According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy commodities are 972.43% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $194.49 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026:Energy commodities experienced an average inflation rate of 4.49% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy commodities costing $20 in the year 1972 would cost $214.49 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for energy commodities was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 1.31%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for energy commodities during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for energy commodities was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy commodities, 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 | 1.31% |
| 1973 | $22.03 | 10.17% |
| 1974 | $30.51 | 38.48% |
| 1975 | $32.77 | 7.39% |
| 1976 | $34.29 | 4.63% |
| 1977 | $36.81 | 7.37% |
| 1978 | $38.53 | 4.65% |
| 1979 | $51.94 | 34.81% |
| 1980 | $71.94 | 38.52% |
| 1981 | $81.33 | 13.05% |
| 1982 | $77.78 | -4.36% |
| 1983 | $74.82 | -3.81% |
| 1984 | $74.20 | -0.83% |
| 1985 | $74.20 | 0.00% ** |
| 1986 | $58.36 | -21.34% |
| 1987 | $60.59 | 3.82% |
| 1988 | $61.05 | 0.75% |
| 1989 | $66.47 | 8.88% |
| 1990 | $76.49 | 15.08% |
| 1991 | $74.90 | -2.08% |
| 1992 | $74.29 | -0.82% |
| 1993 | $73.57 | -0.96% |
| 1994 | $73.77 | 0.27% |
| 1995 | $74.70 | 1.26% |
| 1996 | $79.91 | 6.97% |
| 1997 | $79.93 | 0.03% |
| 1998 | $69.61 | -12.91% |
| 1999 | $75.61 | 8.61% |
| 2000 | $97.88 | 29.45% |
| 2001 | $94.65 | -3.30% |
| 2002 | $88.55 | -6.44% |
| 2003 | $103.31 | 16.67% |
| 2004 | $121.83 | 17.93% |
| 2005 | $149.24 | 22.50% |
| 2006 | $168.55 | 12.94% |
| 2007 | $182.19 | 8.09% |
| 2008 | $214.94 | 17.98% |
| 2009 | $155.17 | -27.81% |
| 2010 | $183.41 | 18.20% |
| 2011 | $231.64 | 26.30% |
| 2012 | $238.87 | 3.12% |
| 2013 | $232.34 | -2.73% |
| 2014 | $224.43 | -3.41% |
| 2015 | $163.82 | -27.01% |
| 2016 | $144.82 | -11.59% |
| 2017 | $163.49 | 12.89% |
| 2018 | $186.11 | 13.84% |
| 2019 | $179.42 | -3.59% |
| 2020 | $150.26 | -16.26% |
| 2021 | $203.43 | 35.39% |
| 2022 | $270.26 | 32.85% |
| 2023 | $241.25 | -10.73% |
| 2024 | $228.64 | -5.23% |
| 2025 | $217.78 | -4.75% |
| 2026 | $214.49 | -1.51%* |
* 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 Energy commodities:
| Year | 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 | 21.592 | 21.267 | 21.517 | 21.892 | 21.883 | 21.983 | 22.083 | 21.933 | 22.600 | 23.150 | 23.933 | 24.425 | 25.183 | 25.592 | 26.117 | 26.458 | 29.150 | 40.367 | 43.350 | 45.358 | 48.700 | 50.967 | 68.708 | 95.175 | 107.592 | 102.900 | 98.975 | 98.158 | 98.158 | 77.208 | 80.158 | 80.758 | 87.933 | 101.192 | 99.083 | 98.275 | 97.333 | 97.592 | 98.825 | 105.708 | 105.742 | 92.092 | 100.025 | 129.483 | 125.208 | 117.142 | 136.675 | 161.175 | 197.433 | 222.975 | 241.018 | 284.352 | 205.281 | 242.636 | 306.445 | 315.999 | 307.373 | 296.899 | 216.714 | 191.589 | 216.285 | 246.210 | 237.363 | 198.779 | 269.119 | 357.530 | 319.154 | 302.471 | 288.107 | 283.746 |