Durables price inflation, 1970→2026

Durables Inflation Calculator

Prices for Durables, 1970-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for durables are 180.98% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $36.20 difference in value).

Between 1970 and 2026:Durables experienced an average inflation rate of 1.86% per year. In other words, durables costing $20 in the year 1970 would cost $56.20 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.86% during this same period, inflation for durables was lower.

In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 4.42%, which is above the average yearly change for durables during the 1970-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.84%), inflation for durables was lower.

Price Inflation for Durables since 1935

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1942 (14.83%), 1975 (11.41%), and 2021 (10.59%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $20.00 since 1970

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Durables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1970	$20.00	4.42%
1971	$20.84	4.20%
1972	$21.29	2.16%
1973	$21.81	2.45%
1974	$23.37	7.14%
1975	$26.04	11.41%
1976	$27.62	6.10%
1977	$29.21	5.75%
1978	$31.12	6.52%
1979	$34.20	9.90%
1980	$37.65	10.10%
1981	$40.66	7.98%
1982	$43.15	6.12%
1983	$45.29	4.96%
1984	$47.69	5.31%
1985	$48.44	1.58%
1986	$48.36	-0.17%
1987	$49.09	1.52%
1988	$50.08	2.01%
1989	$50.89	1.62%
1990	$51.47	1.13%
1991	$52.64	2.28%
1992	$53.81	2.22%
1993	$55.03	2.27%
1994	$56.63	2.91%
1995	$58.08	2.56%
1996	$58.70	1.07%
1997	$58.41	-0.49%
1998	$57.88	-0.91%
1999	$57.16	-1.25%
2000	$56.89	-0.47%
2001	$56.55	-0.60%
2002	$55.10	-2.57%
2003	$53.31	-3.23%
2004	$52.08	-2.32%
2005	$52.30	0.42%
2006	$51.94	-0.68%
2007	$51.04	-1.74%
2008	$50.31	-1.42%
2009	$49.85	-0.92%
2010	$50.52	1.33%
2011	$51.08	1.11%
2012	$51.18	0.21%
2013	$50.77	-0.80%
2014	$50.07	-1.38%
2015	$49.51	-1.12%
2016	$48.68	-1.68%
2017	$47.77	-1.86%
2018	$47.38	-0.82%
2019	$47.55	0.35%
2020	$47.97	0.90%
2021	$53.06	10.59%
2022	$58.12	9.54%
2023	$57.36	-1.30%
2024	$55.74	-2.83%
2025	$56.04	0.54%
2026	$56.20	0.29%*

* 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 Durables:

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	17.790	18.050	19.083	19.592	19.125	18.975	20.000	22.967	23.700	25.717	27.900	29.033	31.475	33.833	34.575	34.675	37.400	38.017	37.800	36.875	36.067	36.083	37.250	37.808	38.350	38.142	38.142	38.517	38.617	38.942	38.800	38.833	39.450	40.633	42.208	44.075	45.925	46.917	48.067	51.500	57.375	60.875	64.375	68.575	75.367	82.975	89.600	95.083	99.800	105.100	106.758	106.575	108.192	110.367	112.150	113.417	116.000	118.575	121.267	124.792	127.992	129.358	128.725	127.558	125.967	125.375	124.617	121.417	117.492	114.767	115.250	114.467	112.473	110.877	109.859	111.324	112.557	112.790	111.889	110.349	109.116	107.279	105.283	104.420	104.781	105.723	116.923	128.077	126.415	122.831	123.490	123.844

Adjust durables prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1970* 1970 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Durables was 44.075 in the year 1970 and 123.844 in 2026:

123.844 / 44.075* $20 = $56.20

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1970 has the same "purchasing power" as $56.20 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Durables).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Durables in 1935. In addition to durables, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.