According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for housing are 460.26% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $39,581.98 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026: Housing experienced an average inflation rate of 3.66% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, housing costing $8,600 in the year 1978 would cost $48,181.98 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for housing was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 8.78%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for housing during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for housing was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Housing, over time, for $8,600 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $8,600.00 | 8.78% |
| 1979 | $9,645.17 | 12.15% |
| 1980 | $11,159.58 | 15.70% |
| 1981 | $12,441.09 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $13,339.41 | 7.22% |
| 1983 | $13,696.21 | 2.67% |
| 1984 | $14,265.26 | 4.15% |
| 1985 | $14,832.02 | 3.97% |
| 1986 | $15,270.28 | 2.95% |
| 1987 | $15,724.60 | 2.98% |
| 1988 | $16,313.15 | 3.74% |
| 1989 | $16,934.98 | 3.81% |
| 1990 | $17,695.62 | 4.49% |
| 1991 | $18,394.32 | 3.95% |
| 1992 | $18,931.24 | 2.92% |
| 1993 | $19,441.78 | 2.70% |
| 1994 | $19,931.67 | 2.52% |
| 1995 | $20,437.62 | 2.54% |
| 1996 | $21,034.20 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $21,583.75 | 2.61% |
| 1998 | $22,077.08 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $22,562.38 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $23,342.53 | 3.46% |
| 2001 | $24,279.86 | 4.02% |
| 2002 | $24,817.93 | 2.22% |
| 2003 | $25,439.75 | 2.51% |
| 2004 | $26,093.70 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $26,946.13 | 3.27% |
| 2006 | $27,969.50 | 3.80% |
| 2007 | $28,854.45 | 3.16% |
| 2008 | $29,773.76 | 3.19% |
| 2009 | $29,882.97 | 0.37% |
| 2010 | $29,772.70 | -0.37% |
| 2011 | $30,164.47 | 1.32% |
| 2012 | $30,661.97 | 1.65% |
| 2013 | $31,300.21 | 2.08% |
| 2014 | $32,107.55 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | $32,774.58 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | $33,588.53 | 2.48% |
| 2017 | $34,587.56 | 2.97% |
| 2018 | $35,585.57 | 2.89% |
| 2019 | $36,614.45 | 2.89% |
| 2020 | $37,415.91 | 2.19% |
| 2021 | $38,647.70 | 3.29% |
| 2022 | $41,412.61 | 7.15% |
| 2023 | $44,079.13 | 6.44% |
| 2024 | $46,004.60 | 4.37% |
| 2025 | $47,711.64 | 3.71% |
| 2026 | $48,181.98 | 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 |