According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for commodities less food are 285.33% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $57.07 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026:Commodities less food experienced an average inflation rate of 2.53% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, commodities less food costing $20 in the year 1972 would cost $77.07 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for commodities less food was lower.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 2.27%, which is below the average yearly change for commodities less food during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for commodities less food was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Commodities less food, over time, for $20 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $20.00 | 2.27% |
| 1973 | $20.69 | 3.45% |
| 1974 | $22.87 | 10.53% |
| 1975 | $24.97 | 9.18% |
| 1976 | $26.23 | 5.04% |
| 1977 | $27.65 | 5.42% |
| 1978 | $29.26 | 5.83% |
| 1979 | $32.67 | 11.65% |
| 1980 | $37.18 | 13.81% |
| 1981 | $40.39 | 8.64% |
| 1982 | $42.02 | 4.03% |
| 1983 | $43.38 | 3.24% |
| 1984 | $44.73 | 3.10% |
| 1985 | $45.65 | 2.06% |
| 1986 | $44.12 | -3.34% |
| 1987 | $45.26 | 2.56% |
| 1988 | $46.71 | 3.20% |
| 1989 | $48.57 | 3.99% |
| 1990 | $50.94 | 4.88% |
| 1991 | $52.61 | 3.28% |
| 1992 | $53.86 | 2.37% |
| 1993 | $54.77 | 1.69% |
| 1994 | $55.46 | 1.27% |
| 1995 | $56.31 | 1.53% |
| 1996 | $57.51 | 2.12% |
| 1997 | $57.88 | 0.65% |
| 1998 | $57.23 | -1.12% |
| 1999 | $58.12 | 1.55% |
| 2000 | $60.37 | 3.86% |
| 2001 | $60.23 | -0.23% |
| 2002 | $59.01 | -2.03% |
| 2003 | $59.19 | 0.31% |
| 2004 | $60.21 | 1.72% |
| 2005 | $62.67 | 4.09% |
| 2006 | $64.17 | 2.41% |
| 2007 | $64.94 | 1.20% |
| 2008 | $67.37 | 3.73% |
| 2009 | $63.79 | -5.30% |
| 2010 | $66.36 | 4.02% |
| 2011 | $70.45 | 6.16% |
| 2012 | $71.68 | 1.76% |
| 2013 | $71.19 | -0.69% |
| 2014 | $70.41 | -1.10% |
| 2015 | $66.03 | -6.23% |
| 2016 | $64.46 | -2.37% |
| 2017 | $65.28 | 1.28% |
| 2018 | $66.65 | 2.09% |
| 2019 | $66.32 | -0.49% |
| 2020 | $64.76 | -2.35% |
| 2021 | $71.33 | 10.14% |
| 2022 | $79.50 | 11.46% |
| 2023 | $78.50 | -1.26% |
| 2024 | $77.25 | -1.60% |
| 2025 | $77.16 | -0.11% |
| 2026 | $77.07 | -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 |