According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for footwear are 186.92% higher in 2026 versus 1968 (a $37.38 difference in value).
Between 1968 and 2026:Footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 1.83% per year. In other words, footwear costing $20 in the year 1968 would cost $57.38 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.92% during this same period, inflation for footwear was lower.
In the year 1968: Pricing changed by 5.28%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for footwear during the 1968-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1968 (4.27%), inflation for footwear was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Footwear, over time, for $20 beginning in 1968. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | $20.00 | 5.28% |
| 1969 | $21.23 | 6.17% |
| 1970 | $22.34 | 5.21% |
| 1971 | $23.07 | 3.29% |
| 1972 | $23.72 | 2.79% |
| 1973 | $24.72 | 4.25% |
| 1974 | $26.23 | 6.09% |
| 1975 | $27.40 | 4.45% |
| 1976 | $28.48 | 3.95% |
| 1977 | $29.80 | 4.64% |
| 1978 | $31.10 | 4.37% |
| 1979 | $33.55 | 7.87% |
| 1980 | $36.15 | 7.73% |
| 1981 | $38.05 | 5.28% |
| 1982 | $39.02 | 2.54% |
| 1983 | $39.29 | 0.68% |
| 1984 | $39.78 | 1.24% |
| 1985 | $40.29 | 1.29% |
| 1986 | $40.12 | -0.42% |
| 1987 | $41.37 | 3.12% |
| 1988 | $43.27 | 4.59% |
| 1989 | $45.01 | 4.02% |
| 1990 | $46.20 | 2.64% |
| 1991 | $47.58 | 3.00% |
| 1992 | $49.18 | 3.36% |
| 1993 | $49.55 | 0.74% |
| 1994 | $49.60 | 0.10% |
| 1995 | $49.37 | -0.46% |
| 1996 | $49.84 | 0.96% |
| 1997 | $50.21 | 0.74% |
| 1998 | $50.40 | 0.37% |
| 1999 | $49.49 | -1.80% |
| 2000 | $48.73 | -1.54% |
| 2001 | $48.41 | -0.65% |
| 2002 | $47.78 | -1.31% |
| 2003 | $47.06 | -1.50% |
| 2004 | $46.94 | -0.26% |
| 2005 | $48.27 | 2.82% |
| 2006 | $48.63 | 0.75% |
| 2007 | $48.17 | -0.94% |
| 2008 | $48.87 | 1.46% |
| 2009 | $49.93 | 2.17% |
| 2010 | $50.38 | 0.89% |
| 2011 | $50.58 | 0.39% |
| 2012 | $51.89 | 2.61% |
| 2013 | $53.15 | 2.41% |
| 2014 | $53.32 | 0.32% |
| 2015 | $53.84 | 0.99% |
| 2016 | $54.05 | 0.39% |
| 2017 | $53.81 | -0.46% |
| 2018 | $53.56 | -0.46% |
| 2019 | $53.81 | 0.47% |
| 2020 | $52.44 | -2.54% |
| 2021 | $54.38 | 3.70% |
| 2022 | $56.89 | 4.61% |
| 2023 | $57.02 | 0.23% |
| 2024 | $57.39 | 0.65% |
| 2025 | $57.54 | 0.26% |
| 2026 | $57.38 | -0.27%* |
* 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 Footwear:
| Year | 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 | 27.717 | 30.275 | 30.058 | 30.533 | 34.533 | 33.850 | 33.808 | 34.192 | 34.542 | 36.333 | 37.542 | 38.117 | 39.683 | 41.067 | 41.417 | 42.008 | 42.475 | 42.667 | 43.367 | 45.975 | 48.258 | 50.808 | 53.942 | 56.750 | 58.617 | 60.250 | 62.808 | 66.633 | 69.600 | 72.350 | 75.708 | 79.017 | 85.233 | 91.825 | 96.675 | 99.133 | 99.808 | 101.050 | 102.358 | 101.925 | 105.108 | 109.933 | 114.350 | 117.367 | 120.883 | 124.950 | 125.875 | 126.000 | 125.425 | 126.625 | 127.558 | 128.033 | 125.725 | 123.792 | 122.992 | 121.383 | 119.558 | 119.250 | 122.617 | 123.533 | 122.374 | 124.157 | 126.854 | 127.988 | 128.482 | 131.834 | 135.016 | 135.452 | 136.787 | 137.315 | 136.689 | 136.054 | 136.692 | 133.220 | 138.148 | 144.518 | 144.846 | 145.790 | 146.167 | 145.778 |