According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for housing are 290.78% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $110,497,930,652.90 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026:Housing experienced an average inflation rate of 3.08% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, housing costing $38,000,000,000 in the year 1981 would cost $148,497,930,652.90 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.88% during this same period, inflation for housing was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 11.48%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for housing during the 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for housing was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Housing, over time, for $38,000,000,000 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $38,000,000,000.00 | 11.48% |
| 1982 | $40,743,821,468.09 | 7.22% |
| 1983 | $41,833,640,722.98 | 2.67% |
| 1984 | $43,571,744,743.64 | 4.15% |
| 1985 | $45,302,840,280.34 | 3.97% |
| 1986 | $46,641,460,715.60 | 2.95% |
| 1987 | $48,029,140,538.55 | 2.98% |
| 1988 | $49,826,816,672.81 | 3.74% |
| 1989 | $51,726,115,824.42 | 3.81% |
| 1990 | $54,049,428,255.26 | 4.49% |
| 1991 | $56,183,511,619.33 | 3.95% |
| 1992 | $57,823,496,864.63 | 2.92% |
| 1993 | $59,382,884,544.45 | 2.70% |
| 1994 | $60,879,195,868.68 | 2.52% |
| 1995 | $62,424,566,580.60 | 2.54% |
| 1996 | $64,246,772,408.71 | 2.92% |
| 1997 | $65,925,304,315.75 | 2.61% |
| 1998 | $67,432,128,365.92 | 2.29% |
| 1999 | $68,914,422,722.24 | 2.20% |
| 2000 | $71,297,307,266.69 | 3.46% |
| 2001 | $74,160,272,962.01 | 4.02% |
| 2002 | $75,803,762,449.28 | 2.22% |
| 2003 | $77,703,061,600.89 | 2.51% |
| 2004 | $79,700,479,527.85 | 2.57% |
| 2005 | $82,304,131,316.86 | 3.27% |
| 2006 | $85,429,915,160.46 | 3.80% |
| 2007 | $88,132,877,167.10 | 3.16% |
| 2008 | $90,940,826,263.37 | 3.19% |
| 2009 | $91,274,395,057.17 | 0.37% |
| 2010 | $90,937,602,360.75 | -0.37% |
| 2011 | $92,134,195,868.68 | 1.32% |
| 2012 | $93,653,775,359.65 | 1.65% |
| 2013 | $95,603,220,213.94 | 2.08% |
| 2014 | $98,069,155,293.25 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | $100,106,521,578.75 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | $102,592,641,091.85 | 2.48% |
| 2017 | $105,644,064,920.69 | 2.97% |
| 2018 | $108,692,405,016.60 | 2.89% |
| 2019 | $111,835,009,221.69 | 2.89% |
| 2020 | $114,282,967,539.65 | 2.19% |
| 2021 | $118,045,331,980.82 | 3.29% |
| 2022 | $126,490,485,060.86 | 7.15% |
| 2023 | $134,635,079,306.53 | 6.44% |
| 2024 | $140,516,213,574.33 | 4.37% |
| 2025 | $145,888,426,779.79 | 3.82% |
| 2026 | $148,497,930,652.90 | 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 |