According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for durables are 12.21% higher in 2026 versus 1988 (a $2.44 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2026:Durables experienced an average inflation rate of 0.30% per year. In other words, durables costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $22.44 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.69% during this same period, inflation for durables was lower.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 2.01%, which is above the average yearly change for durables during the 1988-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for durables was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Durables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $20.00 | 2.01% |
| 1989 | $20.32 | 1.62% |
| 1990 | $20.55 | 1.13% |
| 1991 | $21.02 | 2.28% |
| 1992 | $21.49 | 2.22% |
| 1993 | $21.98 | 2.27% |
| 1994 | $22.61 | 2.91% |
| 1995 | $23.19 | 2.56% |
| 1996 | $23.44 | 1.07% |
| 1997 | $23.33 | -0.49% |
| 1998 | $23.12 | -0.91% |
| 1999 | $22.83 | -1.25% |
| 2000 | $22.72 | -0.47% |
| 2001 | $22.58 | -0.60% |
| 2002 | $22.00 | -2.57% |
| 2003 | $21.29 | -3.23% |
| 2004 | $20.80 | -2.32% |
| 2005 | $20.88 | 0.42% |
| 2006 | $20.74 | -0.68% |
| 2007 | $20.38 | -1.74% |
| 2008 | $20.09 | -1.42% |
| 2009 | $19.91 | -0.92% |
| 2010 | $20.17 | 1.33% |
| 2011 | $20.40 | 1.11% |
| 2012 | $20.44 | 0.21% |
| 2013 | $20.28 | -0.80% |
| 2014 | $20.00 | -1.38% |
| 2015 | $19.77 | -1.12% |
| 2016 | $19.44 | -1.68% |
| 2017 | $19.08 | -1.86% |
| 2018 | $18.92 | -0.82% |
| 2019 | $18.99 | 0.35% |
| 2020 | $19.16 | 0.90% |
| 2021 | $21.19 | 10.59% |
| 2022 | $23.21 | 9.54% |
| 2023 | $22.91 | -1.30% |
| 2024 | $22.26 | -2.83% |
| 2025 | $22.38 | 0.54% |
| 2026 | $22.44 | 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 |