According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's footwear are 58.45% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $11.69 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026:Men's footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 1.03% per year. In other words, men's footwear costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $31.69 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.86% during this same period, inflation for men's footwear was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 5.19%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for men's footwear during the 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), 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 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 5.19% |
| 1982 | $20.67 | 3.33% |
| 1983 | $20.93 | 1.26% |
| 1984 | $21.42 | 2.33% |
| 1985 | $21.83 | 1.93% |
| 1986 | $22.25 | 1.93% |
| 1987 | $23.04 | 3.55% |
| 1988 | $24.40 | 5.90% |
| 1989 | $25.27 | 3.58% |
| 1990 | $26.16 | 3.50% |
| 1991 | $27.07 | 3.48% |
| 1992 | $27.97 | 3.32% |
| 1993 | $27.87 | -0.36% |
| 1994 | $27.98 | 0.40% |
| 1995 | $28.23 | 0.91% |
| 1996 | $27.73 | -1.80% |
| 1997 | $27.75 | 0.08% |
| 1998 | $27.69 | -0.21% |
| 1999 | $27.21 | -1.73% |
| 2000 | $27.20 | -0.05% |
| 2001 | $26.39 | -2.98% |
| 2002 | $26.45 | 0.25% |
| 2003 | $25.35 | -4.18% |
| 2004 | $25.15 | -0.77% |
| 2005 | $25.49 | 1.34% |
| 2006 | $25.94 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | $25.39 | -2.10% |
| 2008 | $25.82 | 1.70% |
| 2009 | $26.56 | 2.84% |
| 2010 | $26.79 | 0.89% |
| 2011 | $27.14 | 1.28% |
| 2012 | $28.03 | 3.28% |
| 2013 | $28.73 | 2.51% |
| 2014 | $28.99 | 0.93% |
| 2015 | $28.96 | -0.12% |
| 2016 | $29.15 | 0.68% |
| 2017 | $29.12 | -0.13% |
| 2018 | $29.35 | 0.80% |
| 2019 | $29.45 | 0.35% |
| 2020 | $28.92 | -1.79% |
| 2021 | $30.29 | 4.71% |
| 2022 | $31.37 | 3.59% |
| 2023 | $31.22 | -0.49% |
| 2024 | $31.84 | 1.98% |
| 2025 | $31.86 | 0.08% |
| 2026 | $31.69 | -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 |