According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for footwear are 32.61% higher in 2026 versus 1988 (a $6.52 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2026:Footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 0.75% per year. In other words, footwear costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $26.52 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.69% during this same period, inflation for footwear was lower.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 4.59%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for footwear during the 1988-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for footwear was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Footwear, 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 | 4.59% |
| 1989 | $20.80 | 4.02% |
| 1990 | $21.35 | 2.64% |
| 1991 | $21.99 | 3.00% |
| 1992 | $22.73 | 3.36% |
| 1993 | $22.90 | 0.74% |
| 1994 | $22.92 | 0.10% |
| 1995 | $22.82 | -0.46% |
| 1996 | $23.04 | 0.96% |
| 1997 | $23.21 | 0.74% |
| 1998 | $23.29 | 0.37% |
| 1999 | $22.87 | -1.80% |
| 2000 | $22.52 | -1.54% |
| 2001 | $22.38 | -0.65% |
| 2002 | $22.08 | -1.31% |
| 2003 | $21.75 | -1.50% |
| 2004 | $21.69 | -0.26% |
| 2005 | $22.31 | 2.82% |
| 2006 | $22.47 | 0.75% |
| 2007 | $22.26 | -0.94% |
| 2008 | $22.59 | 1.46% |
| 2009 | $23.08 | 2.17% |
| 2010 | $23.28 | 0.89% |
| 2011 | $23.37 | 0.39% |
| 2012 | $23.98 | 2.61% |
| 2013 | $24.56 | 2.41% |
| 2014 | $24.64 | 0.32% |
| 2015 | $24.89 | 0.99% |
| 2016 | $24.98 | 0.39% |
| 2017 | $24.87 | -0.46% |
| 2018 | $24.75 | -0.46% |
| 2019 | $24.87 | 0.47% |
| 2020 | $24.24 | -2.54% |
| 2021 | $25.13 | 3.70% |
| 2022 | $26.29 | 4.61% |
| 2023 | $26.35 | 0.23% |
| 2024 | $26.52 | 0.65% |
| 2025 | $26.59 | 0.26% |
| 2026 | $26.52 | -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 |