According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Boston, Massachusetts are 2,275.44% higher in 2024 versus 1939 (a $455.09 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2024: Boston experienced an average inflation rate of 3.80% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $20 in Boston in the year 1939 would cost $475.09 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.73% during this same period, inflation in Boston was higher.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -1.51%, which is significantly below the average yearly change in Boston during the 1939-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.31%), inflation in Boston was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Boston, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -1.51% |
| 1940 | $20.19 | 0.94% |
| 1941 | $21.08 | 4.44% |
| 1942 | $23.34 | 10.68% |
| 1943 | $24.56 | 5.25% |
| 1944 | $24.83 | 1.10% |
| 1945 | $25.34 | 2.04% |
| 1946 | $27.41 | 8.19% |
| 1947 | $31.21 | 13.84% |
| 1948 | $33.78 | 8.23% |
| 1949 | $33.36 | -1.22% |
| 1950 | $33.80 | 1.31% |
| 1951 | $36.06 | 6.69% |
| 1952 | $36.85 | 2.19% |
| 1953 | $36.95 | 0.26% |
| 1954 | $37.09 | 0.38% |
| 1955 | $37.27 | 0.48% |
| 1956 | $38.29 | 2.75% |
| 1957 | $39.63 | 3.51% |
| 1958 | $40.91 | 3.21% |
| 1959 | $41.23 | 0.78% |
| 1960 | $42.00 | 1.89% |
| 1961 | $42.64 | 1.52% |
| 1962 | $43.56 | 2.16% |
| 1963 | $44.44 | 2.03% |
| 1964 | $45.04 | 1.35% |
| 1965 | $45.89 | 1.88% |
| 1966 | $47.31 | 3.08% |
| 1967 | $48.54 | 2.62% |
| 1968 | $50.45 | 3.93% |
| 1969 | $53.25 | 5.54% |
| 1970 | $56.50 | 6.11% |
| 1971 | $59.51 | 5.32% |
| 1972 | $61.63 | 3.57% |
| 1973 | $65.06 | 5.57% |
| 1974 | $71.77 | 10.33% |
| 1975 | $78.24 | 9.01% |
| 1976 | $84.61 | 8.13% |
| 1977 | $88.92 | 5.10% |
| 1978 | $93.67 | 5.34% |
| 1979 | $103.10 | 10.07% |
| 1980 | $116.18 | 12.69% |
| 1981 | $129.38 | 11.36% |
| 1982 | $134.92 | 4.28% |
| 1983 | $140.88 | 4.42% |
| 1984 | $147.81 | 4.92% |
| 1985 | $154.37 | 4.43% |
| 1986 | $158.59 | 2.73% |
| 1987 | $165.35 | 4.27% |
| 1988 | $175.06 | 5.87% |
| 1989 | $185.27 | 5.83% |
| 1990 | $195.99 | 5.79% |
| 1991 | $204.88 | 4.53% |
| 1992 | $209.88 | 2.44% |
| 1993 | $216.12 | 2.98% |
| 1994 | $218.86 | 1.27% |
| 1995 | $224.11 | 2.40% |
| 1996 | $230.67 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $237.31 | 2.88% |
| 1998 | $242.66 | 2.25% |
| 1999 | $248.53 | 2.42% |
| 2000 | $259.19 | 4.29% |
| 2001 | $270.67 | 4.43% |
| 2002 | $277.57 | 2.55% |
| 2003 | $287.85 | 3.70% |
| 2004 | $296.10 | 2.87% |
| 2005 | $305.48 | 3.17% |
| 2006 | $315.24 | 3.19% |
| 2007 | $321.17 | 1.88% |
| 2008 | $332.95 | 3.67% |
| 2009 | $330.24 | -0.81% |
| 2010 | $335.66 | 1.64% |
| 2011 | $344.55 | 2.65% |
| 2012 | $350.12 | 1.62% |
| 2013 | $354.99 | 1.39% |
| 2014 | $360.81 | 1.64% |
| 2015 | $363.10 | 0.63% |
| 2016 | $368.11 | 1.38% |
| 2017 | $377.50 | 2.55% |
| 2018 | $389.67 | 3.23% |
| 2019 | $397.50 | 2.01% |
| 2020 | $401.78 | 1.08% |
| 2021 | $414.20 | 3.09% |
| 2022 | $444.05 | 7.21% |
| 2023 | $460.65 | 3.74% |
| 2024 | $475.09 | 3.13%* |
* 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 Boston, Massachusetts:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 10.500 | 10.517 | 10.817 | 12.275 | 14.458 | 17.533 | 20.558 | 18.717 | 17.058 | 17.317 | 17.433 | 17.625 | 18.275 | 18.083 | 17.733 | 17.650 | 17.525 | 16.167 | 14.575 | 13.608 | 14.033 | 14.325 | 14.408 | 14.733 | 14.358 | 14.142 | 14.275 | 14.908 | 16.500 | 17.367 | 17.558 | 17.917 | 19.383 | 22.067 | 23.883 | 23.592 | 23.900 | 25.500 | 26.058 | 26.125 | 26.225 | 26.350 | 27.075 | 28.025 | 28.925 | 29.150 | 29.700 | 30.150 | 30.800 | 31.425 | 31.850 | 32.450 | 33.450 | 34.325 | 35.675 | 37.650 | 39.950 | 42.075 | 43.575 | 46.000 | 50.750 | 55.325 | 59.825 | 62.875 | 66.233 | 72.900 | 82.150 | 91.483 | 95.400 | 99.617 | 104.517 | 109.150 | 112.133 | 116.917 | 123.783 | 131.000 | 138.583 | 144.867 | 148.400 | 152.817 | 154.750 | 158.467 | 163.100 | 167.800 | 171.583 | 175.733 | 183.267 | 191.383 | 196.267 | 203.533 | 209.367 | 216.000 | 222.900 | 227.096 | 235.423 | 233.509 | 237.341 | 243.629 | 247.564 | 251.007 | 255.125 | 256.743 | 260.282 | 266.921 | 275.531 | 281.063 | 284.089 | 292.873 | 313.978 | 325.718 | 335.926 |