According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's and boys' apparel are 211.73% higher in 2026 versus 1949 (a $42.35 difference in value).
Between 1949 and 2026, Men's and boys' apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 1.49% per year. In other words, men's and boys' apparel costing $20 in the year 1949 would cost $62.35 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.48% during this same period, inflation for men's and boys' apparel was lower.
In the year 1949: Pricing changed by -2.70%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for men's and boys' apparel during the 1949-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1949 (-0.97%), inflation for men's and boys' apparel was lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Men's and boys' apparel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1949. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | $20.00 | -2.70% |
| 1950 | $19.89 | -0.57% |
| 1951 | $21.54 | 8.30% |
| 1952 | $21.64 | 0.49% |
| 1953 | $21.49 | -0.68% |
| 1954 | $21.38 | -0.54% |
| 1955 | $21.14 | -1.11% |
| 1956 | $21.47 | 1.59% |
| 1957 | $21.80 | 1.51% |
| 1958 | $21.72 | -0.38% |
| 1959 | $21.69 | -0.11% |
| 1960 | $22.07 | 1.73% |
| 1961 | $22.34 | 1.22% |
| 1962 | $22.47 | 0.59% |
| 1963 | $22.75 | 1.27% |
| 1964 | $23.06 | 1.35% |
| 1965 | $23.34 | 1.20% |
| 1966 | $23.97 | 2.69% |
| 1967 | $24.83 | 3.60% |
| 1968 | $26.25 | 5.72% |
| 1969 | $27.95 | 6.46% |
| 1970 | $29.09 | 4.08% |
| 1971 | $29.88 | 2.75% |
| 1972 | $30.28 | 1.33% |
| 1973 | $31.40 | 3.68% |
| 1974 | $33.89 | 7.93% |
| 1975 | $35.33 | 4.25% |
| 1976 | $36.59 | 3.57% |
| 1977 | $38.26 | 4.58% |
| 1978 | $39.09 | 2.15% |
| 1979 | $39.95 | 2.21% |
| 1980 | $41.85 | 4.77% |
| 1981 | $44.10 | 5.37% |
| 1982 | $45.71 | 3.64% |
| 1983 | $46.93 | 2.68% |
| 1984 | $47.79 | 1.84% |
| 1985 | $49.17 | 2.88% |
| 1986 | $49.71 | 1.09% |
| 1987 | $51.09 | 2.79% |
| 1988 | $53.07 | 3.87% |
| 1989 | $54.75 | 3.15% |
| 1990 | $56.35 | 2.94% |
| 1991 | $58.14 | 3.18% |
| 1992 | $59.22 | 1.85% |
| 1993 | $59.68 | 0.78% |
| 1994 | $59.16 | -0.87% |
| 1995 | $59.09 | -0.12% |
| 1996 | $59.79 | 1.19% |
| 1997 | $60.91 | 1.88% |
| 1998 | $61.70 | 1.29% |
| 1999 | $61.35 | -0.57% |
| 2000 | $60.71 | -1.04% |
| 2001 | $58.83 | -3.10% |
| 2002 | $56.98 | -3.13% |
| 2003 | $55.22 | -3.09% |
| 2004 | $54.98 | -0.44% |
| 2005 | $54.34 | -1.16% |
| 2006 | $53.42 | -1.69% |
| 2007 | $52.60 | -1.54% |
| 2008 | $52.91 | 0.59% |
| 2009 | $53.19 | 0.53% |
| 2010 | $52.39 | -1.51% |
| 2011 | $53.69 | 2.49% |
| 2012 | $55.95 | 4.21% |
| 2013 | $56.92 | 1.73% |
| 2014 | $56.45 | -0.82% |
| 2015 | $55.99 | -0.82% |
| 2016 | $55.63 | -0.65% |
| 2017 | $54.88 | -1.35% |
| 2018 | $55.29 | 0.75% |
| 2019 | $55.49 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | $52.95 | -4.57% |
| 2021 | $54.32 | 2.59% |
| 2022 | $57.32 | 5.51% |
| 2023 | $59.27 | 3.41% |
| 2024 | $60.11 | 1.42% |
| 2025 | $60.72 | 1.01% |
| 2026 | $62.35 | 2.68%* |
* 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 Men's and boys' apparel:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 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 | 41.583 | 43.908 | 42.725 | 42.483 | 46.008 | 46.233 | 45.917 | 45.667 | 45.158 | 45.875 | 46.567 | 46.392 | 46.342 | 47.142 | 47.717 | 48.000 | 48.608 | 49.267 | 49.858 | 51.200 | 53.042 | 56.075 | 59.700 | 62.133 | 63.842 | 64.692 | 67.075 | 72.392 | 75.467 | 78.158 | 81.742 | 83.500 | 85.342 | 89.408 | 94.208 | 97.642 | 100.258 | 102.100 | 105.042 | 106.183 | 109.150 | 113.375 | 116.950 | 120.383 | 124.208 | 126.500 | 127.483 | 126.375 | 126.225 | 127.725 | 130.125 | 131.808 | 131.058 | 129.692 | 125.667 | 121.733 | 117.967 | 117.450 | 116.083 | 114.125 | 112.368 | 113.032 | 113.628 | 111.914 | 114.698 | 119.530 | 121.593 | 120.601 | 119.615 | 118.834 | 117.231 | 118.106 | 118.538 | 113.116 | 116.042 | 122.440 | 126.611 | 128.414 | 129.707 | 133.187 |