According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for apparel less footwear are 95.38% higher in 2026 versus 1969 (a $19.08 difference in value).
Between 1969 and 2026:Apparel less footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 1.18% per year. In other words, apparel less footwear costing $20 in the year 1969 would cost $39.08 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.90% during this same period, inflation for apparel less footwear was lower.
In the year 1969: Pricing changed by 5.93%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for apparel less footwear during the 1969-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1969 (5.46%), inflation for apparel less footwear was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Apparel less footwear, over time, for $20 beginning in 1969. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | $20.00 | 5.93% |
| 1970 | $20.77 | 3.87% |
| 1971 | $21.41 | 3.06% |
| 1972 | $21.84 | 2.01% |
| 1973 | $22.60 | 3.49% |
| 1974 | $24.24 | 7.23% |
| 1975 | $25.11 | 3.62% |
| 1976 | $25.89 | 3.08% |
| 1977 | $26.90 | 3.91% |
| 1978 | $27.55 | 2.43% |
| 1979 | $28.31 | 2.74% |
| 1980 | $29.98 | 5.90% |
| 1981 | $31.07 | 3.65% |
| 1982 | $31.62 | 1.75% |
| 1983 | $32.30 | 2.17% |
| 1984 | $32.73 | 1.32% |
| 1985 | $33.62 | 2.72% |
| 1986 | $33.73 | 0.34% |
| 1987 | $35.31 | 4.69% |
| 1988 | $36.86 | 4.38% |
| 1989 | $37.73 | 2.37% |
| 1990 | $39.57 | 4.86% |
| 1991 | $41.06 | 3.77% |
| 1992 | $41.95 | 2.18% |
| 1993 | $42.50 | 1.30% |
| 1994 | $42.26 | -0.56% |
| 1995 | $41.65 | -1.45% |
| 1996 | $41.39 | -0.61% |
| 1997 | $41.70 | 0.74% |
| 1998 | $41.67 | -0.06% |
| 1999 | $41.17 | -1.20% |
| 2000 | $40.66 | -1.25% |
| 2001 | $39.83 | -2.05% |
| 2002 | $38.70 | -2.82% |
| 2003 | $37.62 | -2.80% |
| 2004 | $37.48 | -0.38% |
| 2005 | $36.87 | -1.63% |
| 2006 | $36.77 | -0.25% |
| 2007 | $36.68 | -0.25% |
| 2008 | $36.52 | -0.43% |
| 2009 | $36.79 | 0.72% |
| 2010 | $36.50 | -0.79% |
| 2011 | $37.45 | 2.61% |
| 2012 | $38.79 | 3.59% |
| 2013 | $39.01 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $39.00 | -0.01% |
| 2015 | $38.28 | -1.86% |
| 2016 | $38.30 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | $38.18 | -0.31% |
| 2018 | $38.24 | 0.17% |
| 2019 | $37.57 | -1.76% |
| 2020 | $35.52 | -5.45% |
| 2021 | $36.26 | 2.09% |
| 2022 | $38.14 | 5.18% |
| 2023 | $39.44 | 3.42% |
| 2024 | $39.73 | 0.73% |
| 2025 | $39.91 | 0.46% |
| 2026 | $39.08 | -2.10%* |
* 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 | 123.881 | 121.285 |