According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's apparel are 56.52% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $11.30 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Men's apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 0.98% per year. In other words, men's apparel costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $31.30 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for men's apparel was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by -0.18%, which is below the average yearly change for men's apparel during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for men's apparel was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Men's apparel, over time, for $20 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 | $20.00 | -0.18% |
| 1979 | $20.33 | 1.63% |
| 1980 | $21.23 | 4.44% |
| 1981 | $22.38 | 5.43% |
| 1982 | $23.24 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $23.81 | 2.45% |
| 1984 | $24.25 | 1.87% |
| 1985 | $24.98 | 3.00% |
| 1986 | $25.29 | 1.24% |
| 1987 | $26.24 | 3.74% |
| 1988 | $27.31 | 4.10% |
| 1989 | $28.31 | 3.64% |
| 1990 | $29.26 | 3.35% |
| 1991 | $30.18 | 3.17% |
| 1992 | $30.68 | 1.64% |
| 1993 | $30.86 | 0.59% |
| 1994 | $30.66 | -0.65% |
| 1995 | $30.52 | -0.45% |
| 1996 | $31.02 | 1.62% |
| 1997 | $31.64 | 2.00% |
| 1998 | $32.07 | 1.38% |
| 1999 | $31.97 | -0.31% |
| 2000 | $31.64 | -1.04% |
| 2001 | $30.64 | -3.18% |
| 2002 | $29.87 | -2.50% |
| 2003 | $29.02 | -2.86% |
| 2004 | $28.85 | -0.58% |
| 2005 | $28.85 | 0.01% |
| 2006 | $28.48 | -1.27% |
| 2007 | $28.09 | -1.38% |
| 2008 | $28.14 | 0.17% |
| 2009 | $28.19 | 0.19% |
| 2010 | $27.93 | -0.94% |
| 2011 | $28.47 | 1.93% |
| 2012 | $29.55 | 3.82% |
| 2013 | $30.11 | 1.88% |
| 2014 | $29.70 | -1.35% |
| 2015 | $29.46 | -0.82% |
| 2016 | $29.15 | -1.06% |
| 2017 | $28.87 | -0.96% |
| 2018 | $28.70 | -0.58% |
| 2019 | $28.58 | -0.41% |
| 2020 | $27.50 | -3.77% |
| 2021 | $28.08 | 2.11% |
| 2022 | $29.76 | 5.99% |
| 2023 | $30.84 | 3.62% |
| 2024 | $31.30 | 1.50%* |
* 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 apparel:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 84.300 | 84.146 | 85.515 | 89.315 | 94.162 | 97.777 | 100.169 | 102.038 | 105.100 | 106.408 | 110.385 | 114.915 | 119.100 | 123.092 | 126.992 | 129.077 | 129.838 | 129.000 | 128.423 | 130.500 | 133.108 | 134.938 | 134.515 | 133.123 | 128.892 | 125.669 | 122.077 | 121.369 | 121.377 | 119.831 | 118.176 | 118.380 | 118.608 | 117.493 | 119.763 | 124.332 | 126.674 | 124.970 | 123.950 | 122.635 | 121.452 | 120.745 | 120.248 | 115.718 | 118.156 | 125.229 | 129.763 | 131.706 |