According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items are 734.83% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $146.97 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:All items experienced an average inflation rate of 3.86% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items costing $20 in the year 1970 would cost $166.97 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.86% during this same period, inflation for all items was similar.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.84%, which is above the average yearly change for all items during the 1970-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.84%), inflation for all items was similar.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for All items, over time, for $20 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $20.00 | 5.84% |
| 1971 | $20.86 | 4.29% |
| 1972 | $21.54 | 3.27% |
| 1973 | $22.87 | 6.18% |
| 1974 | $25.40 | 11.05% |
| 1975 | $27.72 | 9.14% |
| 1976 | $29.32 | 5.74% |
| 1977 | $31.22 | 6.50% |
| 1978 | $33.60 | 7.63% |
| 1979 | $37.39 | 11.25% |
| 1980 | $42.45 | 13.55% |
| 1981 | $46.84 | 10.33% |
| 1982 | $49.71 | 6.13% |
| 1983 | $51.31 | 3.21% |
| 1984 | $53.51 | 4.30% |
| 1985 | $55.41 | 3.55% |
| 1986 | $56.46 | 1.90% |
| 1987 | $58.53 | 3.66% |
| 1988 | $60.92 | 4.08% |
| 1989 | $63.86 | 4.83% |
| 1990 | $67.31 | 5.40% |
| 1991 | $70.16 | 4.23% |
| 1992 | $72.28 | 3.03% |
| 1993 | $74.42 | 2.95% |
| 1994 | $76.36 | 2.61% |
| 1995 | $78.50 | 2.81% |
| 1996 | $80.80 | 2.93% |
| 1997 | $82.69 | 2.34% |
| 1998 | $83.97 | 1.55% |
| 1999 | $85.81 | 2.19% |
| 2000 | $88.71 | 3.38% |
| 2001 | $91.21 | 2.83% |
| 2002 | $92.66 | 1.59% |
| 2003 | $94.76 | 2.27% |
| 2004 | $97.30 | 2.68% |
| 2005 | $100.60 | 3.39% |
| 2006 | $103.85 | 3.23% |
| 2007 | $106.81 | 2.85% |
| 2008 | $110.91 | 3.84% |
| 2009 | $110.51 | -0.36% |
| 2010 | $112.33 | 1.64% |
| 2011 | $115.87 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | $118.27 | 2.07% |
| 2013 | $120.00 | 1.46% |
| 2014 | $121.95 | 1.62% |
| 2015 | $122.10 | 0.12% |
| 2016 | $123.64 | 1.26% |
| 2017 | $126.27 | 2.13% |
| 2018 | $129.35 | 2.44% |
| 2019 | $131.70 | 1.81% |
| 2020 | $133.32 | 1.23% |
| 2021 | $139.59 | 4.70% |
| 2022 | $150.76 | 8.00% |
| 2023 | $156.96 | 4.12% |
| 2024 | $161.59 | 2.95% |
| 2025 | $165.88 | 2.65% |
| 2026 | $166.97 | 0.66%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 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 | 9.883 | 10.017 | 10.108 | 10.883 | 12.825 | 15.042 | 17.333 | 20.042 | 17.850 | 16.750 | 17.050 | 17.125 | 17.542 | 17.700 | 17.358 | 17.158 | 17.158 | 16.700 | 15.208 | 13.642 | 12.933 | 13.383 | 13.725 | 13.867 | 14.383 | 14.092 | 13.908 | 14.008 | 14.725 | 16.333 | 17.308 | 17.592 | 17.992 | 19.517 | 22.325 | 24.042 | 23.808 | 24.067 | 25.958 | 26.550 | 26.767 | 26.850 | 26.775 | 27.183 | 28.092 | 28.858 | 29.150 | 29.575 | 29.892 | 30.250 | 30.625 | 31.017 | 31.508 | 32.458 | 33.358 | 34.783 | 36.683 | 38.825 | 40.492 | 41.817 | 44.400 | 49.308 | 53.817 | 56.908 | 60.608 | 65.233 | 72.575 | 82.408 | 90.925 | 96.500 | 99.600 | 103.883 | 107.567 | 109.608 | 113.625 | 118.258 | 123.967 | 130.658 | 136.192 | 140.317 | 144.458 | 148.225 | 152.383 | 156.850 | 160.517 | 163.008 | 166.575 | 172.200 | 177.067 | 179.875 | 183.958 | 188.883 | 195.292 | 201.592 | 207.342 | 215.303 | 214.537 | 218.056 | 224.939 | 229.594 | 232.957 | 236.736 | 237.017 | 240.007 | 245.120 | 251.107 | 255.657 | 258.811 | 270.970 | 292.655 | 304.702 | 313.689 | 322.011 | 324.122 |