According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for commodities are 1,424.89% higher in 2026 versus 1939 (a $284.98 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2026:Commodities experienced an average inflation rate of 3.18% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, commodities costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $304.98 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for commodities was lower.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -2.31%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for commodities during the 1939-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.30%), inflation for commodities was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Commodities, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -2.31% |
| 1940 | $20.14 | 0.68% |
| 1941 | $21.35 | 6.04% |
| 1942 | $24.45 | 14.51% |
| 1943 | $26.79 | 9.59% |
| 1944 | $27.12 | 1.22% |
| 1945 | $27.89 | 2.83% |
| 1946 | $30.43 | 9.13% |
| 1947 | $36.91 | 21.29% |
| 1948 | $39.88 | 8.03% |
| 1949 | $39.08 | -2.01% |
| 1950 | $38.92 | -0.40% |
| 1951 | $42.52 | 9.26% |
| 1952 | $43.27 | 1.75% |
| 1953 | $43.09 | -0.42% |
| 1954 | $42.77 | -0.73% |
| 1955 | $42.34 | -1.00% |
| 1956 | $42.69 | 0.82% |
| 1957 | $44.05 | 3.17% |
| 1958 | $45.05 | 2.28% |
| 1959 | $45.10 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | $45.44 | 0.75% |
| 1961 | $45.76 | 0.69% |
| 1962 | $46.11 | 0.76% |
| 1963 | $46.57 | 1.00% |
| 1964 | $47.01 | 0.94% |
| 1965 | $47.57 | 1.20% |
| 1966 | $48.80 | 2.58% |
| 1967 | $49.71 | 1.87% |
| 1968 | $51.53 | 3.65% |
| 1969 | $53.88 | 4.57% |
| 1970 | $56.39 | 4.66% |
| 1971 | $58.37 | 3.50% |
| 1972 | $60.12 | 3.01% |
| 1973 | $64.56 | 7.38% |
| 1974 | $72.30 | 11.99% |
| 1975 | $78.75 | 8.91% |
| 1976 | $82.13 | 4.29% |
| 1977 | $86.84 | 5.73% |
| 1978 | $92.99 | 7.08% |
| 1979 | $103.62 | 11.43% |
| 1980 | $116.27 | 12.21% |
| 1981 | $126.04 | 8.40% |
| 1982 | $131.12 | 4.03% |
| 1983 | $135.00 | 2.96% |
| 1984 | $139.55 | 3.37% |
| 1985 | $142.48 | 2.10% |
| 1986 | $141.12 | -0.96% |
| 1987 | $145.66 | 3.22% |
| 1988 | $150.75 | 3.50% |
| 1989 | $157.79 | 4.67% |
| 1990 | $166.02 | 5.21% |
| 1991 | $171.21 | 3.13% |
| 1992 | $174.58 | 1.97% |
| 1993 | $177.81 | 1.85% |
| 1994 | $180.85 | 1.70% |
| 1995 | $184.47 | 2.01% |
| 1996 | $189.15 | 2.53% |
| 1997 | $191.79 | 1.39% |
| 1998 | $191.90 | 0.06% |
| 1999 | $195.29 | 1.77% |
| 2000 | $201.71 | 3.29% |
| 2001 | $203.70 | 0.98% |
| 2002 | $202.45 | -0.61% |
| 2003 | $204.42 | 0.97% |
| 2004 | $209.23 | 2.35% |
| 2005 | $216.55 | 3.50% |
| 2006 | $221.75 | 2.40% |
| 2007 | $226.49 | 2.14% |
| 2008 | $236.30 | 4.33% |
| 2009 | $229.45 | -2.90% |
| 2010 | $236.03 | 2.87% |
| 2011 | $248.60 | 5.33% |
| 2012 | $253.62 | 2.02% |
| 2013 | $253.75 | 0.05% |
| 2014 | $254.12 | 0.15% |
| 2015 | $245.68 | -3.32% |
| 2016 | $242.35 | -1.36% |
| 2017 | $245.06 | 1.12% |
| 2018 | $249.62 | 1.86% |
| 2019 | $250.50 | 0.35% |
| 2020 | $249.87 | -0.25% |
| 2021 | $269.38 | 7.81% |
| 2022 | $298.73 | 10.90% |
| 2023 | $302.19 | 1.16% |
| 2024 | $301.47 | -0.24% |
| 2025 | $304.41 | 0.97% |
| 2026 | $304.98 | 0.19%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 14.870 | 15.050 | 15.642 | 15.142 | 14.792 | 14.892 | 15.792 | 18.083 | 19.817 | 20.058 | 20.625 | 22.508 | 27.300 | 29.492 | 28.900 | 28.783 | 31.450 | 32.000 | 31.867 | 31.633 | 31.317 | 31.575 | 32.575 | 33.317 | 33.358 | 33.608 | 33.842 | 34.100 | 34.442 | 34.767 | 35.183 | 36.092 | 36.767 | 38.108 | 39.850 | 41.708 | 43.167 | 44.467 | 47.750 | 53.475 | 58.242 | 60.742 | 64.225 | 68.775 | 76.633 | 85.992 | 93.217 | 96.975 | 99.842 | 103.208 | 105.375 | 104.367 | 107.725 | 111.492 | 116.700 | 122.783 | 126.625 | 129.117 | 131.508 | 133.750 | 136.433 | 139.892 | 141.842 | 141.925 | 144.433 | 149.183 | 150.650 | 149.725 | 151.183 | 154.742 | 160.158 | 164.000 | 167.509 | 174.764 | 169.698 | 174.566 | 183.862 | 187.577 | 187.669 | 187.943 | 181.703 | 179.236 | 181.242 | 184.617 | 185.266 | 184.799 | 199.227 | 220.936 | 223.492 | 222.965 | 225.136 | 225.557 |