According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for boys' apparel were 27.70% higher in 2021 versus 1977 (a $5.54 difference in value).
Between 1977 and 2021: Boys' apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 0.56% per year. In other words, boys' apparel costing $20 in the year 1977 would cost $25.54 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.38% during this same period, inflation for boys' apparel was lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Boys' apparel:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 81.800 | 80.892 | 84.608 | 89.777 | 94.308 | 97.100 | 100.569 | 102.323 | 104.823 | 105.192 | 103.923 | 106.985 | 107.977 | 109.000 | 112.577 | 115.800 | 117.615 | 115.385 | 117.023 | 116.108 | 117.638 | 119.231 | 117.431 | 116.185 | 112.900 | 106.938 | 102.608 | 102.569 | 96.954 | 93.677 | 91.687 | 93.468 | 95.182 | 91.518 | 95.922 | 101.481 | 102.619 | 103.905 | 103.046 | 103.835 | 100.843 | 106.711 | 110.034 | 101.189 | 104.455 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Boys' apparel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $20.00 | - |
| 1978 | $19.78 | -1.11% |
| 1979 | $20.69 | 4.59% |
| 1980 | $21.95 | 6.11% |
| 1981 | $23.06 | 5.05% |
| 1982 | $23.74 | 2.96% |
| 1983 | $24.59 | 3.57% |
| 1984 | $25.02 | 1.74% |
| 1985 | $25.63 | 2.44% |
| 1986 | $25.72 | 0.35% |
| 1987 | $25.41 | -1.21% |
| 1988 | $26.16 | 2.95% |
| 1989 | $26.40 | 0.93% |
| 1990 | $26.65 | 0.95% |
| 1991 | $27.52 | 3.28% |
| 1992 | $28.31 | 2.86% |
| 1993 | $28.76 | 1.57% |
| 1994 | $28.21 | -1.90% |
| 1995 | $28.61 | 1.42% |
| 1996 | $28.39 | -0.78% |
| 1997 | $28.76 | 1.32% |
| 1998 | $29.15 | 1.35% |
| 1999 | $28.71 | -1.51% |
| 2000 | $28.41 | -1.06% |
| 2001 | $27.60 | -2.83% |
| 2002 | $26.15 | -5.28% |
| 2003 | $25.09 | -4.05% |
| 2004 | $25.08 | -0.04% |
| 2005 | $23.71 | -5.47% |
| 2006 | $22.90 | -3.38% |
| 2007 | $22.42 | -2.12% |
| 2008 | $22.85 | 1.94% |
| 2009 | $23.27 | 1.83% |
| 2010 | $22.38 | -3.85% |
| 2011 | $23.45 | 4.81% |
| 2012 | $24.81 | 5.80% |
| 2013 | $25.09 | 1.12% |
| 2014 | $25.40 | 1.25% |
| 2015 | $25.19 | -0.83% |
| 2016 | $25.39 | 0.77% |
| 2017 | $24.66 | -2.88% |
| 2018 | $26.09 | 5.82% |
| 2019 | $26.90 | 3.11% |
| 2020 | $24.74 | -8.04% |
| 2021 | $25.54 | 3.23%* |