According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's footwear are 96.77% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $19.35 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Men's footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 1.42% per year. In other words, men's footwear costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $39.35 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for men's footwear was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 2.78%, which is above the average yearly change for men's footwear during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for men's footwear was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Men's footwear, 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 | 2.78% |
| 1979 | $21.94 | 9.71% |
| 1980 | $23.61 | 7.61% |
| 1981 | $24.84 | 5.19% |
| 1982 | $25.66 | 3.33% |
| 1983 | $25.99 | 1.26% |
| 1984 | $26.59 | 2.33% |
| 1985 | $27.11 | 1.93% |
| 1986 | $27.63 | 1.93% |
| 1987 | $28.61 | 3.55% |
| 1988 | $30.30 | 5.90% |
| 1989 | $31.39 | 3.58% |
| 1990 | $32.48 | 3.50% |
| 1991 | $33.61 | 3.48% |
| 1992 | $34.73 | 3.32% |
| 1993 | $34.60 | -0.36% |
| 1994 | $34.74 | 0.40% |
| 1995 | $35.06 | 0.91% |
| 1996 | $34.43 | -1.80% |
| 1997 | $34.46 | 0.08% |
| 1998 | $34.39 | -0.21% |
| 1999 | $33.79 | -1.73% |
| 2000 | $33.77 | -0.05% |
| 2001 | $32.77 | -2.98% |
| 2002 | $32.85 | 0.25% |
| 2003 | $31.47 | -4.18% |
| 2004 | $31.23 | -0.77% |
| 2005 | $31.65 | 1.34% |
| 2006 | $32.21 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | $31.53 | -2.10% |
| 2008 | $32.07 | 1.70% |
| 2009 | $32.98 | 2.84% |
| 2010 | $33.27 | 0.89% |
| 2011 | $33.70 | 1.28% |
| 2012 | $34.80 | 3.28% |
| 2013 | $35.67 | 2.51% |
| 2014 | $36.00 | 0.93% |
| 2015 | $35.96 | -0.12% |
| 2016 | $36.20 | 0.68% |
| 2017 | $36.16 | -0.13% |
| 2018 | $36.45 | 0.80% |
| 2019 | $36.57 | 0.35% |
| 2020 | $35.92 | -1.79% |
| 2021 | $37.61 | 4.71% |
| 2022 | $38.96 | 3.59% |
| 2023 | $38.77 | -0.49% |
| 2024 | $39.54 | 1.98% |
| 2025 | $39.57 | 0.08% |
| 2026 | $39.35 | -0.54%* |
* 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 footwear:
| 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 74.600 | 76.675 | 84.117 | 90.517 | 95.217 | 98.392 | 99.633 | 101.958 | 103.925 | 105.933 | 109.692 | 116.167 | 120.325 | 124.533 | 128.867 | 133.142 | 132.667 | 133.200 | 134.417 | 132.000 | 132.100 | 131.825 | 129.542 | 129.475 | 125.617 | 125.933 | 120.667 | 119.733 | 121.342 | 123.475 | 120.879 | 122.932 | 126.425 | 127.556 | 129.191 | 133.422 | 136.765 | 138.032 | 137.860 | 138.799 | 138.617 | 139.730 | 140.218 | 137.702 | 144.187 | 149.363 | 148.633 | 151.580 | 151.698 | 150.874 |