Apparel less footwear inflation, 1947–2026
Prices are 169.08% higher than in 1947, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Prices are 169.08% higher than in 1947, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for apparel less footwear are 169.08% higher in 2026 versus 1947 (a $33.82 difference in value).
Between 1947 and 2026, Apparel less footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 1.26% per year. In other words, apparel less footwear costing $20 in the year 1947 would cost $53.82 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.48% during this same period, inflation for apparel less footwear was lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Apparel less footwear, over time, for $20 beginning in 1947. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | $20.00 | - |
| 1948 | $21.19 | 5.95% |
| 1949 | $20.21 | -4.62% |
| 1950 | $19.81 | -1.99% |
| 1951 | $21.40 | 8.03% |
| 1952 | $21.23 | -0.80% |
| 1953 | $21.02 | -0.99% |
| 1954 | $20.84 | -0.83% |
| 1955 | $20.67 | -0.81% |
| 1956 | $20.88 | 1.01% |
| 1957 | $21.07 | 0.87% |
| 1958 | $21.03 | -0.17% |
| 1959 | $21.06 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | $21.27 | 1.01% |
| 1961 | $21.41 | 0.62% |
| 1962 | $21.44 | 0.16% |
| 1963 | $21.65 | 0.96% |
| 1964 | $21.82 | 0.81% |
| 1965 | $21.99 | 0.77% |
| 1966 | $22.39 | 1.83% |
| 1967 | $23.27 | 3.92% |
| 1968 | $24.59 | 5.68% |
| 1969 | $26.05 | 5.93% |
| 1970 | $27.06 | 3.87% |
| 1971 | $27.89 | 3.06% |
| 1972 | $28.45 | 2.01% |
| 1973 | $29.44 | 3.49% |
| 1974 | $31.57 | 7.23% |
| 1975 | $32.71 | 3.62% |
| 1976 | $33.72 | 3.08% |
| 1977 | $35.04 | 3.91% |
| 1978 | $35.89 | 2.43% |
| 1979 | $36.87 | 2.74% |
| 1980 | $39.05 | 5.90% |
| 1981 | $40.47 | 3.65% |
| 1982 | $41.18 | 1.75% |
| 1983 | $42.07 | 2.17% |
| 1984 | $42.63 | 1.32% |
| 1985 | $43.79 | 2.72% |
| 1986 | $43.93 | 0.34% |
| 1987 | $45.99 | 4.69% |
| 1988 | $48.01 | 4.38% |
| 1989 | $49.15 | 2.37% |
| 1990 | $51.54 | 4.86% |
| 1991 | $53.48 | 3.77% |
| 1992 | $54.65 | 2.18% |
| 1993 | $55.36 | 1.30% |
| 1994 | $55.05 | -0.56% |
| 1995 | $54.25 | -1.45% |
| 1996 | $53.92 | -0.61% |
| 1997 | $54.31 | 0.74% |
| 1998 | $54.28 | -0.06% |
| 1999 | $53.62 | -1.20% |
| 2000 | $52.96 | -1.25% |
| 2001 | $51.87 | -2.05% |
| 2002 | $50.41 | -2.82% |
| 2003 | $49.00 | -2.80% |
| 2004 | $48.81 | -0.38% |
| 2005 | $48.02 | -1.63% |
| 2006 | $47.90 | -0.25% |
| 2007 | $47.78 | -0.25% |
| 2008 | $47.57 | -0.43% |
| 2009 | $47.91 | 0.72% |
| 2010 | $47.54 | -0.79% |
| 2011 | $48.78 | 2.61% |
| 2012 | $50.53 | 3.59% |
| 2013 | $50.81 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $50.80 | -0.01% |
| 2015 | $49.86 | -1.86% |
| 2016 | $49.88 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | $49.73 | -0.31% |
| 2018 | $49.81 | 0.17% |
| 2019 | $48.93 | -1.76% |
| 2020 | $46.26 | -5.45% |
| 2021 | $47.23 | 2.09% |
| 2022 | $49.68 | 5.18% |
| 2023 | $51.37 | 3.42% |
| 2024 | $51.75 | 0.73% |
| 2025 | $51.84 | 0.17% |
| 2026 | $53.82 | 3.82%* |
* 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 Apparel less footwear:
| Year | 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 | 47.658 | 50.492 | 48.158 | 47.200 | 50.992 | 50.583 | 50.083 | 49.667 | 49.267 | 49.767 | 50.200 | 50.117 | 50.183 | 50.692 | 51.008 | 51.092 | 51.583 | 52.000 | 52.400 | 53.358 | 55.450 | 58.600 | 62.075 | 64.475 | 66.450 | 67.783 | 70.150 | 75.225 | 77.950 | 80.350 | 83.492 | 85.517 | 87.858 | 93.042 | 96.442 | 98.133 | 100.258 | 101.583 | 104.342 | 104.692 | 109.600 | 114.400 | 117.117 | 122.808 | 127.433 | 130.217 | 131.908 | 131.175 | 129.267 | 128.475 | 129.425 | 129.342 | 127.783 | 126.192 | 123.608 | 120.117 | 116.758 | 116.317 | 114.425 | 114.133 | 113.848 | 113.358 | 114.172 | 113.272 | 116.234 | 120.403 | 121.068 | 121.058 | 118.807 | 118.866 | 118.496 | 118.693 | 116.601 | 110.241 | 112.542 | 118.375 | 122.422 | 123.311 | 123.519 | 128.241 |