According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks are 125.94% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $25.19 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 1.79% per year. In other words, commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $45.19 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 6.14%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks, 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 | 6.14% |
| 1979 | $21.69 | 8.44% |
| 1980 | $23.86 | 10.00% |
| 1981 | $25.35 | 6.26% |
| 1982 | $26.62 | 5.00% |
| 1983 | $27.75 | 4.25% |
| 1984 | $28.39 | 2.33% |
| 1985 | $29.23 | 2.93% |
| 1986 | $29.97 | 2.53% |
| 1987 | $30.96 | 3.30% |
| 1988 | $32.03 | 3.48% |
| 1989 | $33.12 | 3.40% |
| 1990 | $34.34 | 3.70% |
| 1991 | $35.83 | 4.32% |
| 1992 | $36.83 | 2.81% |
| 1993 | $37.49 | 1.77% |
| 1994 | $37.93 | 1.19% |
| 1995 | $38.34 | 1.09% |
| 1996 | $38.91 | 1.48% |
| 1997 | $39.31 | 1.02% |
| 1998 | $39.55 | 0.60% |
| 1999 | $39.80 | 0.65% |
| 2000 | $39.94 | 0.34% |
| 2001 | $39.99 | 0.14% |
| 2002 | $39.69 | -0.77% |
| 2003 | $39.06 | -1.57% |
| 2004 | $38.90 | -0.41% |
| 2005 | $38.94 | 0.10% |
| 2006 | $39.04 | 0.25% |
| 2007 | $38.97 | -0.19% |
| 2008 | $39.07 | 0.27% |
| 2009 | $39.79 | 1.85% |
| 2010 | $39.82 | 0.08% |
| 2011 | $40.23 | 1.03% |
| 2012 | $40.76 | 1.30% |
| 2013 | $40.75 | -0.01% |
| 2014 | $40.62 | -0.32% |
| 2015 | $40.46 | -0.39% |
| 2016 | $40.35 | -0.29% |
| 2017 | $40.21 | -0.35% |
| 2018 | $40.10 | -0.28% |
| 2019 | $40.14 | 0.11% |
| 2020 | $40.02 | -0.30% |
| 2021 | $41.34 | 3.30% |
| 2022 | $44.15 | 6.80% |
| 2023 | $45.33 | 2.68% |
| 2024 | $45.19 | -0.32%* |
* 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 Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks:
| Year | 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 | 42.777 | 44.392 | 46.469 | 48.631 | 50.508 | 51.754 | 53.100 | 57.262 | 62.300 | 65.108 | 68.308 | 72.500 | 78.615 | 86.477 | 91.892 | 96.485 | 100.585 | 102.931 | 105.946 | 108.631 | 112.215 | 116.115 | 120.062 | 124.500 | 129.877 | 133.523 | 135.885 | 137.500 | 139.000 | 141.062 | 142.500 | 143.354 | 144.285 | 144.777 | 144.977 | 143.862 | 141.600 | 141.023 | 141.169 | 141.523 | 141.251 | 141.633 | 144.246 | 144.357 | 145.841 | 147.742 | 147.730 | 147.255 | 146.679 | 146.259 | 145.751 | 145.346 | 145.502 | 145.063 | 149.854 | 160.039 | 164.326 | 163.805 |