According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for housing are 786.57% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $94,388.25 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026: Housing experienced an average inflation rate of 4.12% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, housing costing $12,000 in the year 1972 would cost $106,388.25 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% 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 $12,000 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 | $12,000.00 | 3.93% |
| 1973 | $12,511.72 | 4.26% |
| 1974 | $13,925.27 | 11.30% |
| 1975 | $15,392.02 | 10.53% |
| 1976 | $16,341.99 | 6.17% |
| 1977 | $17,456.62 | 6.82% |
| 1978 | $18,989.23 | 8.78% |
| 1979 | $21,297.02 | 12.15% |
| 1980 | $24,640.91 | 15.70% |
| 1981 | $27,470.55 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $29,454.08 | 7.22% |
| 1983 | $30,241.93 | 2.67% |
| 1984 | $31,498.42 | 4.15% |
| 1985 | $32,749.84 | 3.97% |
| 1986 | $33,717.54 | 2.95% |
| 1987 | $34,720.71 | 2.98% |
| 1988 | $36,020.27 | 3.74% |
| 1989 | $37,393.29 | 3.81% |
| 1990 | $39,072.83 | 4.49% |
| 1991 | $40,615.58 | 3.95% |
| 1992 | $41,801.14 | 2.92% |
| 1993 | $42,928.44 | 2.70% |
| 1994 | $44,010.13 | 2.52% |
| 1995 | $45,127.30 | 2.54% |
| 1996 | $46,444.59 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $47,658.01 | 2.61% |
| 1998 | $48,747.31 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $49,818.87 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $51,541.48 | 3.46% |
| 2001 | $53,611.15 | 4.02% |
| 2002 | $54,799.24 | 2.22% |
| 2003 | $56,172.26 | 2.51% |
| 2004 | $57,616.21 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $59,498.42 | 3.27% |
| 2006 | $61,758.07 | 3.80% |
| 2007 | $63,712.07 | 3.16% |
| 2008 | $65,741.96 | 3.19% |
| 2009 | $65,983.10 | 0.37% |
| 2010 | $65,739.63 | -0.37% |
| 2011 | $66,604.66 | 1.32% |
| 2012 | $67,703.18 | 1.65% |
| 2013 | $69,112.45 | 2.08% |
| 2014 | $70,895.10 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | $72,367.93 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | $74,165.17 | 2.48% |
| 2017 | $76,371.07 | 2.97% |
| 2018 | $78,574.74 | 2.89% |
| 2019 | $80,846.56 | 2.89% |
| 2020 | $82,616.21 | 2.19% |
| 2021 | $85,336.06 | 3.29% |
| 2022 | $91,441.14 | 7.15% |
| 2023 | $97,328.94 | 6.44% |
| 2024 | $101,580.47 | 4.37% |
| 2025 | $105,349.71 | 3.71% |
| 2026 | $106,388.25 | 0.99%* |
* 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 | 346.557 | 349.973 |