According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks are 78.22% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $15.64 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2025: Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 1.32% per year. In other words, commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $35.64 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.90% during this same period, inflation for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 6.26%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Commodities less food, energy, and used cars and trucks, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 6.26% |
| 1982 | $21.00 | 5.00% |
| 1983 | $21.89 | 4.25% |
| 1984 | $22.40 | 2.33% |
| 1985 | $23.06 | 2.93% |
| 1986 | $23.64 | 2.53% |
| 1987 | $24.42 | 3.30% |
| 1988 | $25.27 | 3.48% |
| 1989 | $26.13 | 3.40% |
| 1990 | $27.10 | 3.70% |
| 1991 | $28.27 | 4.32% |
| 1992 | $29.06 | 2.81% |
| 1993 | $29.57 | 1.77% |
| 1994 | $29.93 | 1.19% |
| 1995 | $30.25 | 1.09% |
| 1996 | $30.70 | 1.48% |
| 1997 | $31.01 | 1.02% |
| 1998 | $31.20 | 0.60% |
| 1999 | $31.40 | 0.65% |
| 2000 | $31.51 | 0.34% |
| 2001 | $31.55 | 0.14% |
| 2002 | $31.31 | -0.77% |
| 2003 | $30.82 | -1.57% |
| 2004 | $30.69 | -0.41% |
| 2005 | $30.72 | 0.10% |
| 2006 | $30.80 | 0.25% |
| 2007 | $30.74 | -0.19% |
| 2008 | $30.83 | 0.27% |
| 2009 | $31.39 | 1.85% |
| 2010 | $31.42 | 0.08% |
| 2011 | $31.74 | 1.03% |
| 2012 | $32.16 | 1.30% |
| 2013 | $32.15 | -0.01% |
| 2014 | $32.05 | -0.32% |
| 2015 | $31.92 | -0.39% |
| 2016 | $31.83 | -0.29% |
| 2017 | $31.72 | -0.35% |
| 2018 | $31.63 | -0.28% |
| 2019 | $31.67 | 0.11% |
| 2020 | $31.57 | -0.30% |
| 2021 | $32.62 | 3.30% |
| 2022 | $34.83 | 6.80% |
| 2023 | $35.76 | 2.68% |
| 2024 | $35.60 | -0.47% |
| 2025 | $35.64 | 0.13%* |
* 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 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 | 2025 |
| 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 | 163.559 | 163.769 |