According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for housing are 794.59% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $7,945,877,137.43 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026:Housing experienced an average inflation rate of 4.14% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, housing costing $1,000,000,000 in the year 1972 would cost $8,945,877,137.43 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.88% during this same period, inflation for housing was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 3.93%, which is below the average yearly change for housing during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for housing was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Housing, over time, for $1,000,000,000 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 | $1,000,000,000.00 | 3.93% |
| 1973 | $1,042,643,023.01 | 4.26% |
| 1974 | $1,160,439,096.47 | 11.30% |
| 1975 | $1,282,668,355.50 | 10.53% |
| 1976 | $1,361,832,383.36 | 6.17% |
| 1977 | $1,454,718,176.06 | 6.82% |
| 1978 | $1,582,436,141.02 | 8.78% |
| 1979 | $1,774,751,952.71 | 12.15% |
| 1980 | $2,053,409,330.80 | 15.70% |
| 1981 | $2,289,212,581.80 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $2,454,507,071.99 | 7.22% |
| 1983 | $2,520,160,439.10 | 2.67% |
| 1984 | $2,624,868,059.95 | 4.15% |
| 1985 | $2,729,153,472.66 | 3.97% |
| 1986 | $2,809,795,229.05 | 2.95% |
| 1987 | $2,893,392,442.47 | 2.98% |
| 1988 | $3,001,688,832.59 | 3.74% |
| 1989 | $3,116,107,240.87 | 3.81% |
| 1990 | $3,256,069,242.14 | 4.49% |
| 1991 | $3,384,631,623.39 | 3.95% |
| 1992 | $3,483,428,330.17 | 2.92% |
| 1993 | $3,577,369,643.23 | 2.70% |
| 1994 | $3,667,511,082.96 | 2.52% |
| 1995 | $3,760,607,979.73 | 2.54% |
| 1996 | $3,870,382,098.37 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $3,971,500,949.97 | 2.61% |
| 1998 | $4,062,275,701.92 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $4,151,572,725.35 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $4,295,123,495.88 | 3.46% |
| 2001 | $4,467,595,524.59 | 4.02% |
| 2002 | $4,566,603,335.44 | 2.22% |
| 2003 | $4,681,021,743.72 | 2.51% |
| 2004 | $4,801,351,066.08 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $4,958,201,393.29 | 3.27% |
| 2006 | $5,146,506,227.57 | 3.80% |
| 2007 | $5,309,339,244.25 | 3.16% |
| 2008 | $5,478,496,938.99 | 3.19% |
| 2009 | $5,498,591,935.82 | 0.37% |
| 2010 | $5,478,302,723.24 | -0.37% |
| 2011 | $5,550,388,431.50 | 1.32% |
| 2012 | $5,641,931,602.28 | 1.65% |
| 2013 | $5,759,370,909.86 | 2.08% |
| 2014 | $5,907,924,846.95 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | $6,030,660,755.75 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | $6,180,430,652.31 | 2.48% |
| 2017 | $6,364,255,858.14 | 2.97% |
| 2018 | $6,547,895,292.38 | 2.89% |
| 2019 | $6,737,213,426.22 | 2.89% |
| 2020 | $6,884,684,399.41 | 2.19% |
| 2021 | $7,111,338,399.83 | 3.29% |
| 2022 | $7,620,094,996.83 | 7.15% |
| 2023 | $8,110,745,197.38 | 6.44% |
| 2024 | $8,465,039,054.25 | 4.37% |
| 2025 | $8,788,674,266.41 | 3.82% |
| 2026 | $8,945,877,137.43 | 1.79%* |
* 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 Housing:
| Year | 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 | 30.783 | 32.033 | 34.000 | 36.400 | 37.983 | 39.475 | 41.158 | 45.808 | 50.633 | 53.758 | 57.425 | 62.467 | 70.058 | 81.058 | 90.367 | 96.892 | 99.483 | 103.617 | 107.733 | 110.917 | 114.217 | 118.492 | 123.008 | 128.533 | 133.608 | 137.508 | 141.217 | 144.775 | 148.450 | 152.783 | 156.775 | 160.358 | 163.883 | 169.550 | 176.358 | 180.267 | 184.783 | 189.533 | 195.725 | 203.158 | 209.586 | 216.264 | 217.057 | 216.256 | 219.102 | 222.715 | 227.351 | 233.215 | 238.060 | 243.972 | 251.229 | 258.478 | 265.952 | 271.773 | 280.720 | 300.803 | 320.172 | 334.157 | 346.933 | 353.139 |