According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's footwear are 30.83% higher in 2025 versus 1988 (a $6.17 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2025: Men's footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 0.73% per year. In other words, men's footwear costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $26.17 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.72% during this same period, inflation for men's footwear was lower.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 5.90%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for men's footwear during the 1988-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for men's footwear was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Men's footwear, over time, for $20 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $20.00 | 5.90% |
| 1989 | $20.72 | 3.58% |
| 1990 | $21.44 | 3.50% |
| 1991 | $22.19 | 3.48% |
| 1992 | $22.92 | 3.31% |
| 1993 | $22.84 | -0.35% |
| 1994 | $22.93 | 0.40% |
| 1995 | $23.14 | 0.91% |
| 1996 | $22.73 | -1.80% |
| 1997 | $22.74 | 0.08% |
| 1998 | $22.70 | -0.21% |
| 1999 | $22.30 | -1.73% |
| 2000 | $22.29 | -0.05% |
| 2001 | $21.63 | -2.98% |
| 2002 | $21.68 | 0.25% |
| 2003 | $20.77 | -4.18% |
| 2004 | $20.61 | -0.78% |
| 2005 | $20.89 | 1.34% |
| 2006 | $21.26 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | $20.81 | -2.10% |
| 2008 | $21.16 | 1.70% |
| 2009 | $21.77 | 2.84% |
| 2010 | $21.96 | 0.89% |
| 2011 | $22.24 | 1.28% |
| 2012 | $22.97 | 3.28% |
| 2013 | $23.55 | 2.51% |
| 2014 | $23.76 | 0.93% |
| 2015 | $23.73 | -0.12% |
| 2016 | $23.90 | 0.68% |
| 2017 | $23.86 | -0.13% |
| 2018 | $24.06 | 0.80% |
| 2019 | $24.14 | 0.35% |
| 2020 | $23.71 | -1.79% |
| 2021 | $24.82 | 4.71% |
| 2022 | $25.71 | 3.59% |
| 2023 | $25.59 | -0.49% |
| 2024 | $26.10 | 1.98% |
| 2025 | $26.17 | 0.27%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 74.600 | 76.677 | 84.115 | 90.515 | 95.215 | 98.392 | 99.631 | 101.954 | 103.923 | 105.938 | 109.692 | 116.169 | 120.323 | 124.531 | 128.869 | 133.138 | 132.669 | 133.200 | 134.415 | 132.000 | 132.100 | 131.823 | 129.538 | 129.477 | 125.615 | 125.931 | 120.669 | 119.731 | 121.338 | 123.477 | 120.879 | 122.932 | 126.425 | 127.556 | 129.191 | 133.423 | 136.765 | 138.033 | 137.860 | 138.799 | 138.617 | 139.730 | 140.218 | 137.702 | 144.187 | 149.363 | 148.633 | 151.580 | 151.983 |