All items less food price inflation, 1989→2026

All Items Less Food Inflation Calculator

Prices for All Items Less Food, 1989-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food are 159.80% higher in 2026 versus 1989 (a $31.96 difference in value).

Between 1989 and 2026:All items less food experienced an average inflation rate of 2.61% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items less food costing $20 in the year 1989 would cost $51.96 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.63% during this same period, inflation for all items less food was lower.

In the year 1989: Pricing changed by 4.61%, which is above the average yearly change for all items less food during the 1989-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1989 (4.83%), inflation for all items less food was lower.

Price Inflation for All items less food since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (14.56%), 1979 (11.37%), and 1981 (10.89%).

View price changes for other categories
Bread · College tuition and fees · Bananas · Alcoholic beverages · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1989

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items less food, over time, for $20 beginning in 1989. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1989	$20.00	4.61%
1990	$21.06	5.31%
1991	$22.01	4.50%
1992	$22.76	3.38%
1993	$23.46	3.11%
1994	$24.08	2.63%
1995	$24.75	2.79%
1996	$25.46	2.87%
1997	$26.05	2.29%
1998	$26.42	1.44%
1999	$27.00	2.20%
2000	$27.97	3.57%
2001	$28.74	2.77%
2002	$29.18	1.54%
2003	$29.85	2.29%
2004	$30.61	2.55%
2005	$31.69	3.53%
2006	$32.77	3.39%
2007	$33.64	2.67%
2008	$34.84	3.57%
2009	$34.60	-0.71%
2010	$35.22	1.79%
2011	$36.30	3.06%
2012	$37.02	1.99%
2013	$37.56	1.48%
2014	$38.12	1.50%
2015	$38.06	-0.16%
2016	$38.60	1.42%
2017	$39.50	2.33%
2018	$40.53	2.60%
2019	$41.26	1.80%
2020	$41.63	0.88%
2021	$43.63	4.82%
2022	$46.99	7.70%
2023	$48.81	3.86%
2024	$50.30	3.06%
2025	$51.62	2.64%
2026	$51.96	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

Adjust all items less food prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1989* 1989 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for All items less food was 123.708 in the year 1989 and 321.391 in 2026:

321.391 / 123.708* $20 = $51.96

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1989 has the same "purchasing power" as $51.96 in 2026 (in the CPI category of All items less food).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for All items less food in 1935. In addition to all items less food, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.