136.90 | 3.86% |
| 1986 | $139.11 | 1.62% |
| 1987 | $144.03 | 3.53% |
| 1988 | $149.89 | 4.07% |
| 1989 | $156.79 | 4.61% |
| 1990 | $165.13 | 5.32% |
| 1991 | $172.55 | 4.49% |
| 1992 | $178.40 | 3.39% |
| 1993 | $183.94 | 3.11% |
| 1994 | $188.79 | 2.63% |
| 1995 | $194.04 | 2.78% |
| 1996 | $199.61 | 2.87% |
| 1997 | $204.18 | 2.29% |
| 1998 | $207.13 | 1.44% |
| 1999 | $211.69 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $219.25 | 3.57% |
| 2001 | $225.33 | 2.77% |
| 2002 | $228.79 | 1.54% |
| 2003 | $234.04 | 2.29% |
| 2004 | $240.00 | 2.55% |
| 2005 | $248.46 | 3.53% |
| 2006 | $256.89 | 3.39% |
| 2007 | $263.75 | 2.67% |
| 2008 | $273.17 | 3.57% |
| 2009 | $271.24 | -0.71% |
| 2010 | $276.08 | 1.79% |
| 2011 | $284.54 | 3.06% |
| 2012 | $290.19 | 1.99% |
| 2013 | $294.48 | 1.48% |
| 2014 | $298.88 | 1.50% |
| 2015 | $298.39 | -0.16% |
| 2016 | $302.63 | 1.42% |
| 2017 | $309.69 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | $317.76 | 2.60% |
| 2019 | $323.48 | 1.80% |
| 2020 | $326.33 | 0.88% |
| 2021 | $342.07 | 4.82% |
| 2022 | $368.41 | 7.70% |
| 2023 | $382.61 | 3.86% |
| 2024 | $394.11 | 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 |