According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for boys' apparel were 36.06% higher in 2019 versus 1978 (a $7.21 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2019: Boys' apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 0.75% per year. In other words, boys' apparel costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $27.21 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.39% 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 | 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 |
| CPI | 80.883 | 84.583 | 89.783 | 94.283 | 97.092 | 100.533 | 102.275 | 104.758 | 105.133 | 103.900 | 106.967 | 108.000 | 109.033 | 112.625 | 115.842 | 117.608 | 115.392 | 117.000 | 116.067 | 117.600 | 119.258 | 117.492 | 116.308 | 113.025 | 106.992 | 102.608 | 102.525 | 96.908 | 93.625 | 91.639 | 93.456 | 95.182 | 91.488 | 95.900 | 101.478 | 102.591 | 103.914 | 103.040 | 103.836 | 100.867 | 106.669 | 110.052 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Boys' apparel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | - |
| 1979 | $20.91 | 4.57% |
| 1980 | $22.20 | 6.15% |
| 1981 | $23.31 | 5.01% |
| 1982 | $24.01 | 2.98% |
| 1983 | $24.86 | 3.54% |
| 1984 | $25.29 | 1.73% |
| 1985 | $25.90 | 2.43% |
| 1986 | $26.00 | 0.36% |
| 1987 | $25.69 | -1.17% |
| 1988 | $26.45 | 2.95% |
| 1989 | $26.71 | 0.97% |
| 1990 | $26.96 | 0.96% |
| 1991 | $27.85 | 3.29% |
| 1992 | $28.64 | 2.86% |
| 1993 | $29.08 | 1.53% |
| 1994 | $28.53 | -1.88% |
| 1995 | $28.93 | 1.39% |
| 1996 | $28.70 | -0.80% |
| 1997 | $29.08 | 1.32% |
| 1998 | $29.49 | 1.41% |
| 1999 | $29.05 | -1.48% |
| 2000 | $28.76 | -1.01% |
| 2001 | $27.95 | -2.82% |
| 2002 | $26.46 | -5.34% |
| 2003 | $25.37 | -4.10% |
| 2004 | $25.35 | -0.08% |
| 2005 | $23.96 | -5.48% |
| 2006 | $23.15 | -3.39% |
| 2007 | $22.66 | -2.12% |
| 2008 | $23.11 | 1.98% |
| 2009 | $23.54 | 1.85% |
| 2010 | $22.62 | -3.88% |
| 2011 | $23.71 | 4.82% |
| 2012 | $25.09 | 5.82% |
| 2013 | $25.37 | 1.10% |
| 2014 | $25.69 | 1.29% |
| 2015 | $25.48 | -0.84% |
| 2016 | $25.68 | 0.77% |
| 2017 | $24.94 | -2.86% |
| 2018 | $26.38 | 5.75% |
| 2019 | $27.21 | 3.17%* |
