Houston, Texas prices: $20 in 1944 $338.39 in 2024

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Houston, 1944-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Houston, Texas are 1,591.94% higher in 2024 versus 1944 (a $318.39 difference in value).

Between 1944 and 2024: Houston experienced an average inflation rate of 3.60% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $20 in Houston in the year 1944 would cost $338.39 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.67% during this same period, inflation in Houston was lower.

In the year 1944: Pricing changed by 0.93%, which is below the average yearly change in Houston during the 1944-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1944 (1.64%), inflation in Houston was lower.

Price Inflation in Houston, Texas since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (21.91%), 1918 (21.04%), and 1947 (17.55%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $20.00 since 1944

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Houston, over time, for $20 beginning in 1944. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1944$20.000.93%
1945$20.422.11%
1946$22.047.91%
1947$25.9117.55%
1948$28.078.34%
1949$27.98-0.29%
1950$28.833.01%
1951$31.137.99%
1952$31.511.22%
1953$31.841.04%
1954$31.890.16%
1955$31.60-0.90%
1956$32.091.53%
1957$33.153.30%
1958$33.721.74%
1959$33.960.70%
1960$34.351.15%
1961$34.480.36%
1962$35.162.00%
1963$35.460.85%
1964$36.011.54%
1965$36.441.20%
1966$37.412.65%
1967$38.402.64%
1968$39.944.02%
1969$42.536.49%
1970$44.785.30%
1971$46.453.72%
1972$48.063.46%
1973$50.595.27%
1974$56.2311.17%
1975$63.0912.18%
1976$67.877.58%
1977$72.787.23%
1978$79.659.44%
1979$90.2313.28%
1980$101.7312.75%
1981$111.9010.00%
1982$119.947.18%
1983$123.352.85%
1984$126.572.61%
1985$129.412.24%
1986$128.37-0.80%
1987$131.242.24%
1988$135.042.89%
1989$140.644.14%
1990$148.455.55%
1991$154.283.93%
1992$159.253.22%
1993$164.383.22%
1994$170.133.50%
1995$172.481.38%
1996$176.062.08%
1997$179.381.89%
1998$181.181.00%
1999$183.441.24%
2000$190.073.62%
2001$195.963.10%
2002$196.470.26%
2003$201.882.75%
2004$208.943.50%
2005$216.483.61%
2006$222.902.97%
2007$226.601.66%
2008$234.553.51%
2009$234.920.16%
2010$239.541.96%
2011$247.223.21%
2012$252.011.94%
2013$255.891.54%
2014$263.292.89%
2015$263.04-0.09%
2016$266.971.49%
2017$272.402.03%
2018$278.942.40%
2019$282.411.24%
2020$282.690.10%
2021$294.504.18%
2022$318.868.27%
2023$330.203.56%
2024$338.392.48%*

* 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 Houston, Texas:

Year191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI9.5009.5009.61711.09213.42516.36719.13317.45015.90815.89215.84216.08316.16715.83315.63315.61715.50814.14212.70811.68312.22512.69212.83313.31713.30813.19213.22513.80015.24216.05016.20016.54217.85020.98322.73322.66723.35025.21725.52525.79225.83325.60025.99226.85027.31727.50827.82527.92528.48328.72529.16729.51730.30031.10032.35034.45036.27537.62538.92540.97545.55051.10054.97558.95064.51773.08382.40090.64297.15099.917102.525104.825103.983106.308109.383113.917120.242124.967128.992133.150137.808139.708142.608145.300146.758148.583153.958158.725159.142163.525169.242175.350180.550183.545189.983190.287194.025200.246204.130207.269213.268213.065216.242220.641225.943228.751228.979238.545258.275267.460274.095

Adjust Houston prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1944 * 1944 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Houston, Texas was 16.200 in the year 1944 and 274.095 in 2024:

274.095 / 16.200 * $20 = $338.39

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1944 has the same "purchasing power" as $338.39 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Houston, Texas).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Houston, Texas in 1914. In addition to Houston, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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