According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy services are 1,335.70% higher in 2026 versus 1936 (a $267.14 difference in value).
Between 1936 and 2026:Energy services experienced an average inflation rate of 3% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy services costing $20 in the year 1936 would cost $287.14 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.56% during this same period, inflation for energy services was lower.
In the year 1936: Pricing changed by -2.05%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for energy services during the 1936-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1936 (1.03%), inflation for energy services was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1936. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | $20.00 | -2.05% |
| 1937 | $19.68 | -1.58% |
| 1938 | $19.63 | -0.25% |
| 1939 | $19.61 | -0.13% |
| 1940 | $19.49 | -0.60% |
| 1941 | $19.27 | -1.11% |
| 1942 | $19.19 | -0.43% |
| 1943 | $19.08 | -0.56% |
| 1944 | $19.02 | -0.31% |
| 1945 | $18.88 | -0.74% |
| 1946 | $18.33 | -2.91% |
| 1947 | $18.28 | -0.27% |
| 1948 | $18.72 | 2.37% |
| 1949 | $19.22 | 2.67% |
| 1950 | $19.22 | 0.00% ** |
| 1951 | $19.31 | 0.48% |
| 1952 | $19.54 | 1.21% |
| 1953 | $19.95 | 2.09% |
| 1954 | $20.19 | 1.21% |
| 1955 | $20.70 | 2.52% |
| 1956 | $20.94 | 1.17% |
| 1957 | $21.14 | 0.96% |
| 1958 | $21.90 | 3.59% |
| 1959 | $22.45 | 2.51% |
| 1960 | $23.35 | 4.01% |
| 1961 | $23.53 | 0.75% |
| 1962 | $23.53 | 0.00% ** |
| 1963 | $23.52 | -0.04% |
| 1964 | $23.53 | 0.07% |
| 1965 | $23.49 | -0.18% |
| 1966 | $23.58 | 0.39% |
| 1967 | $23.68 | 0.39% |
| 1968 | $23.88 | 0.88% |
| 1969 | $24.34 | 1.88% |
| 1970 | $25.39 | 4.35% |
| 1971 | $27.16 | 6.96% |
| 1972 | $28.53 | 5.03% |
| 1973 | $29.92 | 4.88% |
| 1974 | $34.51 | 15.32% |
| 1975 | $40.16 | 16.38% |
| 1976 | $44.74 | 11.40% |
| 1977 | $50.51 | 12.91% |
| 1978 | $55.06 | 8.99% |
| 1979 | $61.03 | 10.86% |
| 1980 | $71.45 | 17.07% |
| 1981 | $81.88 | 14.60% |
| 1982 | $93.23 | 13.86% |
| 1983 | $101.49 | 8.86% |
| 1984 | $105.39 | 3.84% |
| 1985 | $107.16 | 1.68% |
| 1986 | $105.76 | -1.31% |
| 1987 | $103.88 | -1.78% |
| 1988 | $104.68 | 0.77% |
| 1989 | $107.59 | 2.78% |
| 1990 | $109.38 | 1.67% |
| 1991 | $112.65 | 2.99% |
| 1992 | $114.83 | 1.94% |
| 1993 | $118.55 | 3.24% |
| 1994 | $119.28 | 0.62% |
| 1995 | $119.22 | -0.05% |
| 1996 | $122.11 | 2.42% |
| 1997 | $125.11 | 2.46% |
| 1998 | $121.29 | -3.05% |
| 1999 | $120.90 | -0.32% |
| 2000 | $128.09 | 5.94% |
| 2001 | $142.47 | 11.23% |
| 2002 | $134.46 | -5.62% |
| 2003 | $145.09 | 7.91% |
| 2004 | $150.69 | 3.86% |
| 2005 | $166.59 | 10.56% |
| 2006 | $182.18 | 9.36% |
| 2007 | $186.34 | 2.28% |
| 2008 | $202.30 | 8.56% |
| 2009 | $193.64 | -4.28% |
| 2010 | $192.97 | -0.35% |
| 2011 | $194.47 | 0.78% |
| 2012 | $189.76 | -2.42% |
| 2013 | $194.89 | 2.70% |
| 2014 | $203.46 | 4.40% |
| 2015 | $198.79 | -2.29% |
| 2016 | $196.14 | -1.33% |
| 2017 | $202.78 | 3.38% |
| 2018 | $203.90 | 0.55% |
| 2019 | $203.54 | -0.18% |
| 2020 | $204.59 | 0.52% |
| 2021 | $218.95 | 7.02% |
| 2022 | $254.19 | 16.09% |
| 2023 | $260.68 | 2.55% |
| 2024 | $268.15 | 2.87% |
| 2025 | $284.13 | 5.96% |
| 2026 | $287.14 | 1.06%* |
* 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 services:
| 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 | 20.410 | 19.992 | 19.675 | 19.625 | 19.600 | 19.483 | 19.267 | 19.183 | 19.075 | 19.017 | 18.875 | 18.325 | 18.275 | 18.708 | 19.208 | 19.208 | 19.300 | 19.533 | 19.942 | 20.183 | 20.692 | 20.933 | 21.133 | 21.892 | 22.442 | 23.342 | 23.517 | 23.517 | 23.508 | 23.525 | 23.483 | 23.575 | 23.667 | 23.875 | 24.325 | 25.383 | 27.150 | 28.517 | 29.908 | 34.492 | 40.142 | 44.717 | 50.492 | 55.033 | 61.008 | 71.425 | 81.850 | 93.192 | 101.450 | 105.350 | 107.117 | 105.717 | 103.833 | 104.633 | 107.542 | 109.333 | 112.600 | 114.783 | 118.500 | 119.233 | 119.175 | 122.058 | 125.058 | 121.242 | 120.850 | 128.033 | 142.408 | 134.408 | 145.033 | 150.625 | 166.525 | 182.108 | 186.262 | 202.212 | 193.563 | 192.886 | 194.386 | 189.679 | 194.809 | 203.374 | 198.708 | 196.059 | 202.691 | 203.815 | 203.454 | 204.508 | 218.863 | 254.085 | 260.571 | 268.041 | 284.015 | 287.021 |