Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks price history from 1978 through 2020

Commodities Less Food, Energy, And Used Cars And Trucks Inflation Calculator

Prices for Commodities Less Food, Energy, And Used Cars And Trucks, 1978-2020 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks were 99.94% higher in 2020 versus 1978 (a $19.99 difference in value).

Between 1978 and 2020: Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 1.66% per year. In other words, commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $39.99 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.33% during this same period, inflation for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks was lower.

In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 6.12%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks during the 1978-2020 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.

Price Inflation for Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks since 1967

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (10.03%), 1975 (8.82%), and 1979 (8.40%).

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
CPI	42.758	44.400	46.475	48.642	50.517	51.758	53.083	57.258	62.308	65.100	68.308	72.492	78.583	86.467	91.875	96.492	100.575	102.792	105.767	108.442	112.200	116.125	120.083	124.517	129.900	133.525	135.883	137.500	139.008	141.067	142.500	143.333	144.275	144.775	144.992	143.850	141.600	141.025	141.167	141.517	141.247	141.632	144.242	144.352	145.836	147.738	147.735	147.263	146.691	146.269	145.758	145.350	145.507	144.938

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Buying power of $20 since 1978

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	6.12%
1979	$21.68	8.40%
1980	$23.86	10.03%
1981	$25.35	6.25%
1982	$26.62	5.02%
1983	$27.75	4.23%
1984	$28.36	2.20%
1985	$29.18	2.89%
1986	$29.92	2.53%
1987	$30.96	3.47%
1988	$32.04	3.50%
1989	$33.13	3.41%
1990	$34.35	3.69%
1991	$35.84	4.32%
1992	$36.84	2.79%
1993	$37.49	1.77%
1994	$37.94	1.19%
1995	$38.35	1.10%
1996	$38.92	1.48%
1997	$39.31	1.02%
1998	$39.54	0.58%
1999	$39.80	0.66%
2000	$39.94	0.35%
2001	$40.00	0.15%
2002	$39.69	-0.79%
2003	$39.07	-1.56%
2004	$38.91	-0.41%
2005	$38.95	0.10%
2006	$39.04	0.25%
2007	$38.97	-0.19%
2008	$39.08	0.27%
2009	$39.80	1.84%
2010	$39.83	0.08%
2011	$40.24	1.03%
2012	$40.76	1.30%
2013	$40.76	0.00%
2014	$40.63	-0.32%
2015	$40.47	-0.39%
2016	$40.35	-0.29%
2017	$40.21	-0.35%
2018	$40.10	-0.28%
2019	$40.14	0.11%
2020	$39.99	-0.39%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks, 1978-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1978 * 1978 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks was 72.492 in the year 1978 and 144.938 in 2020:

144.938 / 72.492 * $20 = $39.99

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $39.99 in 2020 (in the CPI category of Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks in 1967. In addition to commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.