According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's and boys' apparel are 16.07% higher in 2026 versus 1987 (a $3.21 difference in value).
Between 1987 and 2026:Men's and boys' apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 0.38% per year. In other words, men's and boys' apparel costing $20 in the year 1987 would cost $23.21 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.72% during this same period, inflation for men's and boys' apparel was lower.
In the year 1987: Pricing changed by 2.79%, which is above the average yearly change for men's and boys' apparel during the 1987-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1987 (3.66%), inflation for men's and boys' apparel was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Men's and boys' apparel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1987. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | $20.00 | 2.79% |
| 1988 | $20.77 | 3.87% |
| 1989 | $21.43 | 3.15% |
| 1990 | $22.06 | 2.94% |
| 1991 | $22.76 | 3.18% |
| 1992 | $23.18 | 1.85% |
| 1993 | $23.36 | 0.78% |
| 1994 | $23.16 | -0.87% |
| 1995 | $23.13 | -0.12% |
| 1996 | $23.40 | 1.19% |
| 1997 | $23.84 | 1.88% |
| 1998 | $24.15 | 1.29% |
| 1999 | $24.01 | -0.57% |
| 2000 | $23.76 | -1.04% |
| 2001 | $23.03 | -3.10% |
| 2002 | $22.31 | -3.13% |
| 2003 | $21.62 | -3.09% |
| 2004 | $21.52 | -0.44% |
| 2005 | $21.27 | -1.16% |
| 2006 | $20.91 | -1.69% |
| 2007 | $20.59 | -1.54% |
| 2008 | $20.71 | 0.59% |
| 2009 | $20.82 | 0.53% |
| 2010 | $20.51 | -1.51% |
| 2011 | $21.02 | 2.49% |
| 2012 | $21.90 | 4.21% |
| 2013 | $22.28 | 1.73% |
| 2014 | $22.10 | -0.82% |
| 2015 | $21.92 | -0.82% |
| 2016 | $21.77 | -0.65% |
| 2017 | $21.48 | -1.35% |
| 2018 | $21.64 | 0.75% |
| 2019 | $21.72 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | $20.73 | -4.57% |
| 2021 | $21.26 | 2.59% |
| 2022 | $22.44 | 5.51% |
| 2023 | $23.20 | 3.41% |
| 2024 | $23.53 | 1.42% |
| 2025 | $23.85 | 1.36% |
| 2026 | $23.21 | -2.66%* |
* 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 | 130.154 | 126.690 |