All items priced at $20 in 1970 $161.27 in 2024

All Items Inflation Calculator

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Prices for All Items, 1970-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items are 706.37% higher in 2024 versus 1970 (a $141.27 difference in value).

Between 1970 and 2024: All items experienced an average inflation rate of 3.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, all items costing $20 in the year 1970 would cost $161.27 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.94% during this same period, inflation for all items was similar.

In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.83%, which is above the average yearly change for all items during the 1970-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), inflation for all items was similar.

Price Inflation for All items since 1913

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1917 (17.81%), 1918 (17.34%), and 1920 (15.62%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1970

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:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1970$20.005.83%
1971$20.864.30%
1972$21.543.27%
1973$22.876.18%
1974$25.4011.05%
1975$27.729.14%
1976$29.325.75%
1977$31.226.50%
1978$33.607.63%
1979$37.3911.26%
1980$42.4513.55%
1981$46.8410.33%
1982$49.716.13%
1983$51.313.21%
1984$53.524.30%
1985$55.423.55%
1986$56.471.90%
1987$58.533.66%
1988$60.924.08%
1989$63.864.83%
1990$67.315.40%
1991$70.164.23%
1992$72.283.03%
1993$74.422.95%
1994$76.362.60%
1995$78.502.81%
1996$80.802.93%
1997$82.692.33%
1998$83.971.55%
1999$85.812.19%
2000$88.713.38%
2001$91.222.83%
2002$92.661.59%
2003$94.772.27%
2004$97.312.68%
2005$100.613.39%
2006$103.853.23%
2007$106.812.85%
2008$110.913.84%
2009$110.52-0.36%
2010$112.331.64%
2011$115.883.16%
2012$118.282.07%
2013$120.011.46%
2014$121.961.62%
2015$122.100.12%
2016$123.641.26%
2017$126.282.13%
2018$129.362.44%
2019$131.701.81%
2020$133.331.23%
2021$139.594.70%
2022$150.768.00%
2023$156.974.12%
2024$161.272.74%*

* 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:

Year1913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI9.88510.01510.10810.88512.82315.04617.33120.03817.85416.75417.05417.12317.53817.70017.36217.15417.15416.70015.20813.64612.93813.38513.72313.86914.38514.09213.90814.00814.72316.33117.30817.59217.99219.51522.32324.04623.80824.06925.96226.54626.76226.85426.77727.18528.09228.86229.14629.57729.89230.24630.62331.01531.50832.45433.36234.78536.68538.82340.49241.81544.40049.30853.81556.90860.60865.23172.57782.40890.92396.50099.600103.885107.569109.608113.623118.262123.969130.662136.192140.315144.462148.223152.385156.854160.515163.008166.577172.200177.069179.877183.962188.885195.292201.592207.342215.303214.537218.056224.939229.594232.957236.736237.017240.007245.120251.107255.657258.811270.970292.655304.702313.056

Adjust all items prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1970 * 1970 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for All items was 38.823 in the year 1970 and 313.056 in 2024:

313.056 / 38.823 * $20 = $161.27

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1970 has the same "purchasing power" as $161.27 in 2024 (in the CPI category of All items).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for All items in 1913. In addition to all items, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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