According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy are 634.79% higher in 2026 versus 1974 (a $126.96 difference in value).
Between 1974 and 2026:Energy experienced an average inflation rate of 3.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy costing $20 in the year 1974 would cost $146.96 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for energy was higher.
In the year 1974: Pricing changed by 29.20%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for energy during the 1974-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1974 (11.05%), inflation for energy was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy, over time, for $20 beginning in 1974. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | $20.00 | 29.20% |
| 1975 | $22.12 | 10.62% |
| 1976 | $23.71 | 7.17% |
| 1977 | $25.96 | 9.50% |
| 1978 | $27.61 | 6.36% |
| 1979 | $34.56 | 25.14% |
| 1980 | $45.22 | 30.87% |
| 1981 | $51.36 | 13.58% |
| 1982 | $52.12 | 1.47% |
| 1983 | $52.52 | 0.78% |
| 1984 | $53.05 | 1.00% |
| 1985 | $53.42 | 0.70% |
| 1986 | $46.38 | -13.18% |
| 1987 | $46.56 | 0.40% |
| 1988 | $46.91 | 0.75% |
| 1989 | $49.58 | 5.68% |
| 1990 | $53.66 | 8.24% |
| 1991 | $53.85 | 0.35% |
| 1992 | $54.14 | 0.54% |
| 1993 | $54.74 | 1.12% |
| 1994 | $54.99 | 0.46% |
| 1995 | $55.32 | 0.59% |
| 1996 | $57.89 | 4.65% |
| 1997 | $58.62 | 1.26% |
| 1998 | $54.07 | -7.75% |
| 1999 | $56.04 | 3.64% |
| 2000 | $65.50 | 16.88% |
| 2001 | $67.96 | 3.76% |
| 2002 | $63.96 | -5.89% |
| 2003 | $71.74 | 12.18% |
| 2004 | $79.58 | 10.92% |
| 2005 | $93.06 | 16.95% |
| 2006 | $103.47 | 11.19% |
| 2007 | $109.18 | 5.52% |
| 2008 | $124.40 | 13.93% |
| 2009 | $101.51 | -18.40% |
| 2010 | $111.14 | 9.49% |
| 2011 | $128.20 | 15.35% |
| 2012 | $129.35 | 0.89% |
| 2013 | $128.47 | -0.68% |
| 2014 | $128.03 | -0.34% |
| 2015 | $106.65 | -16.70% |
| 2016 | $99.62 | -6.58% |
| 2017 | $107.51 | 7.92% |
| 2018 | $115.61 | 7.53% |
| 2019 | $113.16 | -2.11% |
| 2020 | $103.52 | -8.52% |
| 2021 | $125.27 | 21.01% |
| 2022 | $156.78 | 25.15% |
| 2023 | $148.90 | -5.02% |
| 2024 | $146.94 | -1.32% |
| 2025 | $147.29 | 0.24% |
| 2026 | $146.96 | -0.22%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 21.475 | 21.533 | 21.900 | 22.433 | 22.492 | 22.583 | 22.625 | 22.533 | 22.950 | 23.300 | 23.842 | 24.192 | 24.817 | 25.500 | 26.508 | 27.242 | 29.450 | 38.050 | 42.092 | 45.108 | 49.392 | 52.533 | 65.742 | 86.033 | 97.717 | 99.150 | 99.925 | 100.925 | 101.633 | 88.233 | 88.583 | 89.250 | 94.317 | 102.092 | 102.450 | 103.000 | 104.150 | 104.625 | 105.242 | 110.133 | 111.517 | 102.875 | 106.617 | 124.608 | 129.292 | 121.675 | 136.492 | 151.392 | 177.050 | 196.858 | 207.723 | 236.666 | 193.126 | 211.449 | 243.909 | 246.080 | 244.409 | 243.583 | 202.895 | 189.535 | 204.540 | 219.941 | 215.294 | 196.949 | 238.325 | 298.266 | 283.286 | 279.544 | 280.213 | 279.588 |