According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for commodities less food are 891.18% higher in 2026 versus 1936 (a $178.24 difference in value).
Between 1936 and 2026:Commodities less food experienced an average inflation rate of 2.58% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, commodities less food costing $20 in the year 1936 would cost $198.24 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.56% during this same period, inflation for commodities less food was lower.
In the year 1936: Pricing changed by 0.87%, which is below the average yearly change for commodities less food during the 1936-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1936 (1.03%), inflation for commodities less food was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Commodities less food, over time, for $20 beginning in 1936. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | $20.00 | 0.87% |
| 1937 | $20.83 | 4.14% |
| 1938 | $20.93 | 0.49% |
| 1939 | $20.57 | -1.73% |
| 1940 | $20.71 | 0.68% |
| 1941 | $21.52 | 3.95% |
| 1942 | $24.05 | 11.75% |
| 1943 | $25.10 | 4.37% |
| 1944 | $26.43 | 5.30% |
| 1945 | $27.55 | 4.22% |
| 1946 | $29.06 | 5.47% |
| 1947 | $32.88 | 13.15% |
| 1948 | $35.46 | 7.86% |
| 1949 | $35.26 | -0.58% |
| 1950 | $34.91 | -0.98% |
| 1951 | $37.61 | 7.72% |
| 1952 | $38.03 | 1.11% |
| 1953 | $38.08 | 0.15% |
| 1954 | $37.78 | -0.81% |
| 1955 | $37.43 | -0.91% |
| 1956 | $37.85 | 1.12% |
| 1957 | $38.99 | 3.00% |
| 1958 | $39.41 | 1.10% |
| 1959 | $39.93 | 1.30% |
| 1960 | $40.15 | 0.56% |
| 1961 | $40.25 | 0.25% |
| 1962 | $40.56 | 0.76% |
| 1963 | $40.83 | 0.66% |
| 1964 | $41.20 | 0.91% |
| 1965 | $41.45 | 0.61% |
| 1966 | $42.02 | 1.37% |
| 1967 | $43.07 | 2.50% |
| 1968 | $44.65 | 3.67% |
| 1969 | $46.56 | 4.27% |
| 1970 | $48.48 | 4.13% |
| 1971 | $50.30 | 3.76% |
| 1972 | $51.45 | 2.27% |
| 1973 | $53.22 | 3.45% |
| 1974 | $58.83 | 10.53% |
| 1975 | $64.23 | 9.18% |
| 1976 | $67.47 | 5.04% |
| 1977 | $71.12 | 5.42% |
| 1978 | $75.27 | 5.83% |
| 1979 | $84.04 | 11.65% |
| 1980 | $95.64 | 13.81% |
| 1981 | $103.91 | 8.64% |
| 1982 | $108.09 | 4.03% |
| 1983 | $111.59 | 3.24% |
| 1984 | $115.05 | 3.10% |
| 1985 | $117.42 | 2.06% |
| 1986 | $113.50 | -3.34% |
| 1987 | $116.41 | 2.56% |
| 1988 | $120.14 | 3.20% |
| 1989 | $124.93 | 3.99% |
| 1990 | $131.03 | 4.88% |
| 1991 | $135.32 | 3.28% |
| 1992 | $138.53 | 2.37% |
| 1993 | $140.87 | 1.69% |
| 1994 | $142.67 | 1.27% |
| 1995 | $144.84 | 1.53% |
| 1996 | $147.92 | 2.12% |
| 1997 | $148.89 | 0.65% |
| 1998 | $147.22 | -1.12% |
| 1999 | $149.51 | 1.55% |
| 2000 | $155.29 | 3.86% |
| 2001 | $154.93 | -0.23% |
| 2002 | $151.78 | -2.03% |
| 2003 | $152.25 | 0.31% |
| 2004 | $154.87 | 1.72% |
| 2005 | $161.20 | 4.09% |
| 2006 | $165.08 | 2.41% |
| 2007 | $167.05 | 1.20% |
| 2008 | $173.29 | 3.73% |
| 2009 | $164.10 | -5.30% |
| 2010 | $170.70 | 4.02% |
| 2011 | $181.21 | 6.16% |
| 2012 | $184.39 | 1.76% |
| 2013 | $183.13 | -0.69% |
| 2014 | $181.11 | -1.10% |
| 2015 | $169.84 | -6.23% |
| 2016 | $165.81 | -2.37% |
| 2017 | $167.93 | 1.28% |
| 2018 | $171.43 | 2.09% |
| 2019 | $170.60 | -0.49% |
| 2020 | $166.58 | -2.35% |
| 2021 | $183.48 | 10.14% |
| 2022 | $204.50 | 11.46% |
| 2023 | $201.93 | -1.26% |
| 2024 | $198.70 | -1.60% |
| 2025 | $198.47 | -0.11% |
| 2026 | $198.24 | -0.12%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 17.770 | 17.925 | 18.667 | 18.758 | 18.433 | 18.558 | 19.292 | 21.558 | 22.500 | 23.692 | 24.692 | 26.042 | 29.467 | 31.783 | 31.600 | 31.292 | 33.708 | 34.083 | 34.133 | 33.858 | 33.550 | 33.925 | 34.942 | 35.325 | 35.783 | 35.983 | 36.075 | 36.350 | 36.592 | 36.925 | 37.150 | 37.658 | 38.600 | 40.017 | 41.725 | 43.450 | 45.083 | 46.108 | 47.700 | 52.725 | 57.567 | 60.467 | 63.742 | 67.458 | 75.317 | 85.717 | 93.125 | 96.875 | 100.017 | 103.117 | 105.242 | 101.725 | 104.333 | 107.675 | 111.967 | 117.433 | 121.283 | 124.158 | 126.258 | 127.867 | 129.817 | 132.575 | 133.442 | 131.950 | 134.000 | 139.175 | 138.858 | 136.033 | 136.458 | 138.800 | 144.475 | 147.950 | 149.720 | 155.310 | 147.071 | 152.990 | 162.409 | 165.264 | 164.129 | 162.323 | 152.217 | 148.608 | 150.505 | 153.646 | 152.898 | 149.298 | 164.441 | 183.284 | 180.980 | 178.083 | 177.878 | 177.669 |